Comes April in the fragrance of lilies, comes April in the light Spring drizzle of the Northern climate. Comes April at Hanoi – Amsterdam in the lingering sensations of the “Ao dai Festival” organized by and for the school’s Seniors. And comes April also in the warmth of love, happiness and sharing as the Delegation of teachers and workers of the Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted conducted a charity visit to the schools and households of Van Gia Island, Mong Cai, Quang Ninh on the 2^nd and 3^rd of April, 2016.

As an annual custom, this charity event aims to spread awareness and to raise donations to the more unfortunate and impoverished fates living among us and educate students on humanitarian spirit, solidarity and an awareness of social issues and duties. With love and goodwill we departed for distant lands, looking to find the resonance between loving hearts. This year, Hanoi – Amsterdam High School’s Delegation of teachers and workers set out for one of the North-Easternmost of our nation’s territories. Our destination this time was the Van Gia Island, an impoverished island territory with harsh climate and low natural resources. The charity delegation of the school consisted of the Communist Party (CPVN)’s local Party bureau, the HCM Youth Union, the Management Board, CPVN Members and Representative of the Teachers’ Union and Education Council of Hanoi – Amsterdam.

From the first days of the charity event, organisers received a substantial amount of support from the Party bureau, the Management Board, the Union and teachers, students and parents. Many donations were received from organisations and individual donors who has had the kindness to support the noble cause of building the charity fund. The entirety of received donations, consisting of books, stationery supplies, equipments, clothing, toys and cash measuring up to 200 million VND have been used to support 122 impoverished households and individuals along with 5 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools of the Vinh Thuc and Vinh Trung communes on Van Gia Island. Operating costs and expenses were paid by participants of the charity party.

Students from 5 schools in Vinh Thuc and Vinh Trung communes – Van Gia Island receive gifts

Our journey had its hurdles – yet happiness and joy still persist on this special road trip. On Saturday, 2/4/2016, the party departed from Hanoi – Amsterdam early in the morning, and arrived at Van Gia Island in the afternoon. Despite great distances and difficult terrains, all members of the charity party were eager to bring the gifts of kindness and sharing to the people of Van Gia. We had a rendezvous with the leaders of the City of Mong Cai: Comrade Le Ngoc Luu, Vice-president of the City People’s Committee, Comrade Nguyen Van Do – President of the City branch of the Fatherland Front, Comrade Nguyen Thu Huong, Head of the Office of Education, Comrade Tran Nguyen Ngoc – Deputy Officer of the Office of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and other leaders of Vinh Thuc, Vinh Trung communes, teachers and student of the 5 schools alongside with members of the Border Guards. We were briefed on the blights faced by the locals, the “silent everyday fighters of labour and guardians of the Fatherland”.

The Management Board discussing the situation with leaders of the City of Mong Cai and of the Vinh Thuc Commune

Our congregation arrived at the People’s Committee of Vinh Thuc and Vinh Trung Communes to deliver aids and gifts to 122 households living at or below the poverty line. The value of each package is 500’000 VND (US$22.43 at nominal exchange rate)

Our third destination is the Vinh Thuc Secondary School, where 100 presents and VND 125m were delivered to 5 schools in Vinh Trung and Vinh Thuc Commune: Vinh Thuc Secondary, Vinh Thuc Kindergarten and Preschool, Vinh Thuc Primary, Vinh Trung Primary and Secondary, Vinh Trung Kindergarten and Preschool. The presents came from our humble yet sincere warmth and goodwill to encourage the students of the island to overcome their burdens and excel academically. Madam Le Thi Oanh shared with us her emotions: “This is the first time the teachers of Hanoi-Amsterdam High School have set foot on one of our outermost territories and got to know the local people and students. Our common sentiment is that of adoration and humility towards the amazing work of our colleagues here – they have overcome all difficulties to kindle the fire of passion and the yearning for knowledge in the students and to instill in them a love for our country.”

Joyful students of the Island

Madam Le Thi Thanh, Headmistress of the Vinh Thuc Primary School, representing the teachers and students of the 5 schools, have expressed her most sincere gratefulness towards the party and vowed to “overcome difficulties and persisting in raising the quality of education to bridge the gap between the local and in-land provincial education standards.”

This has been a meaningful event, sharing the burden of students from remote areas while bringing them more hope and encouragement and alleviating the difficulties faced by the people of the island. The event is made possible thanks to various enterprises, organisations and independent donors and their goodwill to help the less fortunate members of society and to be closer to the people. Events like these are not only an opportunity for us to respond to the clarion call by the Education Union of Vietnam to contribute to people from remote areas, but also an opportunity for us to break free from the daily grind and experience life with our heart.

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Translator : Minh Duc - English 1 1316