Beautiful experiences - for future generations.

Tung cak – tung cak – cak tung… The sound of drums announcing the start of the 2023-2024 school year is about to resound across schoolyards, as the autumn of the August Revolution also sweeps across all regions of our heroic, steadfast, innovative, and immensely proud Vietnam, including Binh Thuan , the beautiful coastal region of the southernmost part of Central Vietnam.

On August 4, 2023, the 31st Caravan of the 2030 Business Club of Ho Chi Minh City, after a series of "tung cak-tung cak-tung" sounds, set off on the Long Thanh - Dau Giay - Phan Thiet - Vinh Hao - Phan Rang - Nha Trang expressway, heading straight to Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen . The convoy offered exciting experiences along the beautiful route, with fruit orchards of grapes and dragon fruit flashing past on both sides. Ut Mui Ne left Phan Thiet City to join the 2030 Caravan, in the vehicle numbered 38.

Allow me to offer a brief introduction: The 2030 Club, affiliated with the Saigon Times Economic Magazine, was the organizer of the 2030 Caravan, comprised of young, dynamic, and energetic entrepreneurs aged 20 to 30 (when the club was first established). Later, these entrepreneurs surpassed 30, but their spirit, creative energy in business production, and philanthropic activities remained exactly the same as those of the younger generation in their 20s and 30s.

Caravan 2030 arrived in An Tho commune, Tuy An mountainous district, Phu Yen province. An Tho is a poor commune with many ethnic minority people living there. To reach the center of An Tho commune, one had to overcome the "GIVE UP" slope. The Caravan's route management team announced via walkie-talkie to each vehicle: A few decades ago, teachers coming to An Tho to teach had to walk up the slope, breathing heavily through their ears (!), and a few teachers from the lowlands couldn't overcome the difficulties and gave up, abandoning their classes and returning to the lowlands. That's why people gave this slope such a strange name (!). That's the story of the past, but things are vastly different now. The slope has been renovated, its gradient reduced, and paved with concrete – a transformation for An Tho and many other villages in the mountainous Tuy An district.

Caravan 2030 donated the "2030 Library – Soaring High" – a newly built library along with computers and books on life skills for school-aged children. On the sidelines of An Tho Primary and Secondary School, Ut Mui Ne unexpectedly overheard a lighthearted conversation between an 8th-grade student and a young businesswoman from Ho Chi Minh City. It was amusing, joyful, and genuine, reflecting the true nature of school-aged children. The transcript is as follows:

What are your thoughts on today's events?

- Yes, ma'am, I'm very happy!

Can you elaborate on your thoughts?

- Yes, we have a beautiful library, books to read, computers for studying computer science, and access to beautiful images (!). Many times we've also received gifts from kind people from various places, mostly school bags, notebooks, and food and drinks, which we really appreciate, but having a library to read in is absolutely fantastic!

At the brief handover ceremony, the Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee, the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee, and the school principal, despite their different ways of expressing themselves, delivered speeches that were all exactly the same. The morning was filled with the sounds of music, singing, and dancing, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere in the schoolyard. Everyone was happy and joyful, especially the children, whose faces lit up with happiness and their smiles shone brightly.

Editor-in-Chief of Sai Gon Times, journalist Tran Minh Hung, shared his thoughts:

- We are delighted that the young entrepreneurs of Ho Chi Minh City have done something very meaningful, giving back to the community. For them, doing charity work, contributing to society in nurturing, caring for, and supporting children's education is extremely valuable. Binh Thuan is one of the pioneering localities in charitable activities. Through the "Weekend Coffee" column, Saigon Times would like to send our respectful greetings and sincere gratitude!

Caravan 2030 is not only a meaningful charitable activity but also a valuable experience, offering precious lessons for young entrepreneurs – those with youthful spirits. Our ancestors wisely summarized it: "Traveling a day's journey teaches a basketful of wisdom." We are immensely proud of the beauty and richness of our Vietnamese homeland, a place we have the opportunity to visit and cherish without end, with its humane, tolerant, and compassionate way of life: "Even in difficult times, people of the same nation should love one another!"

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