We hope to have a local cultural center.

(Baonghean) - We are the people of Noong On village, formerly Khun Tinh people. Since the new government came into power, the villagers have been able to gather together to hear stories from nearby and distant villages, learn about ways of doing business; receive guidance and policies from the Party and the State, and express their thoughts... Old and young, women and girls alike, everyone has their own association...

So, as our people say, the bird has found its flock. Some people even get to join two or three organizations. It's fun and they learn a lot, especially during meetings or holidays.

However, the villages of Noong On, Co, Pom, La... and several other villages in the commune still don't have community cultural centers. Whenever the villagers need a meeting, they have to worry about whose house is spacious enough to ask permission to use. Frankly, it's inconvenient, and they feel too obligated to let it go. It's their private home being used as a meeting place. Many people have grievances they don't dare voice, fearing the children might hear. Each person also has their own house spirits. Speaking harshly wouldn't sound good. And hardly anyone in the village has time for daytime meetings. They're busy working in the fields. They always hold meetings at night. Many meetings don't finish until almost midnight, leaving the elderly and children at home sleepy with nowhere to rest.

The officials, and then the villagers, realized that this was inconvenient, so they held a meeting to discuss building a makeshift hut with bamboo tables and chairs for meetings, because the village was very poor and didn't have much money to build a nice house. But it seemed to be of little use. After a few months and about twenty meetings, the hut's walls were torn and the roof was punctured. The officials and villagers could only choose a villager's house for meetings. To encourage the homeowner, the villagers contributed a few dozen kilograms of rice each harvest season, as a token of appreciation for a cup of water and a cigarette during each village meeting.

However, the villagers are still not satisfied. Hopefully, the government will provide more support so that our village can have a community center, where the people can hold village meetings and other activities, and finally have peace of mind!

HV

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(According to the opinions of the people in Noong On village (Chau Thai - Quy Hop))