Youth Union work during COVID-19: Need for more humanitarian activities

Dear Dr. Tran Bach Hieu, how has the COVID-19 pandemic affected the Union activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU, and what policies and actions has the Union taken to deal with the epidemic?

It can be said that the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected the Union activities of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular, the capital and the whole country in general. Many activities that were proposed before could not be implemented in practice, especially activities related to arts, sports, and foreign exchange.

This greatly affects the goal of supporting comprehensive development for student union members. If the epidemic continues, direct interactive community activities are not organized, there will certainly be generations of“COVID youth”, has the dual characteristics of the COVID-19 and 4.0 period: depending on the phone, becoming more dependent on the phone, less and less direct contact, natural interactive emotions will be increasingly poor. Therefore, in my opinion, the Youth Union's work in the context of COVID needs to create many activities that emphasize the depth of human emotions, making the best effort in all conditions to convey emotional messages, humanity in activities, especially activities of mutual love, community support, volunteering, gratitude. The Youth Union's work in this period needs to convey messages, images, important historical events that are proud and respected by the nation, examples of good people, good deeds or stories, historical witnesses that inspire faith and aspiration to live in each student union member.

Cooperating with businesses in epidemic prevention

Regarding activities to cope with the epidemic, the Youth Union has focused on communication work to respond to the epidemic, update official news and prevent fake and harmful news from reaching students. Communication activities must be innovated to achieve the fastest and most effective transmission to students. It is no longer the usual documents and announcements, but must grasp the approaches to catch the "trend" - the trend of today's students. That makes important content about epidemic response reach students in the fastest, most accurate and easiest way.

In addition, to maintain Union activities during the period of social isolation or the current "new normal" state, activities are also innovated, proactively adapted, and changed in organization and approach methods, so as not to lose the movement while still ensuring safe conditions for disease prevention and control.

Cultural and sports movement programs such as "Healthy Youth", "Youth studying and following Uncle Ho's teachings", "Student integration", etc. have all been converted to online organization with great response from the student union members in the school.

Online Activities

Adaptation is the key word and also the most important experience. Also because of proactive adaptation, always being in a face-to-face attitude to operate, the School Union has completed the tasks of the school year and contributed an important part in the work of disease prevention and control among student union members. When the epidemic goes, there are activities of the epidemic, when the epidemic comes, there are activities of the epidemic. The goal is to bring the best values, support student union members as comprehensively as possible in all circumstances.

What are the outstanding activities of the school's Youth Union in recent times?

Regarding outstanding activities during the “COVID season”, we have implemented the model“Humanities Youth accompanies students during the epidemic”COVID–19”.

One,The School was establishedVolunteer team to support students in difficulty due to the impact of the epidemicCOVID–19,with the mission of sharing the difficulties of students of Nhan Van residing in Hanoi with gifts of food and provisions directly donated and mobilized by the staff and lecturers of the School.

The establishment and deployment of the "green shirt shipper" team has brought positive effects to the work."Accompanying Humanities students"of the School, clearly demonstrating the policy"No one left behind!!"

The students who received the support gifts were very surprised and touched by the affection of the school's teachers and volunteers. Some students even "gave" volunteers gifts such as bread and drinks. Most of them sent their greetings and created a very good social media effect about the campaign.

Two,After the social distancing period ends, the program“Zero-dong supermarket”was deployed to support union members and students with food, groceries and other essential goods displayed like in a supermarket but given free of charge to Humanities students. The supermarket opened to join hands to share difficulties with students after the COVID-19 pandemic and at the same time encourage union members and Humanities students during the second semester exam, school year 2019-2020.

Result,directly gave thousands of food and food gifts through the "green shirt shipper" team to disadvantaged students staying in Hanoi during the social isolation period; the "0 Dong Supermarket" program attracted 2,217 students to receive food and food support (296 boxes of instant noodles; 1.2 tons of rice, 189 boxes of food, ...).

The model shows development prospects not only during the period of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because this is a practical, feasible and suitable solution to support students in the long term.

Zero-cost supermarket

The ancients often say that in misfortune there is often luck. Is this saying true for the Union and Association activities of the University of Humanities in the current situation?

Overcoming the difficulties of sudden changes, each organization, especially the school's Youth Union, also has fundamental and long-term changes. Fortunately, the spirit of solidarity, mutual love, trust, and unexpected potential are promoted. All create motivation in activities, adding strength to each person.

The awareness and responsibility of each young person is increased.“Fire tests gold, hardship tests strength”, certainly the spirit of patriotism, for the nation, for the common interests of the student union members will increase many times over.

Meeting forms are more diversified, with the advancement of information technology, activities will also be widely transmitted, spreading. Teamwork skills are improved, spirit“One for all, all for one”clearly shown in the Youth Union's activities during the "COVID season".

Shipper in blue shirt

Will the Youth Union work of the University of Humanities change much after the COVID-19 pandemic passes, sir?

There will definitely be many changes, and changes in a more proactive and responsive direction than before. The school year plan will have two scenarios, as well as each activity will also have two scenarios.

The mindset of adapting and being ready to move from "wartime to peacetime, peacetime to wartime" must always be present in the organizational cadres of the Youth Union and Association.

Activities to enhance in-depth, professional activities and support the community will be the number 1 priority. Surface activities with large crowds will not be a priority and must ensure safety principles in disease prevention.

According to Vietnamese Students