Poor student from island crosses the sea to study communications

Knowing that he was admitted to the multimedia communications major at Van Lang University (HCMC), Luu Thanh Nguyen (Hon Tre commune, Kien Hai island district, Kien Giang ) was worried that he would not have money to pay tuition, but still decided to go to school to escape poverty.

Poor, Luu Thanh Nguyen is still determined to go to school - Performed by: CHI CONG - NHA CHAN - DIEM HUONG

Nguyen burned incense for his grandfather before going to Ho Chi Minh City to study - Photo: CHI CONG

Mrs. Ho Thi Nhien (over 70 years old, Nguyen’s grandmother) also had trouble sleeping like Nguyen. Then she decided to use all her savings (money earned from repairing things for many years – PV) to pay the initial tuition for her grandson to attend university, whatever that may be.

Parents divorced, 70 year old grandmother mends clothes and takes care of grandchildren

The former woman sold flowers to her grandmother to earn money to pay for her tuition – Photo: CHI CONG

During these rainy days, the island commune of Hon Tre (Kien Hai district) has become deserted, with few people passing by. People close their doors and stay quiet. A few motorbikes of people going to the market in a hurry, occasionally run back and forth, but are not enough to make a ruckus in a poor residential area in this island district.

Mixed in with the sound of the rain is the sound of the sewing machine, clack, clack, clack... echoing steadily, as if carrying the small hope of a poor grandmother for her grandchild.

“People now buy ready-made clothes. Few people come to me to choose fabric like before. Occasionally, someone brings a shirt or pants and asks me to fix it,” Mrs. Nhien said sadly.

“My parents are divorced now. Nguyen chose to live with his father. Nguyen’s mother also cares for him, visits him, and gives him money to go to school. I still have to worry about the burden of 4 years of university, so now I can only wait for customers to come and tailor and repair clothes. As long as I have the strength, I will continue to work to take care of him,” Ms. Nhien confided.

Mr. Luu Thanh Phong (Nguyen's father) could not stand the poverty on the island so he found a way to leave his hometown to go to Hong Dan ( Bac Lieu ) to buy and sell vegetables to make a living.

Mrs. Nhien (Nguyen's grandmother) takes the time every day to sew and mend clothes to earn money for Nguyen to go to school - Photo: CHI CONG

Mrs. Nhien's repair room is less than 20 square ^meters wide and is in disrepair. When it rains, water seeps through the walls, causing the lime and paint to peel off and fall down at any moment. Despite the cramped space, Mrs. Nhien still tries to sell some fabric and arranges two small sewing tables for her and Ms. Luu Hue Man (Mrs. Nhien's daughter who is more stupid than the average person) to sew conveniently.

Mrs. Nhien's health is now weak, her eyesight is blurry and her back hurts a lot from sitting for too long.

Even if you are hungry, you will cross the island to study.

Nguyen Hoc not only fulfilled his dream but also his wish - Photo: CHI CONG

The day he heard that he was accepted to the multimedia communications major at Van Lang University (HCMC), Nguyen couldn’t sleep for several nights because he knew he wouldn’t have enough money to pay the tuition. Nguyen thought a lot and asked himself many questions: should he go to school or quit to work to help his mother and father? What about his father’s unfinished wish?…

“I will go to school no matter what. I will go to school even if I am hungry. I cannot let down my grandfather’s wishes. He always dreamed that I would go to university to gain knowledge,” Nguyen firmly affirmed.

Nguyen's family situation is currently very difficult and deadlocked. Nguyen's father also does not have a stable job, but he still decided to pack his things, put them in a backpack, and go to Binh Thanh District (HCMC) to find a way to send his son to school.

He ran around everywhere to find work as a factory worker or a driver to earn extra money to support his children. Nguyen also had a plan to go to school and work as a waiter or run events to earn extra money to help pay for his studies.

“It’s a pity my grandfather passed away early. If he were still alive, I would hug him and tell him that I passed the university entrance exam. I will study no matter what and will not surrender to fate or give up halfway,” Nguyen tried to hold back tears.

Quickly lighting incense for him, Nguyen decided to pack his clothes in time for the afternoon train, which traveled about 30km by sea through Rach Gia City to Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Vo Hoang Tuan – teacher at Kien Hai High School (Nguyen’s homeroom teacher) – commented that Nguyen was a poor student but very obedient, polite, and a good student. Teachers and friends at school loved and supported Nguyen very much.

Nguyen's family situation is also very difficult. The whole family depends on Mrs. Nhien's small income as a seamstress and repairer.

“With the Tiep Suc Den Truong scholarship, I think it will help Nguyen a lot. That amount of money can cover his current education expenses. I also hope that the philanthropists and Tuoi Tre newspaper will consider helping him so that he can fulfill his dream,” Mr. Tuan hopes.

We invite you to join us in School Support.

Tuoi Tre newspaper's 2024 School Support Program launched on August 8, expected to award 1,100 scholarships with a total cost of more than 20 billion VND (15 million VND for new students with difficulties, 20 special scholarships worth 50 million VND/scholarship for 4 years of study and learning equipment, gifts...).

With the motto "No young person can go to university due to poverty", "If new students encounter difficulties, Tuoi Tre is there" - as a commitment to support new students in the past 20 years of Tuoi Tre .

The program received contributions and support from the "Accompanying Farmers" Fund - Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, Vinacam Education Promotion Fund - Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company and the "Quang Tri Affection" Club, Phu Yen; "Supporting Students to School" Club of Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre and Tien Giang, Ben Tre Entrepreneurs Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam Company, Mr. Duong Thai Son and friends with businesses and a large number of readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper...

In addition, Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company also sponsored 50 laptops for new students with special difficulties and lack of learning equipment worth about 600 million VND, Nestlé Vietnam Company Limited sponsored 1,500 backpacks worth about 250 million VND.

The Vietnam-USA Society English Language System sponsored 50 free foreign language scholarships worth 625 million VND. Through the State Bank, Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank sponsored 1,500 books on financial education, guiding financial management skills for new students...

Businesses and readers can support scholarships for new students by transferring to Tuoi Tre newspaper account:

113000006100 Industrial and Commercial Bank ( VietinBank ), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.

Readers and businesses abroad can transfer money to Tuoi Tre newspaper:

USD account 007.137.0195.845 Ho Chi Minh City Foreign Trade Bank;

EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Foreign Trade Bank, Ho Chi Minh City

with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.

Content: Support "Support to school" for new students or specify the province/city that you want to support.

In addition to funding scholarships, readers can support learning equipment, accommodation, jobs, etc. for new students.

Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cau-hoc-tro-ngheo-xu-dao-vuot-bien-di-hoc-truyen-thong-20241015164747141.htm#content-4