Follow the red shirt volunteer team

At the exam site of Le Hong Phong High School (Hung Thong commune) on the morning of July 4, among the traditional green shirts of the youth volunteer group were the red shirts of volunteers from the Vuon Tue family organization. Having only met yesterday, all members of the group were very close. The atmosphere seemed even more exciting when the truck carrying rice and drinks delivered by Buddhists at Phuc Thanh pagoda arrived. Without anyone telling anyone, each person had a hand, some scooped soup, some arranged the rice and drink boxes into portions for easy distribution to candidates and their families. White rice with braised pork and tofu, fish, stir-fried water spinach, braised peanuts, beef soup with bamboo shoots, and pineapple were put into clean foam boxes along with a bottle of mineral water, convenient and hygienic chopsticks and spoons, which was an "attractive" menu prepared for candidates and their families after the first exam.

While waiting for the candidates, many parents and relatives who had registered in advance came to receive the rice. Everyone expressed their emotion, gratitude and respect for the volunteer work of the Buddhists of Phuc Thanh Pagoda and the volunteer reporters. Receiving 2 meals for himself and his nephew, candidate Nguyen Dinh Quyen, Mr. Bui Duc Hiep, Nghia Hoan Commune (Tan Ky) emotionally confided: Having once gone to Hue alone to take the exam, without anyone to support or help because at that time there were no volunteer activities to support the exam season, I understand better than anyone the hardship and difficulty of candidates from far away in finding a place to eat and stay, especially the issue of eating and drinking to ensure health. Therefore, I am truly grateful for the charitable meals of the Buddhists of Phuc Thanh Pagoda and the volunteer reporters to support the exam season....

Candidates' families were delighted to receive free meals.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Than (Dien Hanh, Dien Chau) said, "For those who live far away and bring their children to the exam like us, there is nothing more precious than a hearty meal or free accommodation in a local's house because the Hung Nguyen exam cluster is not near the center, finding a motel or restaurant is not easy, not to mention the issue of price, food hygiene and safety...". It is worth noting that thanks to the enthusiasm and good organization of the Hung Nguyen district exam support youth group and the youth volunteers in the Vuon Tue family organization of Phuc Thanh pagoda, the rice distribution activity took place in a very orderly and cultural manner, everyone gave their tickets and received the rice in order.

Happy to distribute rice and change soup, volunteer Phan Van Trong said: I am a third-year student of the University of Technology and Business (Hanoi) who came home for summer vacation and was introduced by my mother, a Buddhist of Phuc Thanh Pagoda, to participate in this activity. I feel very happy because I had a useful and meaningful summer. As a former candidate, I sympathize and really want to support the candidates to have a successful exam...

To have free meals that are both nutritious and ensure food hygiene and safety for the candidates, the Buddhists of Phuc Thanh Pagoda had to go to the market and prepare ingredients from the afternoon of July 3. At dawn on the 4th, at 3 a.m., everyone got up and lit the fire to start preparing. The bustling atmosphere was no different from a wedding. Many people volunteered to use their homes and mobilized their entire families to participate in cooking rice for the candidates, such as the family of Mr. Tran Quang Vinh - Block 15, Ha Huy Tap Ward. Not only did he cook, but Mr. Vinh and his children also followed the car to the exam location to distribute the rice.

Sharing about his work, Mr. Vinh happily said: “This is a meaningful job, so everyone wants to contribute to sharing the difficulties and encouraging the candidates to have a successful exam. What I worry about most is the ingredients, how to ensure they are safe, clean, and ensure food hygiene and safety…”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan - Vice Head of Huong Sen Monastery in Nghe An (Phuc Thanh Pagoda) said: The total budget of about 20 million VND for the free rice distribution came from the Hanh Nguyen Cap Co Doc fund (name of a lay disciple of Buddha) contributed by the Buddhists themselves. Many people, in addition to paying money, also volunteered to cook rice, pack rice and called on their children to join the Tue garden family team to support the Hung Thong commune delegation to distribute rice to candidates and their families. In addition to 400 meals at the Hung Nguyen district exam cluster, the pagoda also distributed 600 meals at the Vinh University exam site. To share with candidates, An Phu water plant also supported candidates of Hung Nguyen exam cluster with 300 bottles of mineral water along with free meals. Hung Nguyen exam cluster is also a cluster where people have a tradition of letting candidates stay in their homes for free without charging any fees.

400 meals, in the first exam session at Le Hong Phong High School, were "sold out". Following the success of the first launch, the Buddhists of Phuc Thanh Pagoda and many relatives of the candidates all hope that there will be more support from philanthropists, help from the people and sharing from young volunteers so that there will be more meaningful and practical activities like this year's exam season.

Khanh Ly - My Ha