The Trade Union of Cluster 5 Universities presented meaningful gifts to disadvantaged students in Lang Son province.

                 Representatives from the trade unions of 5 schools and local leaders of Bac Ai 1 Ethnic Minority Boarding Primary and Secondary School cut the ribbon to inaugurate the boarding facilities.
 

Bac Ai 1 Ethnic Minority Boarding Primary and Secondary School is located in a particularly disadvantaged area in De Tham commune. The school is situated in Bac Ai village, De Tham commune, Trang Dinh district, Lang Son province, in a hilly and mountainous terrain, often shrouded in fog year-round. The school's students mainly come from the particularly disadvantaged villages of De Tham commune (Coc Lay village, Bac Ai village) and the particularly disadvantaged villages of Hoa Tham commune, Binh Gia district (Doi Can I, Doi Can II, Ban Pin villages). The school provides boarding meals for students because most of them travel long distances to school, facing difficult and slippery red dirt roads, with many sections along the hillside being very dangerous, especially during the rainy season.  
In the 2023-2024 school year, the school had a total of 168 students. Of these, 139 students (out of 1168) ate lunch at the school. The school faced considerable difficulties regarding accommodation and meals for the students. Of the 139 students who ate lunch at the school, 37 were boarding students with their own sleeping quarters, 19 were staying in rented rooms or with local families near the school, 25 were sleeping in their classrooms, and 58 students did not have a place to rest during lunchtime because the school lacked rooms for them. Students at this age are very active, and without a place to rest during lunchtime, they play and run around all day, which is very tiring and also increases the risk of accidents. Therefore, this project is truly necessary for the school.
Speaking at the ceremony, Associate Professor Bui Duc Hung, Chairman of the Trade Union of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, representing the trade union leaders of the five universities, stated that this is one of the annual activities of the cluster of five universities' trade unions aimed at supporting and encouraging teachers and students in remote, disadvantaged areas to strive for excellence in teaching and learning. The gifts from the cluster of five universities' trade unions are substantial, but they embody the humanitarian spirit of all union members from the five universities, united in sharing some of the difficulties faced by students in these challenging areas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan, Vice Chairwoman of the People's Council of Trang Dinh District, acknowledged and highly appreciated the humanitarian spirit of the trade union of the five universities. On behalf of the Trang Dinh District leadership, Ms. Ngan expressed her gratitude to the leaders and all staff and union members of the five universities and expressed her hope to continue receiving the support, assistance, and contributions of the universities for educational activities in the district.
On behalf of the school's teachers, parents, and students, Ms. Luong Thi Huong – Party Secretary and Principal of Bac Ai 1 Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School – expressed her gratitude to the Trade Union of Cluster 5 Universities. She affirmed that the donation and support from the five universities in Cluster G5 to underprivileged students is a highly meaningful act, serving as encouragement for them to continue striving for excellence in their studies and personal development.   Supporting education in mountainous, remote, and particularly disadvantaged areas is an annual activity of the Trade Union of Cluster 5 Universities, reflecting the tradition of mutual support and humanity. This activity has been connecting and spreading the spirit of noble deeds of the G5 cluster, working together to share and support teachers and students in difficult areas, giving them more motivation to excel in their studies and work.