Those who ignite the "fire" on the border.

(Baonghean)These twenty-year-olds, brimming with enthusiasm and a shared desire to contribute their intellect and strength to help the border region of the Fatherland gradually rise out of poverty, are 30 young intellectual volunteers working at the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade. In less than a year, their footprints have been deeply imprinted on all the villages in the five communes of the Ky Son Economic-Defense Zone, and through their concrete actions, these young intellectual volunteers have breathed new life into these remote and barren lands.

Colonel Vi Hieu, Commander of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, stated: “Implementing Project 174 under the Prime Minister's Decision on “Strengthening the deployment of Youth Volunteers to work in Economic-Defense Zones, 2010-2020 period”, in July 2012, the unit organized the second recruitment drive with 30 Youth Volunteers, including 17 transferred from the first drive. All met the required standards and requirements, including 9 university graduates, 5 college graduates, and the rest with vocational school qualifications. Thanks to their health, intelligence, and enthusiasm, these Youth Volunteers have made significant contributions to helping people alleviate poverty and bring the light of culture to the people.”

Talking to the Youth Volunteers working in this border region, each with their own circumstances and thoughts, but all sharing a common desire to share some of the difficulties with their fellow countrymen. Youth Volunteer Nguyen Thi Giang, from Anh Son, confided: “I happened to learn about Project 174 and witnessed firsthand the difficult lives of the people, largely due to a lack of knowledge and the urgent need for science and technology. I decided to apply with the hope of contributing my youthful energy to this land. In the beginning, I faced many difficulties, but thanks to the help of the unit's officers and staff, and seeing the progress and development of the people, I forgot all the hardships.”





Ms. Nguyen Thi Giang, a volunteer in the field, treats sick livestock and guides the people of Xop Lau village, Muong Ai commune, in growing clean vegetables.

With youthful energy and enthusiasm, undeterred by the harsh climate and rugged terrain, the Youth Volunteer Teams, in coordination with officers and staff of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, have researched and applied methods to cultivate and raise several plant and animal varieties that yield high economic value. Looking at the hillsides laden with high-yield pumpkins in the villages of Nam Can commune, everyone remembers Youth Volunteer Team Leader Nguyen Thi Hang. Armed with the knowledge she gained at school during her early days working here, the young intellectual Nguyen Thi Hang always immersed herself in the lives of the local people. After a period of research, she realized that the climate and soil were very suitable for high-yield pumpkin varieties, and she proposed to the Brigade's leadership and commanders to conduct a pilot planting.

As a result, the high-yield pumpkin variety brings high productivity and income. In addition, to increase crop yields, she introduced a bio-fertilizer production model. The application of this bio-fertilizer production model has yielded a double benefit: increasing crop yields and directly contributing to improving environmental sanitation in the village. Similarly, the model of growing acacia trees in Nam Can commune by the Mua Ba Xenh Youth Union; the model of growing artichokes by the Truong Thi Hau Youth Union... all bring high efficiency to the local people.

Evaluating the role and contributions of the Youth Volunteer Force of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade to the locality, Mr. Hoa Pho Nganh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Muong Ai commune, affirmed: "With their skills, knowledge, enthusiasm, dynamism, dedication, and high sense of responsibility, the Youth Volunteer Force and the officers and staff of Production Team 2, 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, have helped our people a great deal. Our people have learned to apply science and technology to production and economic development to escape poverty through economic models such as raising black chickens, black pigs, frogs, eels, growing clean vegetables, and cultivating ginger..."

It is known that, in order to harness the intelligence, youthful energy, and enthusiasm of the Youth Union members, the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade always creates optimal conditions for them to research and develop. The Brigade has divided them into groups and assigned tasks according to their specialized fields of study. Based on these groups, each member actively engages with and understands the lives of the local people to provide assistance and contribute. Notable examples include coordinating with officers, doctors, and nurses at the unit's infirmary to provide medical examinations and medication, disseminating information on family planning, encouraging people to maintain hygienic and scientific living conditions, and conducting surveys to open literacy classes. However, the most significant achievement is coordinating with unit officers and staff to advise local Party committees and authorities on building, consolidating, and strengthening the political system, and helping the youth branches and women's associations innovate and improve the quality of their activities.

Major Tran Ngoc Khue, Assistant Propaganda Officer of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, shared: “The presence of the Youth Propaganda Force not only brings knowledge and scientific and technical expertise but also creates a competitive spirit and a spirit of dedication for the entire unit. They have ignited a flame of enthusiasm and dedication in work and production in this border region.”

Bidding farewell to the Youth Union of the 4th Economic-Defense Brigade, the first peach blossoms have begun to bloom along the roadside, signaling the arrival of a new spring. With the determination and dedication of these Youth Union members on this border region, we believe that a prosperous and warm spring will surely come.

Phung Ngoc Thang - (HT: 5NK 129 Vinh)