    |
 |
|
Dat Mui Border Post, in coordination with the local chapter of the Women’s Union, presents gifts to disadvantaged students. |
Early one morning, along a dirt road winding through dew-soaked mangroves, sixth-grader Tran Hoai An from Rach Tau hamlet, Dat Mui commune, Ca Mau Province, carefully rode her old bicycle to school. The bicycle, a gift from officers and soldiers of the Dat Mui Border Post, was given to her at the start of the new school year. For Hoai An, it was more than just transportation, it was a source of encouragement and hope.
Hoai An’s family is poor, and her parents’ income from fishing is unstable. At times, she thought of leaving school to help them. But thanks to the “Paving the way to school for children - Adopted children of border posts” program, implemented by Dat Mui Border Post, she received help with tuition, school supplies, and a bicycle to continue her education. “Thanks to the border guards, I can go to school every day. I will study hard to become a teacher and return to teach children in my hometown,” Hoai An said shyly, her eyes full of determination.
Hoai An is among many disadvantaged students supported by border guards in this southern region. Alongside their duty of safeguarding national sovereignty and border security, officers and soldiers of Dat Mui Border Post, in coordination with local authorities, have long cared for and encouraged children in difficult situations. The image of soldiers helping students to school has become familiar and deeply cherished among local residents.
|
|
 |
|
The officers and soldiers of the unit present national flags to Khmer children in the area. |
From gifts at the start of the school year to new uniforms, bicycles, and scholarships under the “Paving the way to school for children - Adopted children of border posts” program, every gesture carries love and responsibility. These efforts have helped many poor students continue their studies, nurture their dreams, and strive for a better life.
With the motto “No child left behind because of poverty,” Dat Mui Border Post sponsors many students from primary to high school, providing monthly support both materially and spiritually. Many of these children have become good students and role models in their communities. The unit is currently sponsoring three students under the program, each receiving VND 500,000 per month, and has joined the local Women’s Union to support two more students. Every year, the station mobilizes donations to present hundreds of gifts, bicycles, and learning materials to poor students.
Major Pham Nam Son, Political Commissar of Dat Mui Border Post, said that helping children go to school is not only an act of kindness, but also a responsibility. “Seeing them grow up and make progress gives us more motivation to fulfill our mission of protecting the nation’s maritime sovereignty,” said Maj. Son.
Beyond helping needy students, the border post also supports children suffering from illnesses or disabilities. In coordination with the Youth Union and Women’s Union chapters of the commune, officers visit families, offer gifts, and provide assistance for medical treatment and care. Each gift, a new set of clothes, a box of milk, a packet of biscuits, or a small contribution for medicine, carries deep compassion and empathy, offering not only material help but also encouragement and comfort.
Dang Van Bay, a resident in Ong Linh hamlet, has two young children with congenital heart disease. Their frequent treatments and medical expenses far exceed the family’s means. Understanding their hardship, the border guards and local organizations have regularly visited, encouraged, and contributed to their treatment costs. “There were times when life seemed hopeless. Thanks to the border guards and local authorities, my family feels supported and motivated to keep going. Their kindness is priceless to us,” Bay said emotionally.
|
|
 |
|
A family in Dat Mui commune waves goodbye to border guard soldiers after receiving a visit and gifts from them. |
Today, when the children of Dat Mui speak of the border guards, their eyes shine with gratitude. To them, teachers give knowledge in the classroom, while the soldiers are like fathers and brothers who quietly lift them up on the road to school. Every gift, every bicycle, and every notebook raises hope and helps them continue writing their dreams for the future.
Source: bienphong.com.vn
Translated by Tran Hoai