No sooner had the charity campaign been announced than it received massive care from the Party Committee, the Board of Administration, the Trade Union Executive Committee, teachers, parents, members of HCM’s Pioneers’ Organization and Youth Union as well as great support from many organizations and individuals - the kind hearts which have actively contributed to the foundation of this meaningful and practical charity fund.

Funds raised from sponsors, collectives and individuals including books, stationery, clothes, toys and a cash amount of VND 270 million have been donated to 190 pupils with difficult lives and 7 kindergartens, primary schools, secondary and high schools of Quang Binh. Expenses for traveling and accommodation of the volunteers were contributed by the ones directly participating in the team.

On the night of November 11th 2020, our team consisting of 5 teachers and 4 parents set out from the school of friendship - solidarity and love, with the desire to hand out gifts from the school to show our support to the underprivileged children.

The first stop of our team is Son Thuy Primary School of Le Thuy County. The water has withdrawn, leaving thick layers of dirt in classrooms and the schoolyard. Although the teachers have spent days cleaning and fixing the classrooms, installing doors, the pupils are still unable to come back to school because the flood has taken away all the desks and chairs.

The flood swept away desks, chairs, books and the blackboard

The schoolyard was totally ruined after the storm

At Son Thuy Secondary School, Le Thuy  County, we could not hold our tears when meeting with 7th-grade pupils with a weight of under 25kg and a height of under 130cm. Hopefully, with the help and support of the Party, State and social organizations along with the love and mentoring of the teachers, they will be able to pull through this hard period and grow steadily.

Bright and cheerful smiles of pupils from Son Thu Secondary School

In this journey, we also visited to join hands with Hoang Hoa Tham High School, Ham Ninh Secondary, Primary schools and Kindergarten, Vo Nguyen Giap High School for the Gifted and sent gifts to schools at Chalo border gate and Phan Boi Chau High School - Quang Binh Province. The sincere, rustic and optimistic sharing words that deeply etched the love and respect of the pupils and teachers here touched our hearts and made us appreciate and admire the resilient spirit of Quang Binh teachers and students facing difficult circumstances due to calamities.

The gifts were handed to pupils at Ham Ninh Secondary School

The loving journey ended, what remains in each volunteer is lingering emotions, unforgettable memories and above all, the affection, attachment, understanding the meaning of life and the solidarity of the great national unity bloc. 

Trips like these not only respond to the call of the Vietnam Education Trade Union, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to support education in mountainous, remote, and extremely difficult areas, but also are an opportunity for us to experience, to "live slowly", to understand and to live with our hearts.

The Editorial Board

Translator: Nguyen Minh Anh - Russian - English 1821