"Lighting the fire" in the far west of the Fatherland (1)

Part I: The Right Policy - Bringing Warmth to the Border Region

Stationed in some of the most disadvantaged border districts in the country: Muong Cha, Nam Po, Muong Nha ( Dien Bien province), and Muong Te (Lai Chau province), the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade has contributed to changing the face of the highland and border communes and villages, making them increasingly prosperous and comfortable for the people. This achievement is due not only to the efforts of the officers and soldiers but also to the significant contribution of the "new energy" provided by the Youth Volunteer Team from the "Strengthening Youth Volunteers in Economic-Defense Zones" Project (Project 174) .

The policy of "Strengthening the role of youth in work at economic-defense zones" has been highly appreciated by Party committees, authorities, and the people.

A decade of illuminating the far west.

The establishment of economic-defense zones is a major policy of the Party and State, aiming to develop socio -economic conditions while strengthening national defense and security in strategic areas, remote regions, border areas, and islands. To accelerate the construction and development of these zones , on January 29, 2010, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 174/QD-TTg approving the Project “Strengthening the participation of young intellectuals in working at economic-defense zones during the period 2010-2020” (referred to as Project 174) to promote the pioneering role of young intellectuals in participating in socio-economic development, poverty reduction, and building a strong foundation of public support in border areas.

Colonel Nguyen Van Huan, Political Commissar of the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade, shared: In implementing Project 174, the Brigade's Party Committee issued a specialized resolution to guide its implementation; simultaneously identifying this as an important political task requiring focused direction , implementation , and comprehensive, synchronized, and coordinated execution . The Project Management Board (PMB) of Project 174 was directed to regularly coordinate closely with the Provincial Youth Union , District Youth Unions , and the districts within the project area to effectively carry out the selection, management, utilization, and assignment of tasks, creating all favorable conditions and environments for the Youth Volunteer Brigade members to发挥 their pioneering role and participate effectively in achieving the goals and tasks of the Economic-Defense Zone.

Over the past 10 years, the Youth Union has received 5 batches of young volunteers with more than 240 members, mostly children of ethnic minorities in Dien Bien province and districts within the project area. This is a young, high-quality workforce with a suitable occupational structure, strong moral character, and firm political stance, meeting the requirements of tasks at the grassroots level.

Youth volunteer team members help people increase production and harvest crops.

Immediately after taking over, the Project Management Board 174 of the Brigade proactively ensured accommodation and living conditions for the Youth Volunteer Team members and organized the signing of responsibility contracts as prescribed; developed plans and organized training courses on professional skills and national defense and security knowledge; mobilized the masses and provided knowledge about ethnic groups and religions; and built political foundations at the grassroots level. In particular, they launched a movement to learn the Hmong language and a competition to learn about the customs and traditions of ethnic minorities in the project area. Therefore , the Youth Volunteer Team members quickly adapted to the work, integrated well with the people, and actively participated in the "three close ties, four together" approach with the local population.

Ten years is a long journey, and the "imprint" of the Youth Volunteer Team members has been etched into every home, every road, every economic development model, and every aspect of preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups... Their tireless footsteps, accompanying the "Uncle Ho's Soldiers," are still traversing mountains and forests day after day, hour after hour, alongside officers and soldiers of the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade, transforming difficult lands in the far west of the Fatherland.

Prior to 2010, localities within the project area faced numerous difficulties regarding transportation, irrigation, social welfare, and high poverty rates. By 2020, 100% of communes had access to electricity and roads; over 70% of households had access to clean and hygienic water; and 85% of households no longer lived in dilapidated temporary housing. By the end of 2019, average per capita income reached VND 23.15 million/year, a 3.25-fold increase compared to 2010; the poverty and near-poverty rates decreased significantly over the years, averaging a reduction of 3-5% per year. The economic structure continued to shift in a positive direction, with the formation of several specialized agricultural and industrial crop areas such as rubber and macadamia nuts. Many ethnic minority households successfully adopted models of fish farming, planting and caring for high-value industrial and fruit crops.

The "impressive" figures clearly demonstrate that Project 174 of the Party, State, and Army is a correct policy – bringing warmth to the border regions.

Members of the Youth Volunteer Team, Production and Construction Team No. 7, helped the people plant trees.

To ensure the project is deeply integrated into people's lives.

Building on the effectiveness of the Project "Strengthening the participation of young intellectuals in volunteer work in national defense economic zones during the period 2010-2020" (Project 174), the Government recently issued Decision No. 1529/QD-TTg approving the implementation of the Project "Strengthening the participation of young intellectuals in volunteer work in national defense economic zones" until the end of 2030.

“With their enthusiasm, responsibility, and commitment to the community, the Youth Volunteer Team has truly made an impression on the ethnic people here. The young people have actively gone deep into the grassroots, using their acquired knowledge to build models of fruit orchards and livestock and poultry farms in difficult villages, remote areas, and border regions for the people to learn from and follow . Therefore, I think continuing to implement the project is very necessary ,” shared Mr. Vu Bao Trung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Lam commune.

The 379th Brigade is stationed in the Muong Cha Economic-Defense Zone, Dien Bien Province, a mountainous border area in the Northwest of Vietnam. The Brigade's operational area covers 264 villages and 28 communes across four districts (Muong Cha, Muong Nha, Nam Po in Dien Bien Province; and Muong Te in Lai Chau Province ) . In the first phase of the 2021-2030 program, the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade received and managed 32 Youth Volunteer Team members ( 30 newly recruited members; 2 members from the 5th recruitment phase , 2010-2020 period carried over ); 62.5% of the members are ethnic minorities from Dien Bien Province . The areas where these young people work are difficult, border regions where the people still face many challenges in their journey towards poverty reduction. But with the enthusiasm of youth, those difficulties became a driving force for them to contribute with a spirit of working together for the community.

Youth volunteers acquire knowledge to guide people in developing their economy.

Lieutenant Colonel Luu Luong Bang, Deputy Commander of the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade and Head of Project Management Board 174, shared: The project "Strengthening the participation of young intellectuals in volunteer work in economic-defense zones" until the end of 2030 has been highly appreciated by local Party committees and authorities in the project area. This is because young people have been bringing new and creative approaches to the project areas, especially in helping people alleviate poverty, improve education and living standards through meaningful models, programs, and activities. In addition, the coordination and implementation of the project have been carried out closely, demonstrating a spirit of solidarity, close cooperation, and high consensus between the Party committees, authorities, and people with the 379th Economic-Defense Brigade. This has created a favorable environment for young intellectuals to train, grow, and contribute their knowledge to the mountainous and border regions.

It can be affirmed that Project 174, implemented effectively , has brought a "new breath of fresh air" from economic development models and the maintenance of security and order, creating a solid foundation for the communes and villages in the project area to effectively carry out the work of poverty reduction and build a strong foundation of public support; contributing to building the westernmost border region of the Fatherland into an increasingly stable political, prosperous economic, and strong defense and security area.

Part II: The desire to contribute the energy of youth

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