The joy of the "prisoner and…"

(Baonghean) - Coincidentally, our business trip to Nghi Long commune (Nghi Loc) coincided with the time when the commune Youth Union was summarizing the Summer activities - 2014. In the spacious campus of the commune cultural house, the "homegrown" but no less unique cultural and artistic performances were taking place very lively. Most surprisingly, the "host" of this attractive stage was a slim Youth Union officer, whose calm voice always created sympathy for the person opposite. The girl sitting next to me said that it was Mr. Dinh Bui Thuong - Secretary of the commune Youth Union - the person who designed all the performances in the program.

Mr. Dinh Bui Thuong (far left) and youth union members of Nghi Long commune repaired a house for a policy family in the area.

We came to talk to him when the summary meeting had ended. Still sweaty after several hours of busy work, Dinh Bui Thuong was still excited to share: "At the conclusion of this year's Summer activities, over 90% of the members and youth were ranked as good or excellent, most of them were active in the Union activities. No matter how hard it is, the Union activities receive such a response, making union cadres like me very happy!"

If anyone understands the specific difficulties in the activities of the Youth Union in Nghi Long commune, they will share that simple happiness with Dinh Bui Thuong. Nearly 10 years of being involved in the activities of the Youth Union, growing up from the position of Secretary of the Youth Union of Hamlet 9, more than anyone, he understands the unnamed hardships of the person responsible for "carrying the prison and the whole village...". Those are the days and nights of going to each house, encouraging union members and youth to participate in the movement; the sharing and confiding sessions with the people in the area, combining with organizations and unions to mobilize people to support fundraising programs; the countless days of struggling with union members and youth to build economic models... The lives of the people in the commune are still full of difficulties, more than 50% of union members and youth in the commune have left their hometowns to do business in the South and the North. Therefore, many years ago, the Youth Union movement of Nghi Long commune declined seriously, the number of members responding to the Youth Union movement was very small, or the activities were perfunctory and indifferent.

To revive the local Youth Union movement, Dinh Bui Thuong and the Youth Union officials in the Executive Committee had to be patient, skillful in mass mobilization, and directly participate in each specific activity, avoiding leaving behind a mentality of bureaucracy and alienation among union members and youth. Up to now, the rate of union members gathering has reached over 90%, fundraising activities to help poor children overcome difficulties to go to school, support families that suffered heavy losses after the storm... have been actively implemented and received the response of the people. Most recently, the commune union has mobilized to establish the Fund "Lighting up the dreams of Vietnamese youth", up to this point has collected more than 10 million VND. Mr. Dinh Bui Thuong happily said: “With a locality that still has many difficulties in terms of economy, education level and awareness like Nghi Long, doing a good job of mobilization and propaganda will be a “lever” to help the voice and prestige of the Youth Union spread further and deeper. From a low starting point, the Youth Union movement in Nghi Long has increasingly developed in both breadth and depth, and for many consecutive years has received certificates of merit from the District Youth Union, Provincial Youth Union and the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union for its strong and excellent Youth Union and youth movement. That is the greatest reward for me as well as other Youth Union officials!”

As for the dedicated Commune Youth Union Secretary himself, in late July 2014, good news came to him when he won the first prize in the district-level Deputy Political Commissar competition and is continuing to practice to participate in the provincial competition. He said that there is no secret to success, he just always reminds himself that wherever he goes and whatever he does, he must maintain the virtue of being close to the people, putting the collective interest above all, always being attached and connected to the vivid reality in the locality. He excitedly shared with us the topic of the provincial-level Deputy Political Commissar competition that he is drafting: "The militia and self-defense force conducts mass mobilization work, building political bases in the locality". The simple, sincere joy of the Commune Youth Union cadre - "the one who carries the prisoners and the whole village" shines on his face...

Article and photos:Phuong Chi