Thanks to the dedicated assistance from the soldiers and their remarkable efforts, many students have been admitted to colleges and universities, opening the door to a bright future for them.
Taking care of students’ each meal and sleep
Song Lao Cuong and Song Lao Viet have lived with soldiers at Chieng On Border Post under the Son La provincial Border Guard Command for more than five years. Cuong is currently in 10th grade at Phieng Khoai High School, Yen Chau, Son La, while Viet is in 8th grade. At the unit, they are provided with living and study spaces, together with necessities. Every day, officers are assigned to care for, instruct them during their study and bring them to school.
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The Son La provincial Border Guard Command honors students admitted to colleges and universities. |
Cuong and Viet are children of a H’mong ethnic family from Suoi Cut hamlet, Chieng On commune, Yen Chau district. They are living in extremely difficult conditions as their father passed away early, while their mother remarried far away, leaving the brothers to live with their uncle. Previously, the two children had to drop out of school several times to do farming. Fortunately, they have been adopted by the soldiers of Chieng On Border Post and have an opportunity to return to school and continue their study.
Lieutenant Colonel Tran Duy Thuong from the border post shared that the officers and soldiers not only care for the children’s daily life but also instruct them in farming, cultural and sports activities, among others. As a result, the children have quickly adapted to the living environment in military barracks.
Spreading humanitarian values
Before leaving, Lia Xuan Ngoc, a H’mong ethnic student from Pa Kha 2 hamlet, Chieng Tuong commune, Yen Chau district, and a student at the Son La provincial Boarding School for Ethnic Minority Groups, visited and expressed his gratitude to Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Hung, Second-in-Command and Chief of Staff of the Son La provincial Border Guard Command, who had taken care of him throughout his schooling.
Due to difficult living conditions, Ngoc had to drop out when he started secondary school. Therefore, the Son La provincial Border Guard Command tasked the Chieng Tuong Border Post to support Ngoc. Senior Colonel Nguyen Van Hung sponsored and supported him until the end of high school. Ngoc then successfully passed the entrance exams to the Border Guard Academy in 2024 with high scores.
According to Senior Colonel Vu Duc Tu, Deputy Political Commissar of the Son La provincial Border Guard Command, implementing the “Paving the way to school for children - Adopted children of border posts” program, since 2016, the command has cared for over 80 students, many of whom have achieved high academic results and been admitted to colleges and universities.
According to Col. Tu, over the past eight years, the Son La provincial Border Guard Command’s Education Promotion Association has conducted the program to support disadvantaged students. The funding comes from donations by officers, the unit’s production activities, and sponsors. Since 2022, each student has received VND 500,000 per month for meals and VND 1.3 million per year for necessities and school supplies. Currently, the unit is supporting 155 students.
The “Paving the way to school for children - Adopted children of border posts” program has not only contributed to sharing difficulties with local impoverished students, creating favorable conditions for them to study, but also boosted military-civilian ties in border areas, so as to build a firm whole-people’s border defense posture in Son La province.
Translated by Minh Anh