November Takeoff: Three Inspiring Stories

Engineer Nguyen Binh Nam: 15 years of perseverance 'carrying letters up the mountain'

The 15-year journey of engineer Nguyen Binh Nam and the “Friends Who Love Each Other” Club started with a makeshift classroom in Tra Cang, Quang Nam. Working at the Central Power Corporation, he and his colleagues realized that knowledge is the most sustainable way to change the lives of people in the highlands.

The implementation process faced countless challenges: construction costs could be three times higher than the estimate, materials had to be carried up high mountains, construction was carried out in conditions without electricity and phone signal. The story of Ong Deo's "School of the People's Heart", where local people spent 4 months carrying each brick and sandbag through steep trails, has deeply demonstrated the power of solidarity. To date, 19 schools have been completed, not only as facilities but also as symbols of dreams and hopes.

The resilience of Mr. Nam and the community is also demonstrated through the reconstruction of Tak Roi School after the historic flood in 2020. In just 2 months, the fundraising was sufficient, showing that the fire of charity has spread strongly. The motto "Living is giving, not just receiving" has become the message throughout his journey.

Musician Truong Quy Hai: The fire from the heart of a soldier in Vi Xuyen

The story of musician Truong Quy Hai is a fire lit by emotions and sacrifice. Having abandoned his musical career, he became a soldier of the 356th Division and joined the battle at the Vi Xuyen front in 1984. It was on the fierce battlefield, beside the graves of his comrades, that he found his life's mission.

A blood-soaked letter from a fallen comrade inspired him to sing and conceive the song “Letter to Mother”. This was not only a return to music, but also the beginning of a journey of empathy and sharing. Since then, musician Truong Quy Hai has composed many songs imbued with human values ​​such as “Hanoi in the season without rains” and especially the 5-chapter “Vietnamese People Epic”.

He humbly shared that it was the people who were trying to live a kind life, those who needed to be listened to in hospitals or shelters, who “lit the fire” for him. His music became a means to ignite the belief in beauty and goodness in life.

Dr. Tran Thi Le Quyen: The journey of 'flying through the storm' to find passion

The story of Dr. Tran Thi Le Quyen, majoring in Digital Design, is a journey of “lighting a fire” from her own courage and self-renewal. Once labeled as a “debatable, argumentative child” and faced with the shock of being transferred to another class in 9th grade, she was determined to prove herself by pursuing her passion to the end.

During her years studying in Germany with a major in Interaction Design, she experienced a period of deadlock and loneliness. A saying from the head of the department completely changed her perspective: “The teacher’s job is to help students perceive, understand and let them find solutions.” Dr. Le Quyen realized that true education is to ignite the flame of creativity and light the path, not to teach how to follow a pattern.

The decision to pursue a PhD at the age of U40 is not to “retire” but to “revive myself” and provide students with a teacher who is not outdated. This perseverance conveys a strong message that happiness lies in the journey of effort and the ability to stand up after each fall.

The power of spread

Three stories with three different flames but with the same message about the value of spreading. The program was accompanied by the commentary of Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu, Director of Hanoi Medical University Hospital.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu summarized the meaning of the program from the perspective of a physician who often faces the boundary between life and death. He affirmed that faith, kindness and the will to live are the core elements that help people rekindle hope, even in the most dire circumstances.