Emotional first opening ceremony of the 'crescent moons' in Da Nang

On the morning of September 5th, the Da Nang Red Cross Center for the Elderly and People with Disabilities held an opening ceremony for 55 students with disabilities who are currently studying and living there. This is the first time the Center has organized an opening ceremony for students (aged 15-25). Photo: Giang Thanh

Starting at 7 a.m., parents excitedly brought their children to the center. With the red flag with a yellow star in their hands, the children joyfully awaited the special opening ceremony.

At exactly 7:30 AM, Mrs. Tran Thi Thom (born in 1960, residing in Ngu Hanh Son ward) brought her son, Tran Manh Kien (a student in the center's incense class), to attend the opening ceremony. Mrs. Thom is a teacher, so in previous years, she only brought her son to the Tuong Lai Special School for the Gifted and then busied herself with the opening ceremony at her own school, never having had the opportunity to attend her son's opening ceremony.

"Because my child was too old to attend a special school, she transferred here to study and live last year. This is the first time the Center has organized an opening ceremony, and I am very happy and moved to be able to attend a complete opening ceremony with my child for the first time," said Mrs. Thom.

During the first opening ceremony, the students confidently performed musical numbers such as "What Could Be More Beautiful?" and "Vietnam, I Love You..." Although their lyrics weren't perfectly polished, they still tried their best to deliver complete performances.

The lively performances received enthusiastic applause from the students.

According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam, Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City Red Cross Society, this is not just a school but also a large family, where teachers and staff work together to help students with special circumstances rise up and take control of their lives. "The Da Nang City Red Cross Society will continue to strive to work alongside the center to provide the best support for the children. We also hope that all parents and benefactors will join forces with the center to help these children change their destinies," Mr. Lam said.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Nguyen Thi Anh (25 years old, a sewing class student) emotionally stated, "During our years of study here, we have received the care, love, and dedicated teaching of our teachers. Thanks to this, we have not only learned a trade but also honed our life skills, gained confidence in communication, and participated in community learning."

At the end of the opening ceremony, Mr. Le Thanh Trung (born in 1971, Dien Ban ward) took a commemorative photo of his son. "This morning, my son woke up very early so I could drive him to the Center. I'm really happy that the children had such a warm and intimate opening ceremony," Mr. Trung shared.

After the photo session, Le Thanh Thang (Mr. Trung's son) began his first day of school. Beside the incense-making machine, Thang nimbly added the powder and inserted the sticks to create finished incense sticks. When asked about his feelings on the first day of school, Thang smiled and said, "I'm very happy."

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Tuyet, Acting Director of the Da Nang Red Cross Center for the Elderly and People with Disabilities, in the 2025-2026 school year, the Center will provide free care (day and boarding) and vocational training for 55 disabled students aged 15-25 in professions such as sewing, printing, embroidery, beadwork, incense making, etc. "In the past 2024-2025 school year, despite many difficulties, over 80% of the students successfully completed their assigned vocational courses. Many have confidently integrated into the community, some have found suitable jobs, and the arts and life skills training activities are becoming increasingly vibrant," Ms. Tuyet said.

It is known that since its establishment, the Center has operated on a 100% self-financing basis. All funding comes from charitable organizations and individuals inside and outside the city. It is estimated that the Center needs to raise money and goods worth over 1 billion VND annually to maintain its operations.