Building bridges and supplying water to locals
Stationed in Nhon Mai commune of Tuong Duong district, Nhon Mai Border Post is tasked to manage and protect a 28.1km-long Vietnam - Laos border section in Nhon Mai and Mai Son communes which are home to 6,534 residents of four ethnic minority groups, namely Thai, H’mong, Khomu, and Kinh. Locals used to face difficulties in travelling since the terrain in the area is characterized by steep hills and mountains, numerous valleys, and streams.
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A military-civilian bridge in Nhon Mai village is put into operation, meeting locals’ need. |
Understanding local people’s difficulties, Nhon Mai Border Post called on benefactors to donate to build two military-civilian bridges in Pha Mut and Nhon Mai villages of Nhon Mai commune and another one in Cha Lo village of Mai Son commune. Since the sturdy steel bridges were completed and put into use, they have greatly facilitated the travelling of locals, especially students, who used to find difficult to go to school in rainy season.
In addition to that, the unit has mobilized sponsors to construct facilities and provide teaching and learning equipment for local schools. In the 2023-2024 academic year, Nhon Mai Border Post called on the Party Committee of agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City and the Party Committee of Tuong Duong district to provide financial support of VND 360 million and sent its troops to build a kitchen, enclosing wall, roof, and playground for Pieng Cooc Kindergarten in Mai Son commune. The unit also mobilized benefactors to financially assist the construction of six classrooms for the Kindergarten and Primary School in Huoi Man village, Nhon Mai commune, valued at VND 500 million.
Troops of the border post have also paid attention to addressing the issue of clean water scarcity by connecting and mobilizing charitable groups and organizations to invest in drilling nine wells for schools and agencies in the area with total cost of VND 360 million. The unit also provided VND 160 million and sent its troops to build military-civilian water tank in Na Lot village, Nhon Mai commune to ensure that the local residents have access to clean water for daily use.
Various effective programs and activities
Considering the border post their home, border area their homeland, and ethnic minority people their siblings, troops of Nhon Mai Border Post have actively assisted the local residents in economic development, hunger elimination, and poverty reduction. The unit has mobilized and coordinated with various organizations and individuals inside and outside the province to implement numerous programs and social welfare activities for the poor.
One of the typical programs is the "Ao Dai in border area," providing 500 sets of Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) for female officials in the two communes of Nhon Mai and Mai Son and female teachers in six schools in the area. The total cost for the program was VND 250 million. Another effective one is the "Warm clothes in border areas," presenting 300 clothes and 20 bicycles, worth VND 65 million, to students at the Boarding High School for Ethnic Minority Students and Secondary School in Nhon Mai.
Understanding the difficulties confronting the poor in the border area, Nhon Mai Border Post called upon Vinh city to donate VND 1.2 billion to build 25 great unity houses for 25 poor households. Troops of the unit contributed thousands of working days to complete the projects.
In addition to that, the unit has consistently collaborated with local party committees and authorities in eradicating hunger and reducing poverty through military-civilian livelihood models. Four models conducted by Nhon Mai Border Post with total investment of VND 200 million have helped four households in the area to improve their living standards.
Lending needy students a hand
Together with social welfare activities, Nhon Mai Border Post has paid attention to taking care of needy students in the area through meaningful initiatives.
Over the past time, the unit has worked with the local authorities of Nhon Mai and Mai Son to organize the "Border Moonlight - Mid-Autumn Festival" program for children. At the event, benefactors handed over 2,000 gifts, worth VND 200 million in total to local needy children. Over the past five years, the border post has provided lunch for 27 preschool students in Pieng Cooc village and presented kitchen utensils and a washing machine for Pieng Cooc Kindergarten School.
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Troops of Nhon Mai assist locals harvest rice. |
The dedication of the officers and soldiers of Nhon Mai Border Post for ethnic minority children is further exemplified through the “paving the way to school for children” program. At present, the border post is providing a monthly allowance of VND 500,000 for three students. A charity house is also under construction by the unit to provide clean water and free medical care for the local community and impoverished students in the area.
According to Head of Nhon Mai Border Post Colonel Phan Thanh Hong, over the past five years, the unit has called on sponsors and benefactors to donate more than VND 5.5 billion to build projects, contributing to strengthening military-civilian solidarity and building strong whole people’s border defense to firmly safeguard territorial sovereignty and border security.
Translated by Tran Hoai