Volunteers in blue shirts on the front lines of the fight against the pandemic.

The Orphan Boy's Special Letter

Orphaned at the age of 6 and the eldest child in his family, Le Van Thanh (born in 2002 in Hamlet 2, Tao Son Commune, Anh Son District) had to leave his hometown early to work as a laborer in Vinh City. In early July, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, his work became difficult and interrupted, so he decided to return home. The peaceful land where he was born is now facing many changes as many cases of Covid-19 have tested positive.

During the days of social distancing at home, Thanh had more time to update himself on the local epidemic situation and realized he needed to contribute to support his hometown. Thanh shared: “Every time I read the news and see many families in dire straits after losing loved ones due to the pandemic, I feel very sad. Because I lost my mother when I was very young, I understand what the loss of a loved one is like. Returning home and seeing that the locality needed people to support epidemic prevention and control, I volunteered to participate, hoping to contribute a little to protecting the peace of my hometown.”

Le Van Thanh is performing his duties at a Covid-19 control checkpoint in Hamlet 1, Tao Son Commune, Anh Son District, after volunteering to contribute to the front lines of the fight against the pandemic. Photo: TQ

After volunteering to participate in the fight against the epidemic, Thanh was assigned to assist at a checkpoint in Hamlet 1 of Tao Son Commune. Thanh requested to work the night shift to allow others to work the day shift. This action has fostered a sense of responsibility among the young people in the area.

Le Van Thanh further shared that he was not worried about participating in the support effort because he had been equipped with knowledge and skills in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 epidemic. Moreover, if everyone were afraid to participate in the support, the epidemic could not be pushed back. While on duty, witnessing many beautiful acts of kindness from the people – despite their poverty, they still contributed bundles of vegetables and fruits to the kitchen in the quarantine area – made Thanh feel even warmer and encouraged other young people to participate in the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control work in the locality.

Right from the start of the summer volunteer campaign, the youth of Anh Son district established 21 volunteer teams across the 21 communes and towns of the locality. Photo: HĐAS

According to Thai Doan Quynh, Secretary of the Anh Son District Youth Union, since June, young people throughout the district have established 21 volunteer youth teams in 21 communes and towns to carry out summer activities and participate in epidemic prevention and control. Through the District Youth Union's propaganda efforts, many union members and young people have become aware of the dangers of the pandemic and proactively volunteered to participate in the fight against the epidemic. Currently, about 200 union members and young people in the district are actively performing tasks at epidemic control checkpoints and assisting at cooking stations for the checkpoints.

In Yen Thanh district, many young people have volunteered to join the front lines of the fight against the pandemic in recent days. According to Nguyen Khac Bang, Deputy Secretary of the Yen Thanh District Youth Union, 52 youth union members and young people in the district have submitted applications to volunteer in the fight against Covid-19. Among them are many students and demobilized soldiers returning to the area. Upon receiving these applications, the Standing Committee of the District Youth Union sought the opinion of the District Steering Committee for disease prevention and control, and coordinated with the communes to assign them to positions needing support, such as checkpoints or participating in "zero-cost shippers" to transport essential supplies to the people in a timely manner. During this process, the volunteers received guidance from the District Youth Union and relevant agencies on effective disease prevention and control measures.

The Yen Thanh District Youth Union Executive Committee has received more than 50 applications from union members and young people in the area volunteering to go to the front lines of the fight against the epidemic. Photo: TQ

Give your all.

Recognizing the complex developments of the epidemic situation in the province, the Youth Union branches at all levels have proactively implemented timely and appropriate activities. The Provincial Youth Union has distributed more than 37 free automatic hand sanitizer dispensers; directed the establishment of 485 mobile propaganda teams, rapid response teams, and delivery teams; and set up "green front lines" to support epidemic prevention and control work in centralized quarantine areas, public places, schools, and residential areas... 38 of these activities have been implemented throughout the province.The team of shippers in blue uniforms operates most effectively in the districts of Dien Chau, Thanh Chuong, Vinh City, and Hoang Mai town…

Through practical experience, many new models and innovative approaches have emerged, such as the "Journey of Love, Journey of Zero Cost" model to support the transportation of goods to lockdown areas, centralized quarantine points, and localities under social distancing. As a result, the entire province has mobilized support for 120 free journeys.

The Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, in coordination with the Nghe An Provincial Military Command, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Vinh City, and the Vinh City Youth Union, received food and essential necessities to set up "Zero-Cost Stalls" to support households in Vinh City. (Photo courtesy of Nghe An Youth Union)

The "Zero-Cost Stall" model has also raised over 600 million VND to provide essential goods and necessities to support disadvantaged people and families under government assistance programs in quarantined and locked-down areas. Other models, such as building "Field Houses" as rest stops for people returning from epidemic areas; and constructing automatic hand sanitizer stations, have also been recognized and highly appreciated by many people.

Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union Le Van Luong affirmed that the youth of Nghe An have implemented many creative and effective models and methods to contribute to the frontline efforts in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, there are 67 volunteer teams at 67 checkpoints for pandemic control with 1,380 Youth Union members and young people participating, which is concrete evidence of the youth's contribution to the frontline fight against the pandemic.

Along with many other meaningful and practical activities, the image of Nghe An youth volunteering for community life is vividly portrayed, making an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the entire province.

Youth across the province have formed 485 teams.Mobile propaganda and rapid response teams are deployed to disseminate information and guide strict compliance with the Government's and Provincial People's Committee's directives and official dispatches on epidemic prevention and control. Photo: TĐNA