Volunteer activities of Nghe An students have special significance to Lao people

(Baonghean.vn) - That was the sharing of Mr. Quan Pet Poung Ma La - Secretary of Bolikhamxay Provincial Youth Union, Laos when visiting Vinh University of Technical Education on the morning of August 23.

Nghe An - "second family"

From the provinces of Xieng Khouang, Vientiane, Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Huaphan, etc., Lao students coming to Nghe An to study all receive attention, support and help from the whole community.

Ms. Pham Thi Ngoc Lan, Laotian Student Management Specialist, Student Affairs Department, Vinh University of Technology and Education, said that one of the biggest difficulties of Laotian students during their studies is the ability to use Vietnamese, especially for students majoring in engineering.

Therefore, when first coming to Nghe An to study, Lao students are often shy and hesitant in communicating with Vietnamese people, making it difficult to integrate into life. To help Lao students in exchanging and acquiring knowledge, the school has actively taught them Vietnamese.

At the same time, in order to create opportunities for Lao students to exchange Vietnamese language and culture, the School Youth Union and Student Affairs Department have coordinated with the Nghe An Provincial Union of Friendship Organizations to apply the model of "Bringing Lao students to practice at local homes - homestay".

Playgrounds such as the "Speaking Vietnamese for International Students and Volunteers 2016" contest especially attract Lao students studying abroad. Photo: My Nga

The actual results show that this is a practical and meaningful model, linking school theory with real life. Participating in this program, the Vietnamese language ability of Lao students is improved, especially most of them are more confident in communication.

Kongnamvong Chittavanh, a student of the Faculty of Information Technology, Vinh University of Technology and Education, is one of the Laotian students who has benefited from the homestay model. He shared: “My Vietnamese has improved day by day because I can directly talk and interact with the locals. Thanks to everyone’s help, teaching me to speak and listen to Vietnamese, I have learned more idioms and understand more about the culture of Nghe An.” This student also won first prize in the “Speaking Vietnamese for International Students and Volunteers 2016” contest.

But the most special thing for Chittavanh is that Nghe An has become his “second family” when he was adopted into a family in Vinh City. “For me and my family in Laos, the biggest debt to Vietnam is the emotional debt” - Chittavanh emotionally shared.

Strong brotherhood

Most of the Lao youth union members when coming to Nghe An to study are arranged to stay and live in university dormitories. Along with the training, they have the conditions and opportunities to participate in activities like Vietnamese union members and students, especially in the activities of the Union and Association.

Mr. Dang Minh Viet - Secretary of the Youth Union of Vinh University of Technical Education said that at universities in the province where Lao students study, the Youth Union is always the "bridge" to mobilize and create conditions for Lao students to participate in cultural, artistic, sports activities, clubs, competitions to learn about the history of relations between the two nations... The Youth Union always supports students, creates activities to connect students of the two countries, so that they see Vietnam as their second homeland.

Summer 2017 was an impressive and unforgettable summer for the youth union members of Nghe An and Laos, when groups of volunteers from Nghe An went to Laos for a meaningful and humane international volunteer season.

Quang Thang Loc - a student of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering Technology at Vinh University, participated in the summer volunteer program in Xieng Khouang province (Laos), shared: "Participating in volunteering in Laos not only helps me contribute a small part to help families in difficult circumstances, but is also a great opportunity to experience, improve knowledge, skills, and make many new friends."

Visiting Vinh University of Technology and Education on the morning of August 23, Mr. Quan Pet Poung Ma La, Secretary of the Bolikhamxay Provincial Youth Union, expressed his deep gratitude to the school's international volunteer group for participating in the summer volunteering in Bolikhamxay province in particular, and the provinces of Laos in general. Photo: My Nga

Talking about international volunteers, Mr. Quan Pet Poung Ma La - Secretary of Bolikhamxay Provincial Youth Union highly appreciated the volunteer activities of Nghe An youth.

"This is something to be appreciated. Your noble gestures have a very special meaning to the Lao people. We hope that there will be more diverse activities between Vietnamese youth in general, Nghe An youth and youth of the three provinces of Xieng Khouang, Bolikhamxay and Hua Phan in particular."

Over the past years, the youth of the two countries have organized many friendly exchange and cooperation activities in many fields with rich contents such as: exchanging and learning experiences in Youth Union work; border youth exchange; coordinating cadre training; organizing volunteer activities for the community; building a Vietnam - Laos border youth friendship village... With such diverse and meaningful activities, the youth and young people of Nghe An have been contributing their intelligence and strength to foster the Vietnam - Laos brotherly friendship.

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