The warmth from kind hearts

Inscribing words on stone

From Don Chuong to Luc Khu High School in Ha Quang District, Cao Bang Province, it's only a little over 10km, but it still took us more than an hour to get there. The road was winding, constantly turning left and right, hugging the hillsides one after another. The mountains in Cao Bang are also unique, towering vertically into the sky. Beside the mountains are deep ravines with vast forests. Sitting in the car and looking through the window, the road looked like a pink silk ribbon embracing one mountain after another. In the distance, small groups of children were going to school. Today was Sunday, a day off from school, but the children had their own special joy: they were welcomed by teachers representing five universities in Hanoi: the University of Natural Sciences, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), the National Economics University, the Hanoi University of Technology, and the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, who came to visit and give gifts as part of their 2014 social work activities.

A delegation of officials from 5 universities took a commemorative photo with students from the mountainous region. (Photo: Dinh Lan)

Nestled on the mountainside were the simple houses of the Mong and Nung ethnic minorities. In front of each house were a few earthenware jars, some with four or five. Sensing our curiosity, the cheerful driver enthusiastically explained that these were water jars. He further explained: the ethnic minority people have a habit of building their houses halfway up the hill, making it impossible to go down to the foot of the mountain to fetch water. Moreover, the rocky mountains dry up during the dry season, so they have to build reservoirs and acquire jars to store water for long-term use. Therefore, just as the people here need to conserve water for use, the teachers here need to conserve knowledge to impart to the children, so that they can grow up to be masters of their own lives. The towering rocky mountains stand as a barrier, but they cannot subdue the hands, minds, and will of the people here. Even if nature were to run dry at some point, the teachers would never stop "releasing" knowledge.

The gifts were warm blankets, with the hope that the children would no longer be cold this winter. /Photo: Dinh Lan

From afar, Luc Khu High School emerged from the light mist that gradually dissipated in the early morning sun. The spacious two-story buildings nestled against the rocky mountains were a stunning sight. The first person we met was the young teacher Trinh Minh Khanh – the Vice Principal of Luc Khu High School. He said that the school has 33 staff and teachers and 436 students. Compared to a few years ago, the number of students dropping out has decreased to only about 10. Most of those who dropped out did so due to difficult circumstances, early marriage, large families, etc. In response to this situation, the school's management board instructed teachers, along with school organizations such as the Youth Union, the Children's Union, the Trade Union, and the Women's Association, to visit the students' families to encourage and persuade them to continue their education. Through genuine affection and the compassionate hearts of the teachers, many students have returned to school and become well-rounded individuals. Luc Thi Lien is one such case. Lien's parents are farmers, and she has seven daughters. As the eldest, she has to help her parents with household chores after school. Understanding her parents' hardships, she is determined to study hard and has become an outstanding student in History at the district level. This petite girl doesn't hide her dream of going to university so that she can return and contribute to the development of her hometown and village.

Students in the mountainous region/Photo: Dinh Lan

In Luc Khu, Ha Quang district, as in many other places, life is still fraught with difficulties. The case of Hoang Ngoc Nhi at Phong Nam Primary School is particularly special. She recently underwent surgery for a congenital heart defect, sponsored by the "Heart for Children" program. Although her face is still pale and thin, her smile has returned. She can continue her studies, surrounded by the loving embrace of her school and classmates, connecting with her friends to play and learn. Young teacher Nong Thi Be said: during the days she was ill, the teachers took turns visiting and helping her family; the school also mobilized support to help her get through the surgery. And today, teachers from the trade union of five universities also shared a portion of their meager salaries to encourage her to study.

It's that time again.

Every year, around mid-December, union officials from five universities travel to remote areas facing significant challenges in both living and studying. Their gifts are primarily expressions of affection and shared understanding of the hardships faced by teachers in these remote regions. Along with this spirit, the five universities also donated 400 blankets and 30 million VND in cash. These gifts will be distributed by the Cao Bang Provincial Education Union to the schools, reaching the students directly and helping them cope with the approaching cold, stay healthy, and study effectively. Ta Huu Dong, Chairman of the Trade Union of the National Economics University, the coordinating unit for this event, said: “In recent years, the gift-giving activities for schools in remote areas by the trade unions of the five universities have changed, becoming more practical. With that in mind, the trade unions of the five universities have unanimously agreed this year to donate blankets to the children so that they not only have food but also something to keep them warm during the cold days. Indeed, only by going to Cao Bang can one truly understand the cold of the highlands.”

Photo: Dinh Lan

During a conversation with teachers, Comrade Tran Ngoc Duyen, Chairman of the Education Sector Trade Union of Cao Bang province, said: “Our sector trade union also has the same policy. The whole province needs over 4000 blankets, and so far we have collected 1140. The rest urgently needs the generosity of philanthropists and other social organizations. This event of 5 universities donating blankets is truly meaningful. Each additional blanket means three or four more students will be less cold when winter comes.”

Asking about the children's studies/Photo: Dinh Lan

Touched by the sincere and heartfelt sentiments of the primary schools visited by the delegation, Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai Dung, Vice President of the Trade Union of the National Economics University - an active member of the delegation - personally donated 100 blankets. This gift was sent to the provincial education sector's trade union office for distribution to the schools.