Ly A Nhia is a second-year student majoring in Tourism and Travel Services Management at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. After Tet, even though the school let students take time off to prevent Covid-19, Nhia still went to Hanoi to study online because there was no internet in her hometown. Moreover, only by going to the capital could she work extra to earn money to support her family.
Nhia is the 10th child in a family of 11 siblings in Hua Thong village, Dua Mon commune, Song Ma district, Son La province. Her mother died early, her older siblings have started families, and have to take care of 1-3 children's education. Her 63-year-old father has no stable income, only relies on farming and raising livestock, but still has to support Nhia and her youngest sibling in grade 8 to go to school. Seeing her father's hardship, Nhia decided to work extra to make ends meet in the capital. "I'm lucky to be able to go to university, I can't keep asking my father for money," Nhia said.
Ly A Nhia was forced to stay in Hanoi to have internet access for online learning. Photo: Provided by the character.
Since leaving school, Nhia has been working as a car park attendant at the dormitory. Every month, she is paid between 1.2 and 2 million VND, depending on the working hours and the school program. She does not have to pay tuition fees because her family is poor and she is of the Mong ethnic group, so the money she earns each month is enough for Nhia to eat every day and send 400,000-600,000 VND back home to support her father and pay her tuition.
After Tet, even though the school was closed, Nhia was still allowed to continue working at the dormitory parking lot. However, on April 1, when the social distancing order was applied, she lost her job. With no income and still having to eat two meals a day with a total cost of 50,000 VND, by April 10, Nhia ran out of savings.
"I couldn't call my dad to ask. One time I had to go on a field trip with my class but had no money. I called my dad and siblings to ask for 1 million dong, but my dad had to borrow money at high interest rates. 1 million when paid back became 1.5 million dong. I didn't want to be a burden on my family," Nhia explained.
Instead of spending 50,000 VND per day for two meals, Nhia switched to eating instant noodles. Each meal costs 3,000 VND per pack. Many days, Nhia goes to the table that distributes free noodles, sausages, and eggs at the dormitory gate of volunteer teams to improve their meals.
In Nhia’s dormitory, three other friends stayed in Hanoi because of similar circumstances. They came from poor rural areas of Yen Bai and Son La to Hanoi to study online and work part-time. But since March 6, when Hanoi had its first Covid-19 case, all of them lost their jobs.
Worried about not knowing where to get money to buy instant noodles, Nhia and her roommates received an email from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Accordingly, students in difficult circumstances who were still stuck in Hanoi could register to receive support from the school. 2-3 days later, Nhia received a gift package including instant noodles, sausages, melon, eggs, fruits, rice cakes, and milk.
Nhia was very happy, focusing on online learning, sometimes two shifts a day. Before and after school, she also joined teachers in the school to wrap gifts and deliver them to other disadvantaged students.
Ly A Nhia participated in arranging support supplies at school on the afternoon of April 17, transporting gifts to students in similar circumstances. Photo: Provided by the character.
As of April 18, more than 640 students in Hanoi have registered to receive support from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, of which nearly 200 are staying in the school's dormitory, the rest are staying in rented accommodation scattered throughout the districts.
Professor Pham Quang Minh, the school’s principal, said that most of the students who registered were ethnic minorities, from the northern mountainous provinces such as Son La, Lang Son, and Lai Chau. They had to work part-time to make ends meet, but now they have lost their jobs. In addition, the school also supports many students from Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Laos, China, and Mongolia who remain in Vietnam.
Mr. Minh shared that at first, when he saw many students in difficulty, the school union held a meeting to find ways to help. The teachers unanimously donated money to buy food for the students. After the stories of the students and the school's joint efforts spread, many philanthropists and businesses offered to help.
"A doctor from Saint Paul Hospital called and said that some of the hospital's medical staff wanted to support the students. The abbot of a pagoda near the school donated a ton of rice and many bottles of fish sauce. The grocery store lady next to the school brought over five boxes of instant noodles," said Mr. Minh.
Thanks to everyone's cooperation, the gifts delivered on April 18-19 to students included 5 kg of rice, 10 packs of instant noodles, a bottle of fish sauce, a carton of milk or a can of condensed milk, a can of canned fish, 10 sausages, 10 eggs, masks and disinfectant. Mr. Minh said that whatever the donors donated, the school would distribute.
Mr. Minh delivers the support gifts to students. Photo: USSH.
Currently, the school does not have to worry much about the source of food for students, but only needs to package the gifts and transport them to each student throughout Hanoi. Teachers in the school voluntarily participate in this work. Many students also volunteer to ship the goods to the right people in need. Seeing teachers and students bring food to the place, encouraging them to study, many students are touched.
"There are opinions that doctors, police, and the military need support when the epidemic breaks out, but what do students need? But I think differently. The school still supports the epidemic prevention work on the front line, but it also has to care about the lives of students. Only when life is stable and they don't have to worry about daily meals, can they feel secure in studying," said Mr. Minh.
Not only the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, many universities and students also organized food donations for students remaining in Hanoi such as Hanoi University of Science and Technology or the Academy of Journalism and Communication.
Nguyen Thu Ha, a third-year student at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, received instant noodle packages and face masks from the school. "While we have been unemployed (for more than a month now) and unable to return to our hometown, the school's support, no matter how small or large, makes us feel more secure," said the student from Bac Kan.
According toVnexpress
Author:Duong Tam
