Stories about 'foster fathers' in remote areas

Poor children

The small village of Tang Phan lies precariously on a high hill of Na Ngoi commune. The road leading to several villages is also very difficult. The house of little girl Lau Y Do is nestled next to a winding trail. Born into a large family, Lau Y Do is also disabled, and her parents are often sick, so Y Do's 7 siblings are always hungry and cold. And with a disability in her legs, combined with a very poor family, Y Do had to drop out of school many times. But then, with the care of teachers, and especially the support of Na Ngoi Border Guard Station with 500,000 VND per month, Lau Y Do's way to school was not interrupted. That encouragement also brought smiles, faith in life, in the love of life.

Poor students in Na Ngoi come to the Charity House to ask for books and clothes. Photo: HT

“Living in poverty and deprivation is not uncommon in Phu Kha 2 or Na Ngoi,” said Mr. Mua Chong Cha, Head of Phu Kha 2 village. The poverty rate in Na Ngoi commune is similar to that of Phu Kha 2 village, at over 50%. Phu Kha 2 has 64 households, with over 380 people, of which nearly 40 are poor. Poverty and hunger cause children to grow up in all kinds of deprivation. However, many children are not only deprived of material things, but also of their spirit. Many children here no longer have parents or are abandoned, and have to live with their grandparents, relatives, or “foster fathers” who are border guards or military officers of the National Defense Economic Group stationed in the area.

Special fathers

To better understand the concerns about the fate and life of children in this remote area, we made an appointment to meet with the Chief of Phu Kha 1 village, Lau Ba Khua. He said that the entire Phu Kha 1 village has only 31 households with more than 200 people, but up to 17 households are poor. Because the parents are poor, the children also suffer from hunger. Many children suffer even more because they lack a father, a mother, or both, and have to live with their elderly grandparents, like the grandchildren of Mr. Chong Cua.

Having said that, the village chief led us to a house located by the roadside. Coincidentally, we visited Mr. Chong Cua's house at the same time that the "foster father" of Mr. Chong Cua's three orphaned grandchildren was tutoring them with their homework. Next to the table placed in the middle of the most beautiful room of the house, three children sat around a man in neat military uniform and obediently, happily studying under the guidance of "Dad Kien". Mr. Chong Cua introduced that soldier Kien worked at the National Defense Economic Group 4, and was the "foster father" of the three grandchildren for many years now. His grandchildren, respectively Lau Y Di, were in 8th grade, Lau Ba Ly was in 7th grade, and Lau Ba Da was in 5th grade. Among Mr. Chong Cua's three grandchildren, little Lau Ba Ly was the most attached to his "foster father". When he met his "foster father", he rubbed the military rank on his shoulder and kept calling him "Dad Kien", then he happily read his lesson under the guidance of the border guard.

The "foster fathers" of the 4th National Defense Economic Group adopted and supported 32 poor and orphaned students in the stationed area. Photo: HT

For more than 5 years now, since the children's father passed away, the mother remarried, then disappeared without a trace without ever returning to visit her children, his three grandchildren have become orphans. Mr. Chong Cua, born in 1968, has also had declining health, so he has struggled to raise his grandchildren. "My grandchildren are able to go to school thanks to the "foster fathers" at the National Defense Economic Group 4. Not only do they support each child with 500,000 VND per month, but the soldiers also regularly care for them, come to the house to teach them about their studies. They also give them bicycles to go to school. Each child loves their "foster fathers". I also consider the soldiers as my own children" - Mr. Chong Cua confided.

Informing about the unit's activities to help poor students in difficult circumstances, Colonel Chu Huy Luong - Political CommissarDefense Economic Group 4said that in the past 5 years, the unit has sponsored 32 children. Most of the children are orphans, or come from families with special difficulties, which puts them at risk of dropping out of school. In addition to monthly financial support, officers and soldiers directly responsible for tutoring the children, the unit also regularly gives gifts to encourage the children, especially during holidays and Tet.

In Na Ngoi, the image of "foster fathers" wearing military ranks has become familiar to the people and children here. Not only the officers and employees of the 4th National Defense Economic Group, but also the soldiers wearing green military ranks at Na Ngoi Border Guard Station are also the close "foster fathers" of many unfortunate children.

Soldiers of Na Ngoi Border Guard Station guide adopted children to study. Photo: HT

The soldiers' caring and loving arms have given the children warmth and confidence to rise up and escape misfortune and suffering. "For the past 5 years, Na Ngoi Border Guard Station has had two more adopted children living and working in the unit. Every morning, the fathers take their children to school and pick them up in the afternoon. In the evening, they sit at the table with their children to study," said Lieutenant Colonel Vi Van Lam - Deputy Political Commissar of Na Ngoi Border Guard Station. Leading us to a small, pretty room with warm lighting, two boys, Vi Duong Cam, a 5th grader, and Mua Ba Sau, a 6th grader, were engrossed in their books. Next to them were two young "adoptive fathers", soldiers of the station's Mass Mobilization Team.

Every day, they go to all the villages, to the most remote and difficult places to keep the border safe. Every night, the soldiers in green uniforms become foster fathers, teaching the children every stroke of the pen, every lesson. The boy Vi Duong Cam lives in Tang Phan village, the youngest of four children, in a family of extremely poor and difficult circumstances, his parents are sick and unable to work.

For the past 5 years, thanks to the "foster fathers" who took him in to live with them, Vi Duong Cam has had the opportunity to go to school. As for Mua Ba Sau in Phu Kha 2 village, his father died early, his mother remarried, Sau and his younger brother live with their elderly grandparents. Without the care of the "foster fathers" of Na Ngoi Border Guard Station, Mua Ba Sau would have dropped out of school by now. In addition to the 2 foster children, the unit also supports 3 other orphaned students with 500,000 VND per month, including 1 Lao student in Nam Ngat village, Muong Moc district, Xieng Khouang province.

In 2021, Na Ngoi Border Guard Station coordinated to call on 45 organizations and individuals to support poor people and students in the commune with gifts and money worth more than 2 billion VND. Photo: HT

For many years now, in addition to Na Ngoi Border Guard Station, in the border districts of Nghe An, other stationsborder guardsreceived help from 97 disadvantaged students, including 16 Lao students; adopted 17 orphaned students to live and work together at the stations.

We have traveled and seen throughout the border areas that not only in Na Ngoi, there are children living in poverty and deprivation, but in Ky Son in particular, in the mountainous districts of Nghe An in general, wherever we go we can encounter similar situations. There are still too many miserable children who need more love like the silent work of military fathers in the border areas./.