Vietnamese border guards are supporting 32 Cambodian students from impoverished border villages through the “Paving the way to school for students” program. Beyond providing notebooks and uniforms, the initiative offers these children care and hope for a brighter future. As the Lunar New Year approached, officers from Nhon Hoi, Lac Quoi, and Phu My Border Posts traveled through dusty terrain to visit and deliver gifts to Cambodian children.
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An Giang border guards support Cambodian students. |
In the border areas of Cambodia’s Takeo, Kandal, and Kampot provinces, many families face economic hardships, often forcing students to travel by boat or through mud to reach school. To prevent dropouts, the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command of Vietnam has sponsored 32 Cambodian students with VND 500,000 monthly and essential school supplies.
Beyond financial aid, An Giang Border Guard troops frequently visit and encourage these students during border missions, often utilizing interpreters to maintain these bonds. First Lieutenant Huynh Cong Huy, Head of the Mass Mobilization Team at Nhon Hoi Border Post, emphasized that every supported child represents a “seed” of trust, strengthening the long-standing solidarity between both nations. Consequently, the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command has become a vital spiritual support for local families, who affectionately refer to the troops as “our Vietnamese soldiers.”
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First Lieutenant Huynh Cong Huy often visits and inquires after Rit Say Nit and Kouk Li Na. |
Among 32 Cambodian students supported by the An Giang Provincial Border Guard Command, Rit Say Nit and Kouk Li Na, sponsored by Nhon Hoi Border Post, exemplify resilience. Born into impoverished border families, their education was hindered by financial instability. Both travel 25 km to their boarding schools, where costs for meals and supplies remain heavy burdens. "The hardest thing for us is lacking learning supplies and not having enough money for extra meals at school," they shared.
With siblings already forced to drop out due to poverty, the monthly support from Vietnamese soldiers has been vital, covering books and nutrition. "We are very happy! Thank Vietnamese soldiers for caring and helping us," the students said. Both maintain strong academic records and dream of returning to serve their communities.
Translated by Mai Huong