The godmothers in police uniform

Journey of connecting love

In late February 2024, we had the opportunity to join the working group of the Provincial Police Women's Committee to visit and give gifts to Phan Hoang Linh Dan (Ta Lanh village, Chau Hanh commune, Quy Chau district). From afar, Linh Dan, her younger sister Nhat Le and her grandmother were waiting for the group. Seeing the mothers coming, Linh Dan, with her eyes sparkling with joy, shouted "Mom! Mom!" and ran to hug the sisters in the group. From a quiet girl, afraid of strangers, since having her godmothers, Linh Dan has become open and sociable with friends in class and at school.

Inside the small house where Linh Dan and her grandparents were staying, there was nothing of value except two small beds and a few pots, pans, bowls and chopsticks. On the bed placed against the wall, the man's coughing grew louder and louder, mixed with painful groans, making the atmosphere in the house even more gloomy. Linh Dan and Nhat Le were carefree and happy, engrossed in the stuffed animals, sharing candy and milk that their godmothers had brought.

While putting the pot of medicine on the stove for her husband, Mrs. Tran Thi Do said that her husband, Mr. Thinh, is suffering from a serious illness. Recently, the illness has become more and more serious, the pain has made him unable to do any work. Phan Hoang Linh Dan is in first grade this year, and Phan Nhat Le is nearly 3 years old, both are their grandchildren...

Speaking of this, Mrs. Do sighed again, her eyes filled with tears. According to Mrs. Do, because she wanted to improve her life, Ms. T. (mother of Linh Dan and Nhat Le) worked hard in many jobs and then followed her friends from her hometown to work as a worker in industrial parks in the South. Here, alone in a foreign land, Ms. T. believed in the sweet promises and gave herself to this man (unknown background and address). In 2021, due to the difficult Covid-19 epidemic, Ms. T. brought Linh Dan and her pregnant belly near the due date back to her hometown. However, unfortunately, due to a difficult birth, Ms. T. unfortunately passed away, leaving Nhat Le still red. Since then, the grandparents have taken on the role of parents to raise and care for the two sisters.

“When Linh Dan was about to enter first grade, my husband and I were very worried, because we had to take care of milk and diapers for Nhat Le, and my grandfather was seriously ill, so we did not have enough money to send her to school. At that time, in early June 2023, the Provincial Police Women's Committee accepted to be Linh Dan's "Godmother", with a care and upbringing support of 1 million VND/month. We were very happy, thanks to the support of the mothers, Linh Dan was able to go to school to learn to read and write; Nhat Le had milk to drink. The mothers also regularly gave clothes and books to the two children. My family is very grateful for your kindness", Ms. Do could not hide her joy and emotion when sharing.

Similarly, in the case of Lo Gia Vy (born in 2012, in Tong Xan village, Thach Ngan commune, Con Cuong district), his father passed away when he was just 8 months old. Unable to bear the poverty and hunger that surrounded him, his mother also left without a trace, never to return. Gia Vy was taken in by his grandparents. More than 2 years ago, his grandmother's health became even weaker when she discovered she had a serious illness. The life of his grandparents and grandchildren was sometimes hungry, sometimes full, and now the burden is even heavier on the thin shoulders of his elderly grandfather...

Sympathizing with Gia Vy's difficult situation, the Provincial Police Women's Committee accepted to be Gia Vy's "Godmother" with a monthly support of 1 million VND. Currently, Gia Vy is studying in grade 6 at Thach Ngan Secondary School, Con Cuong District, and her first semester results were good. Ms. Ha Thi Kieu Anh - President of the Women's Union of Thach Ngan Commune said: "Gia Vy's grandparents' family is a poor household in the commune. We are very fortunate to have the Provincial Police Women's Committee accept to be Gia Vy's "Godmother" with very practical and meaningful activities. Since having the godmothers, Gia Vy has been very happy, confident, sociable and motivated to study better. Every time I hear that the godmothers are coming to visit, I am very excited."

Unable to hide his joy, Lo Gia Vy shared: “For more than 10 years, I have never felt the love and warmth from my parents. I am happiest since I was adopted as your child. You support me with money, buy me nice clothes, books, and even buy me milk and candy. Every day, you often call me to urge me to study and talk to me. I am very happy and joyful because I have a mother.”

Continue to spread the "Godmother" program

Phan Hoang Linh Dan and Lo Gia Vy are 2 of 18 children accepted as "Godmothers" by the Provincial Police Women's Union; 37 children were accepted as "Godmothers" by the grassroots women's union. The children all have especially difficult circumstances, some have orphaned parents, elderly grandparents, or serious illnesses... With the desire to help the children have more determination to rise up in life, contributing to soothing and alleviating mental pain as well as material difficulties, the "Godmothers" who are members of the women's union at all levels in Nghe An Police have joined hands to take care of, raise, and help them.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Viet Ha - Head of the Provincial Police Women's Committee said: "In April 2022, we started implementing the guidance of the Ministry of Public Security Women's Committee on the "Godmother" Program to support the care and upbringing of orphans and children in difficult circumstances. This is a meaningful activity, contributing to the sharing with society, compensating for the material and spiritual deprivation of children in difficult circumstances. After more than 2 years of implementation, the humane and meaningful "Godmother" program has spread widely in all levels of the Nghe An Police Women's Union with an increasing number of adopted children".

In order for the "Godmother" program to operate effectively, the Provincial Police Women's Committee has directed all levels of the association to review and verify cases of orphans and children in especially difficult circumstances in the area, to receive care and nurture in the form of supporting a part of the living and studying expenses for the children. The Provincial Police Women's Committee has worked with the families, the people directly raising the children, the organizations that adopt and sponsor children, and have committed to the level of support (from 500,000 to 1 million VND/child/month).

This amount is mainly drawn from contributions from officers and members. In addition, the Provincial Police Women's Committee and the grassroots women's association regularly visit and give gifts such as candy, milk, clothes, shoes, books on holidays, Tet, new school year and help, care for, encourage the spirit, guide the study, teach life skills to the children.

“In the coming time, with the spirit of “mutual love”, “the rich help the poor”, the Provincial Police Women’s Committee will continue to spread the “Godmother” program and connect with organizations and donors to be able to help more orphans and children in especially difficult circumstances in the area. So that they can confidently go to school like other children of the same age”, added Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Viet Ha.