At the U.N. Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), the mission’s staffers and local people were really impressed by Senior Captain Tran Thi Hue - a female communications officer, because of her noble virtues “self-confidence, self-respect, faithfulness and resourcefulness” of a Vietnamese woman.
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Female Vietnamese peacekeeper and children at Maria Teresa Orphanage |
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Distributing school supplies to the local students |
Promoting responsibility in any circumstances
Implementing U.N. peacekeeping operations in Africa, female Vietnamese officers have to put aside their family affairs to take over international tasks in such a dangerous working environment.
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A female Vietnamese “blue beret” and a local child |
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Senior Captain Tran Thi Hue and local women |
In the last days of May 2023, the Level-two Field Hospital of Serbia launched a charity program at Maria Teresa Orphanage in Bangui city of the Central African Republic. Hue was a member of the delegation with an attractive smile on her face. Despite harsh weather conditions in Africa, she still kept her enthusiasm and confidence, dared to overcome difficulties during task performance.
“As a communications officer, I have to constantly move to many areas through hundreds of kilometers by car in downgraded roads. In rainy days, we have to pass through heavily flooding roads, even pushing the car along these roads,” Hue went on.
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Instructing the locals on how to cook |
With her wholeheartedness and passion of a young mother, the female officer was always willing to perform all assigned missions in remote areas which are home to many needy women and children. The meaningful activities have nurtured her passion and enthusiasm during task performance.
Shining noble virtues of modern Vietnamese women
Thanks to her foreign language skills honed for years while working at the Department of Foreign Languages of the Academy of Logistics, Senior Captain Hue always felt confident in communicating with international friends and local interpreters. However, one of the obstacles facing her was that almost all the locals speak Sango and French.
In order to come closer to the locals, she learnt the native language Sango by herself. Thanks to the support of locals, she could speak the native language and felt more confident to perform her tasks in the areas, such as disseminating information about gender equality, family planning, and disease prevention and control, among others.
Eliminate backward customs and social vices
At the area where MINUSCA units are stationed, local people still maintain many backward customs, in which women and children are the two most vulnerable groups. In order to reduce the problems, Hue and her colleagues actively boosted information dissemination among locals, and took special care of the 15 or 16-year-old mothers.
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Playing with the local children |
In each working trip to villages, she always brought many kinds of medicines and medical equipment and necessities to help the locals. She also instructed them on how to stay away from diseases and clean the environment.
Children here always felt happy as she visits them. On the occasion, she often cooked delicious meals for them or teaches them English, among others. These noble activities not only showed the sentiments of Vietnamese women to children, but also encouraged them to look forward to a brighter future.
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Providing fresh waters to the locals |
In acknowledgement of her contribution to the U.N. peacekeeping operations and the local community, on May 15, 2023, Hue was honored with the medal “For the U.N. peacekeeping cause.”
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On May 15, 2023, Hue was honored with the medal “For the U.N. peacekeeping cause.” |
With high determination and responsibility of the Uncle Ho’s soldiers, and noble virtues of Vietnamese women, together with the aspiration for peace and independence, Hue will continue her humanitarian journey, contributing to easing difficulties facing the local people, and shining the image of Vietnamese women in the eyes of international friends.
Translated by Minh Anh