Spreading love at a summer camp for orphans.

"I feel lucky..."

“Mom, this is the first time I’ve written to you. It’s been over four years, hasn’t it? Over four years since I lost Dad’s love. During that time, you had to be both a father and a mother, while also enduring the pain of losing the person who loved you most… Once, when I held your hand, I noticed the calluses – it was the first time I’d held your hand in four years since Dad passed away. You hugged me and cried loudly, and we held hands and talked about Dad… Mom, please accept my apologies for all the times I argued with you, for not helping you with housework, for the time you had an accident and I still went out to play with my friends… And yet you didn’t scold me at all…”

“…Dad, what can I do when I can't see you anymore? I miss you so much! Many nights I feel lonely, sad, and I cry until my chest aches and my throat tightens because I'm so jealous. I'm jealous of my friends who get picked up from school by their dads, who take them out to play… And me… Dad, you know, at that time I just wished you were here to hug me, comfort me, and tell me how much you love me. Dad, now I think that I'm still luckier than many of my friends; I got to live with you for five years. That's the biggest motivation in my life… Dad, rest assured, your daughter promises you, I will always strive and work hard every day. On the other side, rest in peace, Dad. Your daughter loves you so much!”

This is excerpt 2 of over 200 letters sent to parents by students at the summer camp.Connecting with love"The 2024 summer camp was organized by the Provincial Labor Culture House in coordination with the Khai Minh Duc Education System, under the direction of the Provincial Labor Federation. At that special summer camp, one could easily find very special circumstances and very special children. The children entered the summer camp with shyness and feelings of inferiority, but returned with a shared belief: 'I feel luckier than many other children, lucky to be the child of my parents...'"

Vuong Tra My (11 years old, Dien Chau) is one such child. Tra My's father passed away 7 years ago, when Tra My was only 4 years old. At that time, her older sister was 8 years old, and her twin brothers were just learning to walk. Her father's death placed the entire burden on the frail shoulders of her mother, Pham Thi Hai, a garment worker at Wooin Vina Co., Ltd. Recalling those turbulent times, Ms. Hai's voice choked with emotion: “Tra My was very attached to her father, so when he died, she missed him terribly. From a chubby little girl, My became weak and thin. As an affectionate child, My gradually became less talkative, her face always sad, shy, and fearful. Even now, whenever she cries, she only calls for her father and never her mother…”

Although she doesn't call her mother and rarely confides in her, Tra My loves her very much. Her older sister, in 9th grade, studies and works at the same time to earn money to help her mother raise her younger siblings. Her mother works shifts from early morning until late at night, leaving Tra My alone at home to cook, do laundry, and bathe her two younger brothers... Out of love for her daughter, when she heard about the "Connecting with Love" summer camp, Ms. Hai registered Tra My to participate.

“Returning from the two-day summer camp, after her first time away from home, My has changed a lot. She's happier, more open in conversation, more confident, and proactively confides in me about the trip, the teachers and friends at the camp, and her thoughts… The money, milk, and snacks provided by the Dien Chau District Labor Union, she saved to share with her two younger siblings, and gave the rest to me to buy books and school supplies,” Ms. Hai revealed.

Sharing the same feelings of surprise and pride at her son's transformation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a union member at Chau Khe Primary School in Con Cuong, choked up as she said, "Having lost his father at a young age, my son Hai Dang often felt insecure and self-conscious about his family circumstances. Coupled with the psychological and physiological changes of adolescence, he tended to distance himself from others, talk less with his mother, and lose interest in studying. After participating in the summer camp, even though it was only for two days, he became a completely different child. He voluntarily did housework, wrote letters to his mother, proactively confided in her, and planned his studies… I was deeply moved."

The emotional snippets recorded above are just a very small part of what happened after this special summer camp. There are so many more thoughts and feelings that cannot be put into words from this heartwarming event.

"

Taking place over two days and involving 200 orphaned children of union members and workers from across the province, the 2024 "Connecting with Love" summer camp was organized with a series of beneficial experiential activities such as listening to lectures on the meaning of the five teachings of Uncle Ho, self-care and others care skills, meal preparation skills, learning about gratitude, writing letters to loved ones, learning military regulations, talent competitions, folk dancing, etc. Through these activities, the children were educated in patriotism, national pride, honoring beautiful lifestyles, enhancing their awareness and perception of life, and creating motivation for them to overcome their circumstances.

A large family

Although a joyful event, the 2024 "Connecting with Love" summer camp brought tears to the eyes of many participants, from children to volunteers, from teachers to parents, from union officials to strangers. The program's humanistic meaning and beautiful emotions connected all the small families to form one big family.

Describing herself as a mother of few words, rarely expressing her emotions, Ms. Nguyen Thi Dien (Nghe An Provincial Library) couldn't hide her feelings when she directly participated in the closing ceremony of the summer camp with her child. “I cried almost throughout the program, because I felt sorry for the children, for my child, and because I was moved and grateful to the organizers. As a mother whose child participated in the program, representing a small family within a larger group of 200 families, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the organization.”trade union"To all those who made this summer camp possible. Hopefully, in the future, there will be many more activities like this so that more children can receive love and comfort, and more families can be healed and supported..."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa shared her feelings: “If it weren't for the trade union, I probably would have collapsed from depression four years ago. The agency's trade union and the district's trade union visited, encouraged, and stayed by my side regularly, even though they are not related by blood. That love kept me here, kept my children a mother. And now, once again, at the very moment I needed it most, the trade union with its 'Connecting Love' summer camp has brought my son back to the journey he needs to continue.”

To ensure the success of the summer camp, the participation of the children, and their safety and well-being throughout the journey, we cannot overlook the contributions of the grassroots trade union officials. They had to persuade each family to let their children participate, accompany them for two days, constantly update information, and maintain contact with all the families…

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, a trade union official from Dien Chau district, said: “Our group had 17 children, the largest in the province. During the trip, we encountered many unforeseen issues that needed to be addressed. From insufficient information provided by the facility to excessive parental anxiety, from motion sickness to lost belongings and missing their mothers… It was tiring but fun. Summer camp is not only an opportunity for the children to grow, but also an opportunity for the parents to grow. We hope these programs can be organized at the district level so that more families can participate. If that happens, we are ready to provide full support.”

“For the first time, over 150 teachers and volunteers from across the country gathered in Nghe An to create a memorable event. Witnessing the children breaking free from their ‘cocoons’ to connect happily with each other, reading their heartfelt letters, and receiving loving messages and thanks from parents in the family groups, we, the program organizers, were incredibly happy. We are truly grateful to the parents and children for trusting and participating in the program, giving us the opportunity to connect with love,” shared Mr. Nguyen Duc Thu, Director of the Provincial Labor Culture House.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr. Phan Trung Phuong - Chairman of the Board of Directors and Head of the Executive Board of Khai Minh Duc Education System - emotionally said: "Witnessing the concerns, dedication, care, and thoughtfulness of the trade union officials of Nghe An for this program, I admire and am immensely grateful. What they have accomplished today will surely bring sweet fruits for the future, for the future generations of the country..."

"

The "Connecting with Love" summer camp program is one of four activities assigned by the Provincial Labor Union to the Provincial Labor Culture House for organization in 2024.