Wishing to cross the stream

(Baonghean) - For many years, students in Quang village, Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district have had to wade across the Nam Cam stream to get to school. Worried, many parents have abandoned their farming work to carry their children to school. But during the rainy season, when floodwaters rise, all the children in the village have to stay home from school.

Students in Quang village (Chau Phong commune - Quy Chau district) have to wade through streams to get to school.

Around 5 pm, a group of students gathered, waiting for each other to cross the Nam Cam stream to go home. Holding hands as they waded into the water, they happily laughed and joked, "It's like this every day, we're used to it," followed by several parents keeping an eye on them. For the younger children, parents had to carry them across the stream. Ms. Lu Thi Xuan said, "Every day I have to take my grandchildren to and from school. I drop them off in the morning and pick them up in the afternoon. I can't do anything else. But I wouldn't feel comfortable letting them go to school by themselves."

Quang village has 51 households with 423 people, isolated from the commune center by the Nam Cam stream. Every day, more than 70 students from the village have to wade across the stream to get to Chau Phong II kindergarten, primary, and secondary school in Tam village. During the rainy season, going to school is extremely dangerous for the students of Quang village. “Sometimes, floodwaters inundate the rice fields on higher ground, sweeping away the waterwheels, isolating our village from the outside world. Even within the village, the water divides it into three separate areas. On such days, students have to stay home from school or ask to stay with local families around the school to attend classes,” said Lu Van Tuong, the head of Quang village.

During heavy rains and floods, village police officers are stationed on both sides of the stream, erecting barricades to prevent anyone from crossing until the water recedes. Within the village, people stock up on food and supplies, as they could be isolated for several days. The village head mobilizes young people to cut bamboo from the forest to prepare rafts for transportation, in case the water rises and floods their homes. Livestock such as buffaloes, cows, pigs, and chickens, as well as household items, are moved to the highest point in the village to prevent them from being swept away by the floodwaters. A bridge across the stream has long been a wish of the people of Quàng village, not only to ensure the safety of students going to school, but also to improve the difficult transportation situation, facilitating daily life, production, and trade for the villagers.

Mr. Le Ha Ly, Chairman of the Chau Phong Commune People's Committee, said: “Quang village is isolated from the commune center by the Nam Cam stream. For many years, students have had to wade through the stream to get to school, and the lives of the people have faced many difficulties and obstacles. We have also proposed to the higher authorities the aspirations and wishes of the people of Quang village regarding the construction of a bridge across the stream. According to Project 186 on suspension bridges for the people to ensure traffic safety in ethnic minority areas, the bridge across the Nam Cam stream has been approved by the Ministry of Transport. Surveying and inspection work was carried out at the end of 2014. It is expected that construction of the suspension bridge will begin this year.”

Ho Lai