"We're going with you!"

(Baonghean)With less than two weeks remaining until the 2013 university and college entrance exams, volunteer teams from universities and wards/communes in exam locations have been established and are carrying out various activities to help candidates prepare for the exam. The 2013 exam support program will include providing free meals and drinks to candidates at several exam sites…

For nearly a month now, the Huong Sen Buddhist group in Nghe An province, affiliated with Phuc Thanh Pagoda (Hung Chau), has been posting announcements recruiting volunteers for a charitable activity: cooking, packaging, and distributing 1000 free meals to students participating in the 2013 university entrance exam.

This activity is not new in Hanoi, Hue, and the southern provinces, but this is the first time it has been organized in Nghe An province.

The abbot and Buddhist followers of Phuc Thanh Pagoda and the Hung Nguyen District Youth Union
They are discussing plans to provide free meals for exam candidates.

Venerable Thich Dinh Tue, Abbot of Phuc Thanh Pagoda, said: "All the funding for this activity comes from voluntary contributions by the monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers of the pagoda, with the desire to share the difficulties with the candidates and their parents who have to travel from poor rural areas to take the exam. The meals will be cooked by the pagoda's Buddhist followers themselves, ensuring nutrition and food safety for the candidates. The pagoda will coordinate with the Hung Nguyen District Youth Union to distribute meals at noon and in the afternoon on the first day of the exam at the exam locations: Le Hong Phong Secondary and High School (Hung Thong) and Thai Lao High School (Hung Nguyen Town), and is also expected to distribute meals in front of Vinh University. Each free meal will include a drink."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, Deputy Head of the Huong Sen Buddhist group in Nghe An (Phuc Thanh Pagoda), said: “During exam days, all expenses will be very high. Therefore, we want to contribute a small part to help candidates from afar, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to support them in having a smooth, safe exam season and achieving the best possible results.” It is known that, to date, 50 volunteers, mainly high school and university students, have registered to participate in the charitable activity of distributing free meals to exam candidates.

In coordination with the monks and Buddhist followers of Phuc Thanh Pagoda in distributing free meals, the Hung Nguyen District Youth Union also conducted a survey of free and affordable accommodation options in the area.

At this point, Mr. Cao Anh Duc - Secretary of the Hung Nguyen District Youth Union - happily stated: Thanks to going door-to-door to find accommodation for the candidates, many families have willingly supported and shared with the students... This year's exam season, Hung Nguyen has 3 exam locations with approximately 2,500 candidates. To date, the District Youth Union has surveyed 4,500 free accommodation places for both candidates and their families. In addition to accommodation, families have also registered to cook meals for the candidates' families if needed.

For exam locations in Vinh City, finding free accommodation is more difficult; most available rooms are cheap. A volunteer from the Vinh City Youth Union's exam support program said: "The important thing when surveying accommodation is not only being enthusiastic and having good communication skills, but also building trust with the landlords. Therefore, sometimes we have to brave the sun to meet them multiple times to persuade them. In some cases, they initially quoted high rental prices, but after persuasion, they lowered the price to support the candidates. The surveyed accommodations must not only be reasonably priced but also ensure adequate electricity, water, and lighting..."

This year, the entire province will have 12 units (approximately over 2000 volunteers) participating in the exam support program, including Vinh University, Vinh Medical University, Vinh University of Technology and Education, Nghe An College of Education, College of Economics and Technology, Nghe An College of Culture and Arts, Viet-Duc Vocational College, Viet-Korean Industrial Technical College, College of Tourism and Commerce, Vinh City Youth Union, Hung Nguyen District Youth Union, Nghi Loc District Youth Union, and Cua Lo Town Youth Union. Vinh University has the largest number of volunteers, with about 600 selected volunteers. Nearly 6,000 free accommodation options and over 150 affordable and hygienic food locations have been surveyed. A new feature of the 2013 exam support program steering committee is the establishment of online counseling teams through the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union website to provide free support regarding accommodation, food, and exam-related information for candidates and their families.

In addition, a mobile team of volunteer doctors and nurses has been established to provide health advice and care for candidates and their families. With many diverse activities closely linked to the practical needs of the candidates, Mr. Duong Hoang Vu - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Youth Union - is confident that this year's exam will go smoothly and that the volunteer youth, with their motto "Rest assured, we are with you," will truly be valuable friends and reliable companions for each candidate.

Khanh Ly - My Ha