Warmth from the hearts

Sow words on stone

From Don Chuong to Luc Khu High School, Ha Quang District, Cao Bang is only over 10km but it took us over an hour to get there. The winding road turns left and right, hugging the back of the hill, one after another. The mountains in Cao Bang are also strange, mountains next to mountains, straight and towering in the sky. Next to the mountains are deep abysses with vast forests. Sitting in the car, looking through the window, the road looks like a pink silk strip hugging one mountain after another. In the distance, small groups of children go to school. Today is Sunday, they should have had a day off, but the children have their own joy, they are welcomed by teachers representing 5 universities in Hanoi: University of Natural Sciences, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (VNU), National Economics University, University of Technology and University of Construction who came to visit and give gifts in the social work plan for 2014.

Delegation of 5 universities took souvenir photos with students in the highlands/Photo: Dinh Lan

Looming on the mountainside are the simple houses of the Mong and Nung ethnic groups. In front of each house's yard are a few jars, sometimes four or five. Knowing our concerns, the cheerful driver happily told us that they were jars to store water. He further explained: ethnic minorities have the habit of building houses halfway up the hill, and cannot go down to the foot of the mountain to get water. Moreover, the rocky mountains drain all the water in the dry season, so people have to build tanks and buy jars to store water for long-term use. Therefore, if the people here have to store water for use, the teachers here also have to store words to impart knowledge to the children, so that when they grow up, they can master their lives and their destiny. The towering rocky mountains block the way but cannot subdue the hands, minds, and will of the people here. Even though nature may not be favorable at times to dry up the water, the teachers never stop "releasing" words.

The gift is warm blankets, with the hope that the children will no longer be cold this winter/Photo: Dinh Lan

From afar, Luc Khu High School appeared clearly after the light mist that gradually dissipated in the early morning sun. The spacious two-story houses leaning against the rocky mountains amazed everyone. The first person we met was young teacher Trinh Minh Khanh - Vice Principal of Luc Khu High School. He said that the whole school had 33 staff and teachers; there were 436 students studying. Compared to a few years ago, the number of students dropping out of school had decreased to only about 10. Most of the students dropped out of school due to difficult circumstances, early marriage, many children... In that situation, the school's Board of Directors asked teachers and mass organizations of the school such as the Youth Union, the Young Pioneers, the Trade Union, the Women's Union... to visit the students' families to persuade and advise them to continue going to school. With the sincere feelings and tolerance of the teachers, many students have returned to study and trained to become good people. Luc Thi Lien is one of such cases. Her parents are farmers, the family has 7 children, Lien is the eldest child, so after school she has to help her parents with housework. Understanding the difficulties of her parents, she is determined to study and has become an excellent student at the district level in History. The little girl does not hide her dream of going to university so that she can return to build her hometown and develop her village.

Students in the highlands/Photo: Dinh Lan

In Luc Khu, Ha Quang district as well as many other places, life is still full of difficulties. The case of Hoang Ngoc Nhi at Phong Nam primary school is also very special. She has just undergone congenital heart surgery sponsored by the program "Heart for Children". Although her face is still pale and thin, her smile has returned. She is able to continue going to school, surrounded by the loving arms of the school and class, connecting her with her friends to play and study. Young teacher Nong Thi Be said: during the days she was sick, the teachers took turns visiting and helping her family; the school also mobilized a movement to help her overcome the surgery. And today, the teachers of the 5 universities' trade unions also shared a part of their meager salary to encourage her to study.

See you soon

Every year, in mid-December, union officials from 5 universities set out to areas where there are still many difficulties in life and study. The gifts that the delegation brings are first of all feelings, sharing the hardships of teachers in remote areas who are sowing letters and cultivating people. Along with the spirit are small gifts that teachers from 5 schools have donated: 400 cotton blankets and 30 million VND in cash. These gifts will be distributed by the Cao Bang provincial education union to the schools so that the students can use them, lessening the cold weather, helping them stay healthy and study well. Dr. Ta Huu Dong - Chairman of the National Economics University Trade Union, the focal point for this event, said: “In recent years, the gift-giving activities for schools in remote areas of the 5 University Trade Unions have also changed, becoming more practical. With that policy, the 5 University Trade Unions have agreed to give blankets to students this year so that they not only have food but also need something to cover themselves to keep warm on cold days. Indeed, only when going to Cao Bang can one truly feel the cold of the highlands.”

Photo: Dinh Lan

In an exchange with teachers, comrade Tran Ngoc Duyen, Chairman of the Education Trade Union of Cao Bang province, said: “Our trade union also has the same policy. The whole province needs over 4,000 blankets, and so far we have donated 1,140. The rest really need the help of philanthropists and other social organizations. This event of 5 universities giving gifts is very meaningful. One more blanket means three or four more children will be less cold when winter comes.”

Asking about children's studies/Photo: Dinh Lan

With the deep and sincere affection of the primary schools that the delegation visited, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai Dung, Vice President of the National Economics University Trade Union - an active member of the delegation - directly presented 100 blankets. This gift was sent back to the provincial education trade union office to distribute to the units.