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'Light of the Border Region' in the border villages of Nghe An

Khanh Ly • September 2, 2024 06:29

"Borderland Lighting" is the name given to a community service project that has been and is being installed by units of the Nghe An Border Guard in border villages of the province. It contributes to ensuring security and order, improving the spiritual life of the people, and strengthening the bond between the military and the people in firmly protecting national sovereignty and border security.

Villages illuminated by electric lights

Celebrating National Day on September 2nd this year, the Mong people in Pha Lom and Huoi Son - two border villages in Tam Hop commune (Tuong Duong district) - are happier because from now on, the central roads of the villages will be illuminated by solar-powered lights every night, making travel and community activities easier.

In a conversation with us, Mr. Xong Ba Giay, Secretary of the Party Branch of Pha Lom village, happily shared: "The Mong people often go to the fields and plantations when it's still misty and only come down the mountain to return home when it's pitch dark. The roads are still very difficult to travel on, especially on days with bad weather."

Thanks to the support of the Tam Hop Border Guard Station's "Borderland Lighting" model, which illuminates village roads with solar-powered lights, people can travel more easily, children have a safe place to play at night, and the appearance of the village has changed dramatically. The villagers are delighted and very grateful to the Border Guard!

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"Thanks to the support from Tam Hop Border Guard Station in illuminating the village roads with a solar-powered lighting system, the villagers are very happy..."

Mr. Xong Ba Giay - Secretary of the Party Branch of Pha Lom village, Tam Hop commune

Tam Hop commune has 25.724 km of border with Laos. The commune comprises 5 villages, 530 households, and 2,452 inhabitants belonging to 5 ethnic groups: Mong, Tay Poong, Thai, Kho Mu, and Kinh. The socio-economic situation remains challenging, and the poverty rate is still high.

To ensure the three aspects of peace (peace for the people, peace for the locality, and peace for the border), over the years, Tam Hop Border Guard Station, together with the local Party committee and government, has implemented many new models and effective methods to help people develop their economy, stabilize their lives, and ensure security and order. One such model is "Border Lighting".

Major Ha Huy Thien, Deputy Political Officer of Tam Hop Border Guard Station, said: The station mobilized officers and soldiers to contribute their labor to directly install 2.5 km of street lighting with 80 solar-powered streetlights illuminating the entire main road in the two border villages of Pha Lom and Huoi Son, worth 200 million VND, which was raised by the station through donations from organizations and philanthropists.

Similarly, in the border commune of Nam Can (Ky Son district), previously, every time night fell, the road from the Border Guard Post to the commune center and schools was plunged into darkness, making travel very difficult for the local people and hindering the organization of community activities. In 2023, the Nam Can Border Guard Post and various organizations and philanthropists supported the installation of 30 solar-powered streetlights, worth over 45 million VND, along the commune's roads.

Ms. Vu Y Chia, a resident of Nam Can village, Nam Can commune, said: "Since the solar-powered streetlights were installed, people have found it more convenient to travel at night, and community cultural activities have become more vibrant."

The village is wearing a "new look".

This autumn, traveling along the road from National Highway 16 to the villages of Yen Hoa and Xang Tren in My Ly commune (Ky Son district) at night, you will see the solar-powered lighting system illuminating the villages, giving them a new look.

These two areas are far from the commune center, with rugged terrain and difficult roads, so having streetlights at night is like a "dream come true" for the residents.

Lieutenant Colonel Hoang The Tai, Political Officer of My Ly Border Guard Station, shared: In May 2024, the station mobilized organizations and philanthropists to contribute funds; at the same time, it mobilized the labor of officers and soldiers of the unit along with local people to install 5 km of solar-powered streetlights with 50 lamp posts combined with hanging national flags to illuminate the entire main road from National Highway 16 to the station and the villages of Yen Hoa and Xang Tren. The total value of the project is approximately 100 million VND.

“The Border Guard's support in installing solar-powered lighting systems on roads leading to villages is an innovative and practical approach that contributes to improving the cultural and spiritual lives of the people and revitalizing the appearance of the villages. Our locality hopes to see more ‘Borderland Lighting’ projects reach villages to facilitate travel for the people and contribute to ensuring security and order in the area,” said Mr. Luong Van Bay, Chairman of the People's Committee of My Ly commune.

Nghe An province has 11 mountainous districts and towns (6 border districts) with 252 mountainous communes and towns. Of these, 107 communes and 1,188 villages and hamlets are classified as particularly disadvantaged, and 27 communes border Laos.

Some remote and mountainous areas have rugged terrain, making the transportation of materials for the "Border Lighting" project extremely difficult.

A typical example is the Mong Muong Long village, perched precariously on the mountainside in Tri Le commune (Que Phong district). From the commune center, reaching this village requires traversing a nearly 30-kilometer-long, treacherous, slippery, and winding single-track road along the mountainside, demanding skilled motorbike drivers familiar with mountainous terrain.

However, from May to August 2024, the Tri Le Border Guard Station, in coordination with philanthropists, installed 20 streetlights along the central road of Muong Long village.

The project was inaugurated on August 20th by the Border Guard Post, the Tri Le commune government, and sponsors, along with the launch of the "Borderland Medical Cabinet" model and the handover of 9 drilled wells to primary schools, kindergartens, and border guard task forces in the area.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Ho Thanh Quang, Political Officer of the Tri Le Border Guard Station, transporting materials to implement the "Lighting for Border Areas" model in Muong Long village required various methods employed by the station's officers and soldiers. The welded lamp posts were gathered at the Forest Ranger Station and then gradually transported by construction vehicles used for power grid installation; the lamps and batteries were transported by motorbike by the officers and soldiers.

In addition to the solar-powered lighting system in Muong Long village, the Tri Le Border Guard Post also installed 20 streetlights along the road from the post to the commune center. To complete the project, the post mobilized officers and soldiers to contribute labor to erect the poles and lay the wires. They also selected individuals with mechanical skills and the ability to use welding and cutting machines to install the lighting system, ensuring both aesthetics and durability. Each pole is adorned with the national flag...

Some border guard posts have skillfully combined the "Borderland Lighting" model with building "Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful" units; for example, at Phuc Son Border Guard Post (Anh Son district), using funds raised through donations, the unit installed 100 lamp posts and bulbs throughout the entire premises, access roads to the unit, and in Phuc Son commune, covering a length of over 1.5 km, with a total value of 290 million VND.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Cam - Deputy Head of Political Affairs (Nghe An Border Guard): The "Light for Border Regions" project is one of the effective "People's Mobilization" models that has practical significance for disadvantaged areas.

Currently, nine border guard posts along the border have implemented this model. This not only helps improve the quality of life for ethnic minority communities but also contributes to ensuring security and order; strengthening the bond between the military and the people; and promoting the combined strength to firmly protect national sovereignty and border security.