Take the youth's strength and will to volunteer to overcome and fulfill roles and duties.
On the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Youth Volunteer Force's tradition day (July 15, 1950 - July 15, 2024), Nghe An Newspaper had a conversation with the Captain of the Youth Volunteer Force 10 Nguyen Huu Trach, who has been associated with the people of the mountainous district of Ky Son for more than 20 years.
My Ha (Implementation) • July 15, 2024
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PV: When we talk about Youth Volunteers, we often think of young people. However, you joined this force quite late, when you already had a wife and 3 children. What brought you to this special role?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:In 2002, I was 37 years old and was in charge of the role of Cooperative Manager of Hong Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh). At that time, by chance, I and some of my colleagues in the commune had the opportunity to visit the economic development model at the Youth Volunteer Corps 2 in Thanh Chuong District. Going there, we saw that this model was very good, everyone worked together, ate together, we were very happy. So we volunteered to go.
At that time, I was no longer young, and I was under the management of the District Party Committee, so it was not easy to ask to go. I had to go through the district, the commune, and ask for the opinion of the commune members, but "no one would let me go". Before leaving, my brothers and I were also worried and hesitant, but we determined that if we left, we would not have the opportunity to return, so we tried our best to complete the task.
PV:The 8th Youth Volunteer Team in Huoi Tu Commune, Ky Son District is one of the units that left an impression on you and your fellow team members. From the first brick built until it became stable, there must have been many memorable memories?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:After joining the Youth Volunteer Force, I only worked for a few months at the Youth Volunteer Team 2 in Thanh Chuong District. After that, the province decided to establish the Youth Volunteer Team 8 in Huoi Dun Village, Huoi Tu Commune, Ky Son District and we volunteered to go there to work with the ethnic people to build a youth village and develop economic models.
Looking back at the whole process, it was really difficult. When we first arrived, we had no idea what this land was like, there was no electricity, no phone signal. In a remote, isolated place, all communication with family members was interrupted. There was a time when my family member and a brother in the unit passed away, but we did not receive any information, they were in the province and returned later than those in the South. The family did not know, at that time, the phone only reported reaching Muong Xen town. But in the middle of the night, the motorbike taxi drivers refused to come because they were afraid that the road was difficult and that we would not have money to pay when we got there...
At first, when we came here, we didn’t have a house to live in, so we had to build a temporary shelter to sleep in, 5 people sharing a bed. The weather here in winter is very cold and harsh. When we came here, we determined that we were all one family. From cadres, team members to party cell secretaries, we all “rolled up our shirts and pants” to work, regardless of high or low. Everyone encouraged each other to overcome difficulties and hardships, using the strength of youth and the will of youth volunteers to overcome the situation.
PV:You may be able to overcome the difficulties in living conditions. But to turn a wild land into tea hills that bring stable income to the local people, it must be much harder, right?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:The place where we were stationed had its own characteristics with 100% of the Mong people living there. The women here hardly knew how to speak the common language, the men only spoke a few words, whatever we said they would just say "yes", but sometimes they didn't understand. There was a custom here that people would go to the fields at 7-8am and come back at dusk. Therefore, to meet the people, we had to go early in the morning, encourage them to give us land, encourage them to plant. In the afternoon, we also had to eat early to be able to go to the people's houses in time.
The weather here is also harsh, so planting any plants is a big concern. When we first arrived, we tested a number of plants and animals such as tea, pic nieng, acacia, etc. and finally chose tea, because this is the type of plant that is most suitable for the climate and soil conditions. There are some plants that die after a short time of being planted in the cold and cannot grow.
The process of developing the General Team was indeed very difficult. When we first established the unit, we determined that it would be very difficult to get land from the people to build the General Team. Therefore, we encouraged the people in Huoi Kha and Huoi Dun villages to give land to the General Team and immediately recruited the villagers to become team members. To gain the trust of the people, we built terraced fields, planted tea for the people and helped take care of them.
At first, people did not agree because they thought "if we grow tea for 3 years, what will we eat?". We had to be "innovative", growing tea and then rice so that people would have rice to eat. Thanks to that, we had the first 60 hectares to grow tea for testing. The first batch of tea harvested after 2 years, we had to go to the tea farm in Hanh Lam (Thanh Chuong), hire experts to dry the tea, not by machine like now but by pan, drying all night and all day. After this success, people began to trust and join the Team, at one point there were nearly 60 team members. The tea area also increased from 60 hectares to more than 500 hectares.
During the process of building and developing the 8th Youth Volunteer Team, we were fortunate to receive support from the district and commune authorities. Myself and the other brothers, because they studied farming and had many years of experience as cooperative managers, were able to master the techniques and quickly adapt to the situation.
PV: Since 2003, you have been with the 8th Youth Volunteer Team for more than 20 years. Looking back now, what do you think is the greatest achievement you have made?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:As I shared, the first achievement we achieved was in 2005 when the first batch of pre-picked tea was successfully processed and that was a favorable foundation for later attracting a large number of people to participate, expanding the tea area in Huoi Tu commune and some neighboring communes. I still remember, to reassure the people, at first we raised the price of tea 4, 5 times higher than the market price. Then we mobilized all commune officials to participate in tea planting, acting as a pioneer force. The tea planting movement developed rapidly, with one year it grew to 60 hectares. After many years of implementation, Huoi Tu Shan Tuyet tea has begun to have a brand and up to now, consumption is quite easy, thanks to that, people's lives have initially stabilized. It is quite easy for each household here to earn an annual income of 70 - 80 million VND from tea trees.
Coming to Huoi Tu commune now, we can clearly see the changes in people's lives. In addition to implementing models for farmers to learn and follow, guiding people in doing business, developing the economy, and eliminating backward customs, we also encourage families to send their children to school. Every year, the General Team also coordinates with schools to reward children of team members with good academic achievements, many of whom go to university, college, and have stable jobs.
PV:One of the main tasks of the Youth Volunteer Force is to participate in implementing programs and projects for socio-economic development in border areas, islands, and areas with difficult or especially difficult socio-economic conditions. So do you feel pressured because after many years of working with the Youth Volunteer Team 8 in Huoi Tu Commune, you transferred to the Youth Volunteer Team 10 in Na Ngoi Commune and started again with difficulties?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:3 years ago I moved to Na Ngoi and before moving, my brothers and I determined that we would face many difficulties. Because, although the brothers who went before had mobilized the people to grow more than 100 hectares of tea, now the people are no longer interested in this plant. Instead, people focus on growing ginger, because the cost and profit from ginger in recent years are much higher than previous years.
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Although I know it is hard, when the Provincial Youth Union assigned me a new task, I still told myself to try to overcome it. In recent years, we have started to switch from tea trees to ginger, medicinal plants, and Ngoc Linh ginseng. Although many types of trees are still in the experimental stage and have not been expanded, we believe that if we promote propaganda and mobilization, people will gradually raise their awareness and continue to accompany the General Team to develop the economy together.
PV:It can be said that most of your time is spent away from your family. What is your biggest concern for yourself?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:If I say I feel guilty and worried, it is because when my children were young, I went to work far away, I did not have the conditions to instruct and take care of them regularly, so they suffered a lot. For many years, my wife has shouldered both roles alone, and I love her very much. I often jokingly call her "heroic Vietnamese wife".
Having chosen to join the youth volunteer force, we also determined that there would be long-term difficulties and hardships. However, in order to attract young, qualified and capable people, I hope there will be more policies to attract them, ensuring that they can make ends meet. In addition, the General Team also hopes to be granted long-term land so that we can feel secure in production.
PV: “Nothing is difficult/ Only fear that the heart is not steadfast/ Digging mountains and filling seas/ With determination, it will be done”… those are the four verses that Uncle Ho gave to the Youth Volunteer Force; according to his teachings, how is the current activities of the Youth Volunteer Force, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Huu Trach:Uncle Ho's saying, in any era, has become a message, a direction, an action for the Youth Volunteer Force. Therefore, in any circumstance, I think that the Youth Volunteer Force must always try to complete the assigned tasks, must still be passionate and devoted to complete the assigned tasks. The youth of the youth, in any circumstance, are enthusiastic about the country, about the homeland, when the Party needs the youth, and where there is difficulty, there will be the youth.
PV:Thanks for joining the conversation!
