The dream of returning home.

(Baonghean) - Having become an annual event, the cultural and artistic exchange program "Dream of Returning Home," organized by the Ministry of Public Security in coordination with the Provincial Women's Union at Prison No. 6, has become a forum for conveying positive messages from those who have gone astray, thereby igniting the dream of rehabilitation…

Wearing a prisoner's uniform, Ms. Vo Thi Kieu Thanh (born in 1982) was invited onto the stage as a representative of the inmates with outstanding rehabilitation achievements in 2014 from Sub-camp 3, Prison No. 6. Born and raised in Block 4, Le Loi Ward (Vinh City), considered a "hot spot" for social vices, Thanh soon became entangled in legal troubles for drug trafficking. At the end of 2008, Thanh was arrested, prosecuted, and sentenced to 13 years in prison for "Illegal trafficking of narcotics." To date, Thanh has served nearly half of her sentence.

That was more than enough for this woman to realize her mistake and resolve to turn her life around. Thanh confided, "When I first entered the camp, I was shocked, lost my balance, and felt reckless. Luckily, the officers encouraged and guided me; otherwise, I would have given up everything." Looking into Thanh's teary eyes, we understood her burning desire to return home: "I only hope that when I return, I will be accepted and helped by everyone, and find a stable job to make a living. I also hope that my parents and daughter will forgive me and be a strong support system to help me reintegrate and become a useful citizen."

Members participating in the "Dream of Returning Home" gathering.

The atmosphere at the exchange program seemed to quiet down as female inmate Vi Thi Hien took the microphone and wiped away tears. With the distinctive accent of the Thai ethnic minority, Hien recounted: "I was born in Na Nhi village, Muong Ngoc commune, Que Phong district. My family was very poor. I married early and gave birth to three children in 2002, 2004, and 2005. While I was busy working in the fields to raise my children, the drug epidemic hit. My husband became involved in the drug trade and was arrested. I filed for divorce and raised my three young children and elderly mother alone. In my village, buying and selling drugs was as easy as buying candy. Unable to resist the temptation of money, I also fell into this criminal path. I was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 12 years in prison."

During her two and a half years in prison, her children were raised by their grandmother. More than a month ago, the grandmother brought the three children to visit. Meeting them in prison, seeing her children's dark complexions, Hien couldn't say a word. She could only hold each child's hand, telling them to be good, study hard, and wait for their mother to return. She urged them never to fall into the same trap as their parents. She said that although the road ahead is still long, she will work hard and learn a trade so she can return home soon. “Every night I tell myself that when I return, I will try my best to make up for the loss of my maternal duties. But I don't know if my family and relatives will forgive me or understand the mistakes I've made,” Hien's heartfelt words made many female inmates below pensive, and many couldn't hold back their tears...

Currently, Prison No. 6 (Ministry of Public Security) houses over 4,000 inmates serving sentences. Over the years, Prison No. 6 has regularly hosted cultural and artistic exchange programs aimed at inspiring inmates with determination and effort to overcome difficulties and obstacles, and gradually rebuild their lives. Each program targets a specific group of inmates. For example, the 2013 program, "Lighting the Dream of Rehabilitation," organized by the Nghe An Provincial Youth Union, targeted young inmates, while the "Dream of Returning Home" program focused on female inmates.

At the exchange event, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union, affirmed: This is an opportunity for mothers, wives, and daughters who have made mistakes to share their deepest thoughts and feelings with their beloved family members and express their gratitude to those who have overcome prejudice and discrimination, readily extending a helping hand and guiding them on the path to rehabilitation. This is also considered a bridge connecting the Vietnam Women's Union, local police forces, and authorities at all levels, as well as families and communities, to help inmates return to stable lives and prevent recidivism; it also suggests concrete ways for female inmates to connect with the community, proactively seek out the Women's Union, and seek help from authorities at all levels on the difficult path after serving their sentences...

Colonel Nguyen Viet Hoan, Superintendent of Prison No. 6, who has been involved in the rehabilitation of prisoners for over 20 years, shared that everyone has dreams and aspirations in life, and having dreams gives us goals to strive for. For those who have unfortunately fallen into the trap of breaking the law and are imprisoned, their greatest dream is to soon return to their families and loved ones, and reintegrate into society. Their path back to their families and communities will be closer if they strive to work hard and reform themselves well, so that they may receive the leniency of the Party and the State. Prisoners desperately need the compassion and support of the community. "Exchange programs like 'Dream of Returning Home' need to be expanded to give society a more comprehensive view, understanding, and empathy for mistakes, to eliminate prejudice, and to work together to help released prisoners reintegrate into the community and become useful citizens," Colonel Hoan shared.

Text and photos:Minh Quan