Works and works for the people of the green-uniformed soldiers at the border

Carryclean water for villagers

Welcoming Independence Day on September 2 this year, the people of Na Lot village (Nhon Mai commune) are happier because they no longer have to worry about the lack of water for daily activities. Na Lot is a village of 100% Khmu ethnic group with 61 households and 250 people. People's lives face many difficulties, including the problem of clean water.

The main source of water for daily life of the people is carried from small streams and creeks about 500m away from the village, but in the dry season, the streams and creeks often dry up, leading to water shortages. Understanding the hardship of the people, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station has coordinated with the Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital to build a clean water tank for the people of Na Lot village.

After nearly 2 months of construction under the hot sun, on August 6, the Station and the sponsor handed over the military-civilian water tank project to the people of Na Lot village for use, including a 30m clean water tank.³and 22 1,000-liter water tanks; nearly 2.5km of water pipes, with a total value of 160 million VND.

Mr. Moong Van Dan - Secretary of the Na Lot village Party Cell said: Since having a clean water tank and water pipes from streams and creeks to the tank along with water storage tanks, people have had a much easier time. Thank you to the border guards and benefactors for "sharing the hardship" with our villagers!

It is known that in 2023, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station coordinated with charitable organizations and benefactors to drill 9 wells to donate to 6 schools in 2 communes of Nhon Mai, Mai Son and 2 border stations under the management of the station. Each well has a depth of 70-90m, the cost to successfully drill each well is from 40 to 60 million VND.

Build cfirst, auxiliary works for schools in remote areas

In addition to clean water projects, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station also called for investment in building a bridge for Pha Mut village (Nhon Mai commune, 45 km away), an area with 65 households and 371 people, 100% of whom are ethnic minorities; the poverty rate is 90%.

Previously, the road to Pha Mut village was through streams and creeks, but there was only a temporary bridge made of wooden planks.

During the rainy season, the stream water rises and causes local isolation, making it difficult for people to travel and do business, and interrupting the education of children in the village. Thanks to the efforts of the soldiers in green uniforms and sponsors, the 3.5-ton, 3-meter-wide I-shaped steel bridge in Pha Mut village, with a total value of 450 million VND, was put into use on July 14, 2023, to the joy of the villagers and local authorities.

Currently, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station is continuing to coordinate with volunteer units to build a people's bridge across Hy stream, connecting Nhon Mai village with Nhon Mai Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities with a total value of 500 million VND to serve the travel needs of the people, especially during the rainy season.

According to the design, Nhon Mai bridge is made of steel structure, 34m long, 2m wide, costing about 500 million VND supported by volunteer units. The bridge is expected to be handed over in September this year, when put into use, it will create favorable conditions for students to go to school, as well as production activities and economic development of local people.

Along with the bridges for people, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station also called on sponsors to build facilities to serve teaching and learning for schools in difficult areas managed by the unit. Typically, the construction of kitchens, auxiliary works, roofing, fences, toilets... for teachers and students of Pieng Cooc Kindergarten, Mai Son commune has mobilized more than 360 million VND, of which the Party Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's grassroots bloc in Ho Chi Minh City supported 220 million VND; Tuong Duong District Party Committee supported 140 million VND.

To complete the auxiliary works for this school, the officers and soldiers of the Station contributed nearly 400 working days to serve the construction. In addition, the Station also sent officers and soldiers to the area to help Nhon Mai and Mai Son Kindergartens pour more than 300 square meters of concrete yard to make a playground for students and is currently implementing the construction of a Kindergarten and Primary School in Huoi Man village, Nhon Mai commune worth 300 million VND.

CoreExpand the combined military-civilian livelihood model

The mark of the green-uniformed soldiers of Nhon Mai Border Guard Station in the hearts of the Party Committee, authorities and border residents is also reflected in their companionship in the fight against hunger and poverty through combined military-civilian livelihood models. In 2023, the Station deployed 2 models of breeding goats and 1 model of caged fish farming worth 100 million VND, helping 3 households in the area stabilize their lives.

A typical example is the case of Ms. Vi Thi Dung's family in Pieng Mun village, Mai Son commune, who was supported by Nhon Mai Border Guard Station with 6 pairs of breeding goats and instructed on breeding techniques as well as barn sanitation to ensure warmth in winter and coolness in summer so that the animals have good resistance and development. "Thanks to the guidance of the Border Guard, my family's goat herd has developed well, from 6 pairs of breeding goats, now breeding and multiplying to 20 goats. My family will continue to try to take good care of the goats and is determined to escape poverty," said Ms. Dung.

According to the sharing of the Station Chief Phan Thanh Hong: The good thing about the combined military-civilian model is that the soldiers and the people work together. The households participating in the model all receive 50% profit as committed after selling livestock products, the remaining amount will be invested by the unit for reproduction for other families. In addition to the capital and efforts of the soldiers, the households see their rights when participating in the model so they also actively participate.

Many other households have also learned to follow suit. For example, at Pieng Cooc checkpoint, Nhon Mai Border Guard Station coordinated with the Fatherland Front Committee of Mai Son commune to implement a model of fattening cows. After 1 year of implementation, the cows have developed well, becoming a driving force for local people to follow suit in developing their family economy. It is known that since the beginning of the year, the total budget that the Station has called for from donors, benefactors and the budget directly invested by Nhon Mai Border Guard Station in the two communes of Nhon Mai and Mai Son is nearly 3 billion VND.

Talking to us, Lieutenant Colonel Phan Thanh Hong - Chief of Nhon Mai Border Guard Station added: In the coming time, the Station plans to continue to survey, call for and build a military-civilian water tank worth about 200 million VND, and build a people's bridge worth about 300 million VND in Cha Lo village, Mai Son commune.

At the same time, continue to replicate 03 combined military-civilian livelihood models (raising goats for breeding and raising fish in cages for poor households). The estimated initial investment capital (for breeding animals, barns, cages) for 1 model is about 50 million VND.

According to the leader of Nhon Mai commune: The works and tasks for the people that the officers and soldiers of Nhon Mai Border Guard Station have been implementing not only strengthen the military-civilian relationship but also contribute to the peace of the people, the locality and the border.