[Green Summer Journey] Back to the Roots in Yen Trung

After numerous volunteer activities: cleaning alleys and village roads to improve the environment; joining hands with the villagers in rice planting; and participating in cultural and artistic activities with the youth in the commune, the volunteer team is now focusing on preparing for July 27th. Team leader Ho Thi Hong Nhung said: “The team will continue with cleaning the commune cemetery, preparing for the candlelight vigil, and distributing gifts to families of policy beneficiaries on this occasion.”

On the afternoon of July 25th, the green-clad volunteers were busy tending to the graves of fallen soldiers. They cleaned and tidied the graves and the surrounding cemetery; pulled weeds, added sand to the incense sticks; and prepared flowers and candles at the foot of the memorial monument for the incense offering ceremony the following day.

On the evening of July 26th, a sudden heavy rain did not diminish the people's reverence for "the heroes." The incense offering ceremony had to be postponed until 8:00 PM. Candles continued to burn brightly, incense sticks were lit, and wreaths from various levels of government were solemnly laid at the memorial after a moment of silence. Volunteer teams, along with relatives of the martyrs and a large number of villagers, lit the graves of "the heroes" during the memorial service. And somewhere, the distant song echoed in the hearts of those still alive today: "The names of these heroes have become the names of the Nation."

On the morning of July 27th, the entire team eagerly awaited a "special person" – Mr. Tran Bach Hieu (Secretary of the University's Youth Union) and other members of the Youth Union leadership team who came to visit and work with the team to further extend the "Returning to the Roots, Leaving a Humanistic Mark" in Yen Trung. Meeting with representatives of the People's Committee and People's Council of Yen Trung commune, along with the commune's Youth Union officials, Mr. Hieu, on behalf of the University's Youth Union, thanked them for their warm welcome and for creating the best conditions for the students' volunteer season in the commune. The Secretary also emphasized: "Choosing Yen Trung and Dung Liet in Bac Ninh as the volunteer location this year holds profound significance for the university. It's like a journey back to our roots, to remember and express gratitude to the places that sheltered the teachers and students of the University of General Sciences – the predecessor of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities – during the years of evacuation during the resistance against the French."

After a brief meeting at the commune committee, the teacher and the school's Youth Union leadership visited Yen Trung I Primary School to present and unveil the "Nhan Van Bookcase" to the school. With nearly 400 books, the "Nhan Van Bookcase" adds to the school library, allowing students to learn about inspiring stories, moral examples, foreign language books, skill-building guides for teenagers, Vietnamese dictionaries, and more. The school representatives warmly thanked the teachers and students of Nhan Van for their material and youthful contributions.

Before leaving Yen Trung, the school's Youth Union leaders presented the first two gifts to two families of war invalids and beneficiaries of government policies in the commune at the village communal house. The teachers also didn't forget to stop by the team's accommodation to encourage the entire team to strive to contribute their best, overcome difficulties, and ensure that the youth of Nhan Van University are always "Dynamic - Creative - Shining" everywhere and at all times.

On the afternoon of July 27th, representatives from the volunteer team in Yen Trung, in coordination with the Youth Union of the commune, directly visited families to offer condolences and gifts to war invalids and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers in the commune. They had more time to sit down and chat with the mothers and veterans, reminiscing about their comrades, the battlefield, and the injuries and losses they suffered. “The stories of the fierce battles in Quang Tri, the Central Highlands, and even Cambodia; the heartbreaking moments when mothers received death notices and the uniforms of their youngest sons… All of this makes us realize how fortunate we are to live in peace, and it will motivate us to contribute even more to the community,” shared Uyen (K58 – Management Science).

"Regarding the source from Yen Trung"These are moments of sharing memories of the school's evacuation to Bac Ninh, and today, younger generations return to join hands in building a new rural area, and younger generations return to build a new, richer library."Regarding the source from Yen Trung"These are hours of remembrance for the heroes who fell for the peace of our homeland, and today, we, as students, recall that history, those contributions, and use them as motivation to dedicate our youth to the prosperity of our country."

Images of Yen Trung on the "Journey Back to the Roots":

Cleaning the graves and preparing for the candlelight vigil at the cemetery (Photo: Phuong Chung)

Candlelight vigil of gratitude (Photo: Phuong Chung)

Relatives place flowers and candles at the grave.

The school's Youth Union leadership was welcomed at the Commune Committee.

Arranging books on shelves at Yen Trung school library.

Donating the "Humanities Book Collection"

Spending time with students during break time.

Welcoming the school's Youth Union leadership at the village communal house and presenting the first gifts.

The school's Youth Union Secretary encouraged the entire team at the dormitory.

Visiting and giving gifts directly to wounded soldiers and Vietnamese Heroic Mothers (Photo: Phuong Chung)

Sharing everyday life with soldiers.