Practical support to help poor students get to school.

(Baonghean) - Implementing the "Supporting Students to School" program, the Border Guard of Nghean province has actively coordinated with localities to encourage students to attend school, organize gift giving, and provide financial support to help poor students overcome difficulties.

The compassion of these soldiers in green uniforms has helped hundreds of children and their families overcome life's difficulties, giving them more motivation to overcome adversity and sow seeds of dreams for the future.

Nguyen Van Hung is one of the disadvantaged students in Nghi Tan ward (Cua Lo town) who has received assistance from officers and soldiers of the Cua Lo Port Border Guard Station, receiving 500,000 VND per month as part of the "Supporting Students to School" program implemented by the Provincial Border Guard Command for many years.

Orphaned shortly after birth, my father, Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, single-handedly raised three young children, along with his older sister who was past marriageable age and his elderly, mentally disabled mother, in a dilapidated, leaky shack. Mr. Hien's only occupation was working as a hired hand for ship owners. When we met him at his home, he had just returned from sea.

Mr. Hien said: "This trip didn't yield any fish; after 3 days, each person only got 2kg of squid and a few small fish, which sold for 240,000 dong."

Understanding his situation, and with the help of the local Party committee and government, and especially the care of the officers and soldiers of the Cua Lo Port Border Guard Station, Nguyen Van Hung has received a monthly allowance of 500,000 VND from the soldiers' salaries. Major Tran Anh Son personally hands this money to his family each month, allowing Hung to attend school with peace of mind.

In 2016, thanks to the efforts of local authorities, Hung's family received support from philanthropists to build a tiled-roof house, giving them a sturdy roof over their heads and freeing them from living in temporary shelters.

“My family is grateful for the concern of the authorities, especially the regular support, both material and spiritual, from the officers and soldiers of the Cua Lo Port Border Guard Station. Thanks to their encouragement, my child has had the opportunity to receive a proper education. My family will strive to provide our children with a good education so that they can contribute to our homeland and country in the future, and not disappoint everyone's concern,” Mr. Nguyen Van Hien shared emotionally.

A lesson at Huoi Nhao Primary School, Nam Can commune (Ky Son district). Photo: Hoai Thu

The "Supporting Students' Education" program is not only implemented in coastal communes and areas with a large Catholic population, but also in the western border communes of the province, where border guard posts are stationed.

Bac Ly commune, Ky Son district, is one of two border communes under the responsibility of My Ly Border Guard Post. The lives of the people here are still very difficult, with a high poverty rate. Therefore, few children from ethnic minority groups in the area complete high school or university, partly due to their impoverished family circumstances and partly due to difficult weather conditions and poor road access.

Comrade Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Political Officer of My Ly Border Guard Station, said: "The 'Helping Children Go to School' program that we have implemented for many years has had a very positive and practical effect in motivating and helping children of ethnic minorities overcome difficulties and strive to excel in their studies."

Currently, officers and soldiers of the My Ly Border Guard Post are providing support and care to three underprivileged students with good academic performance in Huoi Cang 1 village, Bac Ly commune: Pit Thi Tam, born in 2002, whose parents are disabled and whose family is poor, but she always strives to excel and achieved the title of excellent student at the district level in 2017; Cut Thi Thu, born in 2004, the eldest child in a family of four sisters, facing extremely difficult circumstances, with her father paralyzed and unable to work, but Thu consistently achieves the title of excellent student every year; and Xeo Thi Ve, born in 2004, whose father passed away early and whose family is in extremely difficult circumstances. Ve was an excellent student at the district level in 2017.

Speaking about the effectiveness of the border guard officers and soldiers of My Ly Border Guard Station's fundraising efforts to help poor but academically gifted students in the commune attend school, Mr. Lo Van Lieu, Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Ly commune, Ky Son district, said: "The villagers and local authorities are very happy! Thank you to the border guards for their concern and support in giving poor and disadvantaged students in the commune the opportunity to go to school. These quiet but meaningful actions of the border guards are increasingly strengthening the people's trust in the Party and the State, allowing them to confidently develop the economy and maintain border security."

As one of the two poor but academically gifted students from Huoi Nhao village, Nam Can commune (Ky Son district) who regularly receive support from officers and soldiers of the Nam Can Border Guard Post, Va Ba Dung was especially delighted and happy when he was given a bicycle in 2015.

Dung said: "I've always dreamed of having a bicycle to ride to school, and now it's come true. I will try even harder to study well so that the border guards can rest assured that they gave me a bicycle."

Currently, the Nam Can Border Guard Post is supporting two students from Huoi Nhao village and one student from neighboring Laos. Comrade Nguyen Tu Hoa, Political Officer of the Nam Can Border Guard Post, said: “We support the students sometimes with money, sometimes with in-kind donations such as buying books, school supplies, and bicycles. Besides the 500,000 VND per student per month, we also regularly visit and encourage them during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), helping them and their families feel secure in their studies and work.”

Major Tran Anh Son, an officer at the Cua Lo Port - Ben Thuy Border Guard Station, presents gifts to support the family of Nguyen Van Hung. Photo: Hoai Thu

Discussing the achievements of the "Supporting Students to School" program, Captain Hoang The Tai - Head of the Mass Mobilization Department of the Political Department of the Provincial Border Guard Command, said: "In the areas where border guard posts are stationed, in addition to the tasks of protecting border sovereignty, maintaining security and order, and strengthening solidarity among the people, the fact that officers and soldiers of the posts contribute from their salaries to support poor students in their assigned areas has helped hundreds of children have more opportunities and conditions to continue their studies, which is an extremely meaningful act."

Currently, the Border Guard units of the province are sponsoring 104 children, including 20 Lao students from the neighboring area, providing each with 500,000 VND per month.

This program has a wide reach, helping to strengthen solidarity and close ties between the people and the Party committees, the government, and the border guard posts stationed in the area. This, in turn, helps to better protect security and order, and border security, allowing people to feel secure in their production activities and build strong, sustainable border areas.”

Hoai Thu