The teacher in the "green uniform"

As part of their visit to the islands in the Southwest Sea region, the Ho Chi Minh City delegation, led by Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc - Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fatherland Front Committee, and the Navy delegation, led by Rear Admiral Pham Nhu Xuan, Deputy Commander of the Navy, visited, encouraged, and presented gifts to officers, soldiers, and residents on Hon Chuoi Island.

Accepting sacrifices so that the children can grow up.

Hon Chuoi Island, located in Song Doc town, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province, is situated 17 nautical miles southwest of the mainland. It covers an area of approximately 7 ^square kilometers and features a hilly, mountainous terrain with rugged cliffs. The local people primarily earn their living through cage fish farming and small-scale grocery trading.

Due to its geographical location and unfavorable weather conditions, residents often have to relocate their homes and belongings twice a year to avoid waves and strong winds. This significantly impacts their lives. According to the islanders, Hon Chuoi currently lacks a school system for children; the only school is a charity class run by a border guard officer at the Hon Chuoi Border Guard Post.

The members of the delegation were particularly interested in the education of children on the island, where "military-uniformed" teachers diligently taught them to read and write.

The path to Radar Station 615 and the charity school is very difficult, requiring a climb of nearly 400 steps, with a steep slope that becomes very dangerous in the rain due to slippery conditions. There is another trail, but the distance to the school is much greater.

NGHĨA TÌNH TP HCM, VÌ BIỂN ĐẢO THÂN YÊU(*): Thầy giáo

This is just one of the many steps leading to Major Tran Binh Phuc's classroom.

Having just completed nearly 400 steps, everyone heard a soldier giving a lecture in a small house. It was Major Tran Binh Phuc, an officer at the Hon Chuoi Border Guard Post.

What's special about this classroom is that there are three boards attached to three walls, each with different lesson content. The students are divided into three groups, sitting facing each board. Teacher Phuc jokingly calls it a "360-degree" classroom. To ensure his students understand the lesson, he walks around to teach each group individually.

Major Phuc said that he has been working on Hon Chuoi Island since 2010 and has been teaching children on the island from grades 1 to 7. Teaching multiple different curricula simultaneously in the same class is not easy.

Classroom scene

To help the students understand and access new knowledge, I always try to find ways to convey it as concisely and clearly as possible.

"I only hope that the children will acquire more knowledge and literacy so that they can reach further and have a brighter future. The 'invisible thread' is the affection, love, and support I felt during difficult times that motivated me to become a teacher to guide them to a better chapter. I accept the sacrifice to see them grow up and succeed," said Major Phuc.

According to Major Phuc, teaching is not only a responsibility and a sentiment of a soldier, but also a deep connection and bond between the military and civilians on Hon Chuoi Island, contributing to the officers and soldiers' fulfillment of special political tasks and overcoming all difficulties and challenges in life and work.

Kim Hoang Khang, a small, dark-skinned sixth-grade student diligently writing, said that Mr. Phuc is a dedicated teacher who helps students a great deal, not only with their studies but also with teaching them how to be good people.

Khang said that thanks to Teacher Phuc and the help of the soldiers on the island, as well as the concern of the people on the mainland, the children on the island have been motivated to overcome difficulties and continue their studies.

"I don't have a father, and my mother sells bread at the bottom of the cliff to support me. I only hope that someday I will become a doctor, a soldier, or a police officer to protect my mother, the people on the island, and the country, so as not to disappoint my mother's efforts in raising me, Mr. Phuc," Khang expressed.

Thirteen-year-old Nguyen Hoang Hao, who has no parents, lives with his grandparents and aunt and uncle on the island. Hao confided: "Since I was little, I've lived with my grandparents and aunt and uncle on the rocky shore where they raise fish. Getting around here is very difficult, but Teacher Phuc is still here every day to teach us. I wish I could become a soldier like him someday."

Visiting Mr. Phuc's class, the Ho Chi Minh City delegation was moved by the stories of the children and witnessed the image of the "green-uniformed" teachers wholeheartedly dedicated to their students.

The delegation presented the class with many meaningful supplies and gifts. These gifts, filled with love, were carried by each delegate up 400 steps to personally deliver them to the children.

The delegation presented meaningful gifts to Mr. Phuc's class.

Deep bond between the military and the people.

Major Phung Sy Chuong, Head of Radar Station 615 on Hon Chuoi Island, said that in recent times, the unit has closely coordinated with other forces to build a safe unit and area. At the same time, they have paid attention to and cared for the material and spiritual lives and welfare policies of military personnel's families; actively participated in campaigns and movements to help the people on the island; and maintained good solidarity between the military and the people.

Along with the charity class, the station maintains a charity address, donating 15 kg of rice monthly from its income-generating fund to families in difficult circumstances and implementing the "Drop of Compassion" model to help provide fresh water to people on the island during the dry season.

In addition, the unit also provides electricity for charity classes, actively participates with local forces in cleaning up the environment, and coordinates with the Border Guard Station's Youth Union to organize many effective and practical activities for the people on the island.

According to Major Phung Sy Chuong, the concern, assistance, and encouragement, both material and spiritual, from the delegation of Ho Chi Minh City are a great source of support and motivation for the soldiers and civilians on the island.

"The officers and soldiers of Radar Station 615 will always unite, proactively overcome difficulties, and excellently fulfill their assigned tasks, working closely with other forces in the area to firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the nation's seas and islands," Major Chuong affirmed.

Nguyen Van Toan (from Quang Nam province), a soldier who has served on the island for nearly nine months, said that life here is quite difficult and arduous, especially during the dry season when there is often a shortage of water for daily use. During such times, the solidarity between the military and the people becomes even stronger.

"When the people need help, we are always ready. When the country needs us, the officers and soldiers on Hon Chuoi Island will be ready to fight," soldier Toan shared.

Pham Minh Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, said that only by directly visiting remote islands can one truly understand the lives, activities, willpower, and resilience of the officers, soldiers, and people on the islands. From there, the city will continue to carry out practical activities for the homeland's seas and islands, spreading love for the seas and islands, and further improving the work of supporting the military.

Mr. Tuan also expressed high expectations and encouraged the teachers in military uniforms to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to the children on the island, helping them nurture their aspirations and ambitions for a brighter future.

On this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh City delegation also presented gifts to the officers and soldiers of Radar Station 615, the garrisoned forces, and the people on the island, including machinery, equipment, living supplies, medicine, etc.