Female soldiers and the activity of "connecting love"

The Women's Association of Nghe An Provincial Military Command currently has 138 members. These are female soldiers who have been and are contributing in different positions. What they have in common is their enthusiasm for social activities, contributing to the good performance of local military and defense tasks and strengthening the solidarity between the army and the people.

Members of the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command talked and encouraged children at the Center for Care of Disabled and Orphaned Children in Hamlet 6, Nghi Van Commune (Nghi Loc). Photo: Trong Kien

Meet Captain Hoang Van Anh - President of the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command when she is busy planning and preparing nutritious meals for 50 disabled and orphaned children who are currently being cared for at the Center for Nurturing and Caring for Disabled and Orphaned Children in Hamlet 6, Nghi Van Commune (Nghi Loc). This is a center established by the nuns of Tan Huong Parish, Bo Son Parish.

Captain Hoang Van Anh said that although the work is hard, it is fun. Twice a month, female soldiers from the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command take turns going to Hamlet 6 to prepare meals for the children. The aunts and uncles also help the children bathe and wash clothes, and organize games to make them happy and more confident.

Captain Hoang Van Anh - President of the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command helps children prepare books. Photo: Trong Kien

This is one of the activities of the model "Connecting love between Catholics and non-Catholics" that the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command has started to implement since April 2017. The goal of the model is to strengthen solidarity and mutual understanding through coordination and twinning activities, helping women in religious areas to fully understand and comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and local regulations; strive to build a prosperous and happy family, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety, making the homeland and country increasingly rich, civilized, and united between Catholics and non-Catholics.

When the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command decided to choose Nghi Van commune to implement the model in 2017, the Women's Union of Nghi Van commune had 16 branches, of which 11 branches had 756 members who were Catholics. "After organizing the signing ceremony, we decided to take Hamlet 6 (belonging to Tan Huong Parish) to focus on coordination activities. This is a hamlet where over 85% of the people follow Catholicism, and the people mainly live on farming, many families are in especially difficult circumstances and need help" - Captain Hoang Van Anh said.

With the spirit of helping each other, the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command organized activities to donate and support breeding animals for Nghi Van women's union members' families to develop livestock; visited and encouraged women and children in difficult circumstances. Specifically, the Union donated and supported 3 breeding cows for 3 union members' families (which have now given birth to 2 calves); and gave gifts to 12 union members' families in difficult circumstances. The total amount was up to 62 million VND.

The Provincial Military Command presented 3 breeding cows to 3 women's association members of Nghi Van commune who are in especially difficult circumstances. Photo courtesy

In particular, in hamlet 6, there is a situation where Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuc, a Catholic woman in the hamlet, unfortunately has bone tumor, and her family is very poor and has no money for treatment. Faced with that situation, the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command mobilized female soldiers in the agency to donate more than 11 million VND, promptly supporting Ms. Phuc with surgery and treatment.

Witnessing the difficult, deprived, and extremely pitiful circumstances of the children at the Center for the care and nurturing of disabled and orphaned children, the Association has mobilized its staff and members to save each bunch of vegetables and onion in their daily activities to contribute to ensuring 2 nutritious meals per month for the children. From April 2017 to now, the Association has cooked 40 meals and given 8 gifts worth up to 88 million VND.

“Although many of our children have cognitive disabilities, every time we appear, they rush out and call us mom. We are very happy because this small act has brought joy to their lives.”

Captain Hoang Van Anh - President of the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command

Officers and members of the Provincial Military Command's Women's Union with children at the Center celebrating Children's Day June 1st. Photo courtesy

Sister Nguyen Thi Minh Khai - Bo Son Parish, Xa Doai Deanery happily said that the work of the female soldiers of the Provincial Military Command was like an extra motivation for the children. Every time they came to visit the children and the nuns at Bo Son Parish, the female soldiers were very thoughtful, paying attention to even the smallest things.

“When joining us, the female soldiers showed their beauty from their military ranks, to their feelings and work. I think if I were not a nun, I would also want to wear a green shirt like the female soldiers.”

Sister Nguyen Thi Minh Khai - Bo Son Parish, Xa Doai Deanery

In reality, twinning activities are not always easy and favorable. At first, many parishioners did not really support. However, with specific and practical actions such as visiting, giving gifts, exchanging, cleaning up village roads and alleys, helping each other with production work, taking care of children, etc. by female soldiers, people have changed their attitudes, increasingly trusting and admiring the soldiers, listening to the sharing, suggestions and propaganda of the sisters in the Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command.

The Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command played volleyball with its sister unit, the Women's Union of Nghi Van commune. Photo courtesy

“I still remember, during the exchange and gift giving to the children on June 1st, seeing the people's affection for the soldiers was very close and sincere, the parish priest Hoang Trong Hieu told me: “You are truly “Uncle Ho's soldiers”, soldiers of the people, regardless of religion or non-religion...” - Captain Hoang Van Anh said and added that many activities organized by the sisters had the enthusiastic participation of the parish priest. These were building roads, cleaning the environment, participating in collective activities with the soldiers and the people.

From the first model in Nghi Van commune, up to now, the program "Connecting love between Catholics and non-Catholics" has been expanded to 6 grassroots associations. The Women's Union of the Provincial Military Command has signed a partnership with 6 women's party cells in Catholic areas in the province, including: Quynh Luu, Nam Dan, Dien Chau, Vinh City. It can be said that the greatest achievement of the model is that it has truly connected the feelings, responsibilities, and spirit of sharing between Catholics and non-Catholics; mass mobilization work is carried out in the hearts of Catholics, contributing to strengthening solidarity between Catholics and non-Catholics, consolidating the military-civilian relationship, contributing to maintaining political security and social order and safety in the province. This is also the most vivid proof of the results of implementing Directive 05 of the Politburo on promoting the study and following of Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality, and lifestyle.