Beyond material assistance, female military personnel have provided care, encouragement, and motivation to help the children confidently continue their journey toward adulthood.
During a visit by members of the Women’s Union Organization of the Hue City Military Command to Ho Bao Ngoc in Kim Tra ward, the humanitarian meaning of the model became even more evident. In the family’s modest home, Ngoc’s bright eyes reflected happiness when welcoming the female troops who had become a source of warmth and support for the child.
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Women's Union Organization of Hue Municipal Military Command presents gifts to Ho Bao Ngoc on the occasion of Lunar New Year 2026 |
Nguyen Thi Dieu Phuong, Ngoc’s mother, emotionally shared that after her husband passed away, she struggled to raise her children alone and worried they might have to leave school. Since receiving support from the Women’s Union of the Hue Municipal Military Command, Ngoc has received both financial assistance for schooling and care and encouragement during holidays, Lunar New Year, and the beginning of each school year. “They not only provide material support but also give my child the love of a second mother,” she said.
Not only in Hue city, similar emotional stories have emerged at the Quang Tri Nursing Center for National Contributors and Social Protection. That Truong Huu Thanh and Tran Van Nam Khanh, both born in 2006, warmly called Women’s Union members “mother” has deeply moved many people. Having received support since childhood, the two boys have gradually regained confidence thanks to the care and affection they received.
Senior Captain Pham Thi Thu Hien, Head of the Women’s Union Organization of the Quang Tri Provincial Military Command, said: “When we directly visit families and witness the children’s circumstances, we better understand the hardships they face. That is why our members always strive to accompany them, not only materially but also spiritually, so they can confidently move forward.”
Beyond financial support, Women’s Union members have also become close companions who listen and share with the children. Ngo Thi Anh Tho, born in 2014 in Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province, lost her father at an early age and has been supported by the Women’s Union Organization of T50 Guest Station under the Staff of the Military Region 4 Command. She emotionally shared: “The mothers not only help me continue schooling, but also always encourage and care for me. Whenever I face difficulties, I remember their advice and try harder.”
The model has also spread strongly to remote and mountainous areas. At Defense- Economic Unit 4 under Military Region 4, Women’s Union members regularly travel long distances through difficult terrain to visit and support children in remote villages. Those journeys carry not only gifts but also the sincere affection of soldiers.
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Representatives from the Women's Union and Youth Union organizations of Defense-Economic Unit 4 under Military Region 4 present gifts to Luong Thi Thao Vi. |
Luong Van Thang, the grandfather of Luong Thi Thao Vi from Tri Le commune, Nghe An province, said that after the child’s father passed away and her mother remarried, she had been living in hardship with her grandparents. Thanks to the support from the female soldiers, she now has better conditions to continue her education. “We feel at ease and really grateful," Thang said.
With both material and spiritual support, many children have gained motivation to study and improve themselves. Some have become more confident, while others have achieved better academic results. The relationship between the “mothers” and “children” has gone beyond assistance and developed into lasting family-like bonds.
To date, the model has expanded throughout Military Region 4, supporting more than 100 children. The number reflects not only the efforts of women’s union organizations at all levels but also the humanitarian impact of the initiative.
Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Chairwoman of the Quang Tri Provincial Women’s Union Organization, said: “The ‘Godmothers – Connecting Love’ model carries profound significance. It not only gives children a source of support in life but also strengthens military-civilian solidarity and spreads positive values throughout society.”
Through unsung yet meaningful actions, the model has become a bridge of compassion within the armed forces of Military Region 4. Every gift and every word of encouragement helps warm the lives of disadvantaged children. The journey continues, nurtured by female military personnel full of compassion - “mothers” without blood ties, yet always willing to support the nation’s younger generation.
Translated by Chung Anh