Taking Off in November: Three Inspiring and Heartwarming Stories
The "Taking Flight" program honors an engineer who spent 15 years building schools, a musician from the Vi Xuyen battlefield, and a female doctor who overcame prejudice and spread profound humanistic values.
Engineer Nguyen Binh Nam: 15 years of persistently 'carrying knowledge to the mountains'
The 15-year journey of engineer Nguyen Binh Nam and the "Friends Who Care" Club began with the image of 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 path to changing the lives of people in the highlands.
The implementation process faced countless challenges: construction costs could triple the initial estimate, materials had to be carried on foot up high mountains, and construction took place without electricity or cell phone signal. The story of "The People's School" in Ông Deo, where local people spent four months carrying bricks and bags of sand along treacherous trails, profoundly demonstrates the power of solidarity. To date, 19 schools have been completed, not only providing physical facilities but also symbolizing dreams and hopes.
Nam's resilience and that of his community were further demonstrated in the reconstruction of the Tak Roi school after the historic flood of 2020. In just two months, the funds raised were sufficient, showing how powerfully the flame of compassion spread. His motto, "Life is about giving, not just receiving," has become the guiding principle throughout his journey.
Composer Truong Quy Hai: The flame from the heart of a soldier from Vi Xuyen
The story of musician Truong Quy Hai is a flame ignited by emotion and sacrifice. Having abandoned his musical career, he became a soldier in the 356th Division and fought on the Vi Xuyen front in 1984. It was in this brutal battlefield, beside the graves of his comrades, that he found his life's mission.
A blood-stained 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, composer Truong Quy Hai has composed many songs imbued with humanistic values, such as "Hanoi in the Season of Few Rains" and especially the five-part epic "The Vietnamese People."
He humbly shared that it was the people striving to live compassionately, those who needed to be heard in hospitals or shelters, who "ignited the flame" for him. His music became a means of igniting faith in beauty and kindness in life.
Dr. Tran Thi Le Quyen: A journey of 'flying through the storm' to find her passion.
The story of Dr. Tran Thi Le Quyen, specializing in Digital Art and Design, is a journey of "igniting a fire" through resilience and self-renewal. Once labeled a "critic and opinionated child" and facing the shock of being transferred to a different class in 9th grade, she nurtured a determination to prove herself by pursuing her passion to the very end.
During her years studying Interaction Design in Germany, she experienced a period of stagnation and loneliness. A statement from the head of the department completely changed her perspective: "The teacher's job is to help students recognize, understand, and find solutions." Dr. Le Quyen realized that true education is about igniting the flame of creativity and illuminating the path, not about teaching how to follow a set pattern.
The decision to pursue a PhD in her late 30s wasn't about "retiring," but about "reviving herself" and providing students with a mentor who isn't outdated. This unwavering commitment conveys a powerful message: happiness lies in the journey of effort and the ability to rise again after each setback.
The power of dissemination
Three stories with three different flames, but sharing a common message about the value of spreading awareness. The program features commentary by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu, Director of Hanoi Medical University Hospital.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu summarized the significance of the program from the perspective of a doctor who frequently faces the boundary between life and death. He affirmed that faith, kindness, and the desire to live are the core elements that help people ignite hope, even in the most challenging circumstances.
