Dreams of college
Ahead of the new school year, the rented house of Tran Hoang Nguyen Huyen Tran’s family was filled with joy as relatives, well-wishers and officers and soldiers from Phu Loc Border Post came to congratulate her on being admitted to the University of Science and Education (the University of Da Nang).
Huyen Tran was among the disadvantaged students supported by Phu Loc Border Post since middle school. Through her determination and the sustained support of border guards, she has now achieved her dream of attending college.
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Phu Loc Border Post holds a gathering and presents gifts to students. |
Lt. Col. Nguyen Ba Khoat, Deputy Political Officer of Phu Loc Border Post, said that the program has served as a bridge to help disadvantaged children improve their lives, particularly those striving to pursue higher education. Support from the unit initially focused on study and living conditions, giving Huyen Tran greater motivation and confidence to stabilize her life, study and develop herself.
According to the officer, the unit has successfully supported three disadvantaged students through monthly voluntary contributions from its officers and soldiers, along with assistance from higher levels, local authorities, and donors. The students have gone on to study at the University of Da Nang’s facilities.
The unit will continue to keep in touch with the students, provide encouragement and support during their studies, and explore ways to connect them with suitable employment opportunities after graduation.
Helping more dreams come true
Since 2016, Phu Loc Border Post has regularly and effectively implemented the program in accordance with the directions and guidance of higher levels, contributing to social welfare, public order and safety in the coastal border area of Thanh Khe ward, Da Nang city.
The support provided by border guards, local authorities, schools and donors has brought practical assistance and valuable encouragement, giving disadvantaged children greater confidence and motivation to study hard and overcome difficulties.
Recently, in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year, Phu Loc Border Post held a gathering and presented gifts to nine students receiving support under the program. The students received school supplies, uniforms, shoes and financial assistance to cover essential expenses at the beginning of the school year. Those admitted to college also received an additional VND 1 million each to prepare for the new academic year.
A highlight of the event was the announcement and presentation of a decision to accept another student as a “Border Post Foster Child.” The student, Tran Nguyen Gia Linh, is a fourth-grader at Hoa Lu Primary School in Thanh Khe ward.
Gia Linh lost her mother at an early age. Her father works as a freelancer without a stable job or income while caring for his elderly mother and two children. Because of the family’s difficult circumstances, Gia Linh’s older brother was sent to Hope Village, a center for caring for disadvantaged children in Da Nang city.
Accepting Gia Linh as a “foster child” is a practical expression of the care and support provided by the officers and soldiers of Phu Loc Border Post, helping give her better conditions to study and develop while gradually stabilizing her life.
The stories of Huyen Tran and other students supported by the program show that even modest assistance, when provided at the right time and sustained over the long term, can become a source of motivation for disadvantaged children to keep striving, study hard and work toward a brighter future.
Translated by Tran Hoai