“Power to School” Sow love for happiness to sprout

“Support to school” is a charity program implemented by Thai Binh Newspaper (formerly Thai Binh Radio and Television Station) in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training, the Provincial Red Cross to call for support for students in difficult circumstances. Launched in September 2017, the program has accompanied nearly 400 children to continue going to school, giving them the opportunity to change their lives and continue their dreams.

Báo Thái Bình•30/06/2025

Journalist Lam Minh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thai Binh Newspaper, Chairman of the Management Board of the "Tiep suc den truong" Fund, awarded 100 million VND in support to poor students in the program.

Unlucky fates...

The road to school for poor students is not paved with flowers as described in poems and literature, but is full of obstacles and bumps. From working in localities, realizing that there are still many students in difficult circumstances and poverty is an obstacle on their way to school, Thai Binh Radio and Television Station (now Thai Binh Newspaper) has implemented the program "Helping to School" broadcast every Tuesday evening, each report is a story about poor students to call for help for them. One of the first students in the program "Helping to School" is Tran Thi Nhu Quynh, Duy Nhat commune (Vu Thu), an orphan of both parents, and she herself has a congenital scoliosis. The tumors caused by this terrible disease make Quynh always have to bend her back, making it extremely difficult for her to walk, and her health has also declined. Quynh once shared in the program: My biggest dream is to have a healthy body like everyone else, so that I can confidently go to school like my friends of the same age.

Illness is also what makes Ha Quang Hieu's family in Vu Dong village, Thuy Xuan commune (Thai Thuy) fall into a difficult situation. His mother had an accident in August 2015, and after that she was bedridden, needing someone to take care of her. His father also has many illnesses and cannot find a stable job. Hieu's older sister had to quit school to work to earn money to support the whole family. In October 2022, when the "Support to School" program came to him, Hieu was in 11th grade. He confided: I want to go to university to learn more, after graduating, I will find a decent job and take care of my family.

For Nguyen Tien Viet, from Da Thon village, Quynh Khe commune (Quynh Phu), since his father passed away in 2014, only he and his mother have relied on each other. Sometimes, he feels that his future is as shaky and rickety as the leaky roof where he and his mother have lived for many years.

Each student in the “Giving Power to School” program has their own dreams. It may be a more solid home, a brighter future, or a “miracle” to ease their parents’ burdens, or sometimes it is simply to continue their education.

...and dreams come true

On the 8-year journey of "Giving strength to go to school", the companionship of kind hearts has helped love spread more and more widely. In 2017, when reaching the first children, the program only had a gift of 300,000 VND, then increased to 500,000 VND, all with the support of the Board of Directors of Thai Binh Radio and Television Station (now Thai Binh Newspaper). Through the weekly "Giving strength to go to school" reports and the "Giving strength to go to school Gala" night held annually, the program has called for more and more widespread support. Up to now, each week, one student has been helped by the program with 5 million VND given right after the report was recorded. After 8 years, the "Giving strength to go to school" fund has allocated more than 6.6 billion VND to give gifts to poor students; nearly 5.3 billion VND to support the construction of 53 houses for students in difficult circumstances in 8 districts and cities; Over 1.7 billion VND was spent to build 5 toilets and 1 school kitchen. After the “Gala to support students to go to school” night, some poor students received long-term sponsorship until they finished university and also a commitment to create jobs from businesses and benefactors. Many beautiful stories were written from this meaningful program.

Called for help in the program "Support to School" in October 2017 and the first "Support to School Gala" in 2018, Tran Thi Nhu Quynh, Duy Nhat commune (Vu Thu) received enough support money to have spinal surgery. The program always had someone accompanying her to the doctor, to do the surgery procedures, and to take care of her during the entire recovery treatment process. Currently, Quynh's health is completely stable, she finished university and was accepted to work at Thang Long Import-Export Investment Joint Stock Company - one of the units accompanying the program "Support to School". Quynh shared: Before, I never thought my life would have today. I used to have long nights crying alone when thinking about the future. However, the program "Support to School" gave me a second life, giving me a new life. The love and care of the aunts, uncles, brothers and sisters in the program for me is like a real family.

For Ha Quang Hieu, Vu Dong village, Thuy Xuan commune (Thai Thuy), after being helped by the "Support to School" program, in 2023 he was admitted to the National Economics University (Hanoi). Hieu confided: I feel that there are still many people in life who love me and I have to try harder, overcome my circumstances, and not let down everyone's feelings. In the future, I will continue to help difficult situations like my situation before.

The dream of Nguyen Tien Viet, Da Thon village, Quynh Khe commune (Quynh Phu) has also come true. In May 2024, the program "Tiep suc den truong" awarded 100 million VND for his family to build a new house. By August 2024, the house was completed, helping the stormy nights no longer be a "nightmare" for him and his mother. Viet said: I have received both material and spiritual support. From a person who always felt inferior, thanks to the program, I can confidently affirm that my future still has many good things.

Continuing the mission of "bridge of love"

The good things are still being given. It is no longer just a story told on television, beyond the frame of “Support to School” is the connection and spread of love.

Mr. Do Van Ve, Chairman of Thai Binh Province Business Association shared: Since the first “Gala to support school” night until now, every year the business community has joined hands to support poor students. We feel very happy to have contributed to helping many disadvantaged children go to school. We will also continue to accompany the program with more practical activities in the future.

To effectively manage the "Support to School" fund, Mr. Vu Duc Dien, Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross, one of the three units co-managing the fund, said: When donors transfer funds to support poor students specifically to the "Support to School" fund account, the Fund Management Board ensures that within only 3-5 days, this amount is transferred directly to the children. For funds to build "Support to School" houses or provide emergency support, award scholarships, give Tet gifts, etc., the Board is always open and transparent, ensuring the right beneficiaries.

Over the past 8 years, the people implementing the "Support to School" program have been constantly striving to fulfill the mission of connecting love. Journalist Lam Minh, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Thai Binh Newspaper (formerly Thai Binh Radio and Television Station, the founder of the "Support to School" fund) said: To "draw the dawn" in the dark lives of disadvantaged children, this is indeed not an easy journey. What motivates us is the smiles of the children when they are helped, or more precisely, day by day and up to now, nearly 8 years, we have clearly seen the changes and growth of the children themselves. The "Support to School" journey is still continuing, so that more and more tears of poor students are replaced by smiles, so that they are not alone on the path to knowledge, to change their own lives.

So much love has been sown into the young hearts of disadvantaged children. Hopefully, that love will one day sprout into happy buds, continuing to spread shade to the world, helping people, helping life, just like the way each audience of “Tiep suc den truong” is helping the children.