Nurturing friendship along the border

Stepping onto the stage of the "Exchange Program on Political Work and Young Military Officers of Vietnam and Laos: Unwavering Faith" in October 2024 in Moc Chau district, Son La province, Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si, an 11th-grade student from Xi Bun Hau High School, Sop Bau district, Hua Phan province (Laos), beamed with a smile upon meeting Vietnamese border guards again.

With eyes sparkling with joy, the little girl lovingly cradled a handcrafted elephant – a distinctive cultural symbol of Laos – which she brought from her homeland as a gift to Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard, representing her "border guard fathers." For Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si, this was not just a gift, but also an expression of gratitude and appreciation for the Vietnamese border guards in their green uniforms. Born into a disadvantaged family, Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si's opportunities for education were once very slim, but the enduring presence and love of her "border guard fathers" helped her nurture her dream of learning and cherish hope for a bright future.

Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si presents a gift to Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan, Political Commissar of the Vietnam Border Guard. (Screenshot: Phan Anh)

Over the past eight years, under the guidance of the Vietnamese Border Guard, Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si, once a fragile elementary school girl, has now become a graceful and strong high school student. Standing before hundreds of spectators, she emotionally expressed her sincere gratitude, happy to have received encouragement from the Vietnamese soldiers, who helped her attend school every day and nurtured her aspirations for the future.

Holding the gift in his hands, Lieutenant General Nguyen Anh Tuan shared: "I was both surprised and moved to receive this gift from a student in the border area of ​​Laos, whom the Vietnamese border guards have helped. We will continue to support many other children to go to school, creating more opportunities for the younger generation in the border area to have a truly bright future."

Helping children take their first steps to school.

The story of Nang Tun Pheng Kham Si is one of thousands of stories about Lao children who have received and continue to receive help from the Vietnamese Border Guard. Another case is Thao Phe, a 14-year-old boy from Dan village, Hua Phan province (Laos). His father died early, his mother remarried and moved away, so he lives with his grandmother and had to drop out of school to help support the family. The Vietnamese Border Guard has provided Thao Phe with monthly tuition support and helped his family raise chickens and grow vegetables to improve their lives.

On her return to school in her white uniform, Thao Phe smiled brightly and said to the soldiers in broken but proud Vietnamese: "Thank you, Vietnamese border guards. I love Vietnam."

Thao Phe's grandmother, who takes care of him daily, also expressed her emotions: "I will raise chickens and ducks as you instructed. I will try my best to ensure Thao Phe receives a proper education."

The story of Ho Thi Nghin, a girl from La Lay A Soi village, Sa Muoi district, Salavan province (Laos), is a vivid testament to the "Helping Children Go to School" initiative in the Vietnam-Laos border region. Having faced the risk of dropping out of school due to her family's poverty, she was taken under the wing of the La Lay International Border Gate Border Guard Station in Quang Tri province, giving her the opportunity to attend school and nurture her dreams for the future. Each month, the Border Guard officers send Nghin's family a sum of money to support her education, ensuring she has enough books and school supplies.

Lieutenant Ho Van Thu, La Lay Border Guard Post, presents a bicycle to his adopted daughter, Ho Thi Nghin. (Photo: Thoi Dai)

Entering secondary school, Nghin's journey to school became increasingly long and arduous, especially on rainy and windy days. Knowing this, the "border guard fathers" gifted her a new bicycle, making her commute easier. They meticulously cared for the bicycle, cleaning, lubricating, and tightening the bolts whenever they visited Nghin's home. In 2021, the bicycle completely broke down, so the border guard station bought a new Asama bicycle, continuing to accompany Nghin on her educational journey.

The bicycle not only took Nghin to school but also served as a bridge connecting her to Hanoi in 2022 to participate in the "Storytelling Relics" competition organized by Thoi Dai Magazine in collaboration with the Lao Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association, and the Lao-Vietnam Friendship Association. Nghin confided: "I am proud to have been sponsored by these mentors. Visiting Hanoi and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is something I will never forget. I will try my best to study hard so as not to disappoint them."

Lighting up the borderlands with young sprouts.

Major General Tran Van Bung, Head of Political Affairs of the Border Guard, stated at the exchange program that from 2015 to the present, more than 1,000 children in the Vietnam-Laos border area have received assistance from the "Helping Children Go to School" program. The program not only provides financial support but also loving companionship and dedicated care from border guards – the second fathers of these children. The Border Guard also cooperates with local authorities and schools to build a safe and stable learning environment for the children. Importantly, the assistance goes beyond material support and serves as a bridge connecting the Vietnamese and Lao people.

The "Helping Children Go to School" program, along with the "Adopted Children of Border Guard Posts" initiative, has become a strong bridge helping disadvantaged children in border areas to thrive. With each step these children take, the friendship between Vietnam and Laos is further nurtured and strengthened. Vietnamese border guards are daily building a generation of young people who understand and cherish the sacred friendship between the two countries.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/uom-mam-huu-nghi-bien-cuong-206668.html