Loyalty between the army and the people - Part 2: Full of "fatherly" love

The "father - son" relationship of border guards. Photo: NGỌC - CÔNG

After many years of implementing the model "Helping children go to school - Adopted children of border guards" of the Quang Nam Border Guard force, hundreds of disadvantaged students have been raised and guided through their difficult lives, becoming useful children for the community and border villages.

Never forget

Retelling the story of the officers and soldiers of Tam Thanh Border Post (Tam Ky City), Nguyen Ngoc Phuoc - a second-year student majoring in Mechatronic Engineering at the University of Technology (Da Nang University) could not hide his emotions. Throughout his high school years, Phuoc was the adopted son of the post, receiving much affection not only from the officers and soldiers, but also from the unit commander.

In 2029, Phuoc was adopted and became the “adopted son” of Tam Thanh Border Guard Station. Since then, Phuoc has always considered this place his second home, with the officers and soldiers as fathers supporting him on his difficult journey in life.

After more than 3 years of living and working at the station, Phuoc said, the special attention from his foster fathers further motivated him to make more efforts to practice, determined to overcome the "darkness", and pursue his dream of studying.

“If it weren't for the care, support and guidance in studying from the uncles at Tam Thanh Border Guard Station, I certainly wouldn't be able to be in university now,” Phuoc shared.

Nguyen Ngoc Phuoc at the time of his adoption at Tam Thanh Border Guard Station. Every day, his foster fathers support Phuoc in his studies and training. Photo: NGỌC - CÔNG

Phuoc’s story (in Tam Tien commune, Nui Thanh) is very special. Not only is he the second healthy person, after his grandfather, in a poor family with 5 members suffering from visual impairment, Phuoc is also the only “support” that Mr. Nguyen Duy Hung (Phuoc’s grandfather) hopes for and trusts.

Many years ago, sympathizing with Phuoc's life, officers and soldiers of Tam Thanh Border Guard Station carried out adoption procedures according to the "Adopted Child of Border Guard Station" model - which had just been deployed at that time. Living together, participating in activities and training in the military environment, outside of school hours, Phuoc fully participated in activities, helping officers and soldiers with work within his capacity.

Soldiers of Tam Thanh Border Guard Station said that more than a year ago, when Phuoc was preparing to enter university, in the moment of saying goodbye to his foster fathers, the student who had overcome difficulties was filled with deep confidences from his heart.

Phuoc said: “I will never forget each of your faces, never forget the gratitude for the years of being raised in the military environment. The luggage I carry, including your encouragement, is a great belief for me to try harder, strive harder in studying and training.”

To be worthy of the love of his foster fathers, in addition to studying hard, Phuoc also looked for a job, running a delivery service for customers (shipper), to earn extra income to cover his studies.

Occasionally, when Phuoc returns home to visit, he always chooses Tam Thanh Border Guard Station as a stopover to visit and help with logistics. That spirit, to Phuoc, is like the responsibility of a son to his family, after days away.

With his tireless efforts, Phuoc cherishes the plan to continue his journey of adopting "children" in the future. Photo: NGỌC - CÔNG

Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Hung - Political Commissar of Tam Thanh Border Guard Station said that not only Phuoc, but many "adopted children" in the unit are also taken care of with special affection.

Before the program “Helping children go to school” and the model “Adopted children of border guards” were implemented, Tam Thanh Border Guard Station also adopted and supported many students with difficult circumstances in the area. Every year, on holidays, the adopted children receive support and encouragement according to regulations.

“In particular, the children of the station who have finished the program like Phuoc and some other cases, every time they come back to visit the unit or on holidays, the officers and soldiers contribute gifts, as an encouragement for the children to make more efforts in life and study. That is no different from the love of parents for their children” - Lieutenant Colonel Tran Van Hung confided.

After many years of implementation, the program "Helping children go to school" (implemented since 2016) and "Adopted children of border guards" (implemented since 2019), the provincial border guard force has sponsored 227 students in difficult circumstances, including 6 cases of children from Laos.

From contributions from officers and soldiers and socialization, the estimated cost of implementation is over 6.3 billion VND. Of the 15 adopted children who have graduated from high school, 9 have passed the university entrance exam, 1 has won the provincial excellent student award and many have achieved the title of excellent student.

Guide your children on the path of life

Originating from the act of helping children in mountainous areas dream of going to school, the program "Adopted children of border guards" has been expanded, becoming a humane and meaningful model that helps prevent the dropout of thousands of disadvantaged children across the country.

In Quang Nam, this model was also deployed in 2019, marking a special mark on the kindness and noble gestures of Border Guard officers and soldiers.

Adopted children in the arms of border guards. Photo: NGỌC - CÔNG

Colonel Nguyen Ba Hung - Deputy Political Commissar of Quang Nam Border Guard said that there are two programs being implemented in parallel, with the same purpose of supporting and adopting disadvantaged students in the province: "Helping children go to school" and "Adopted children of border guards".

With a sense of responsibility, officers and soldiers voluntarily deducted their salaries and allowances to contribute funds and participate in implementing the program; sharing and helping hundreds of students with especially difficult circumstances on the two land and sea borders of the province.

This program acts as a fulcrum to prevent students from dropping out of school. Many "adopted children of border guards" are now studying at universities, colleges, and vocational schools.

Before each school year, in addition to the support through connecting activities calling for benefactors, many foster fathers also volunteer to bring their foster children to school. With all the love of a father, each border guard officer has been guiding their children on the path of life despite the many thorns and challenges ahead.

Tr'Hy Border Guard Station (Tay Giang) held a ceremony to welcome "adopted border guard child". Photo: NGỌC - CÔNG

According to Colonel Hoang Van Man - Political Commissar of Quang Nam Border Guard, the program "Helping children go to school - Adopted children of border guard stations" shows affection and sharing spirit to encourage and contribute more conditions to help students in difficult circumstances go to school.

In addition to the general contribution of officers and soldiers, each head of the Provincial Border Guard Command sponsored 3 adopted children under the two programs; at the same time, connected with benefactors to give many gifts, scholarships, school supplies... to ensure the best conditions for the children to go to school.

“As a journey to support and nurture dreams for generations of poor students in the border and island areas, the program “Helping children go to school - Adopted children of border guards” implemented in recent times has contributed to strengthening the solidarity between border guards and the people in the border areas, building a strong and safe people's border defense in the new period” - Colonel Hoang Van Man said.

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After many efforts, especially with the nurturing support from the foster fathers of the border guards, Nguyen Ngoc Phuoc and many other foster children studying at universities and colleges are striving to become useful children for society. With the future plan in mind, they will contribute to the journey of adopting "children", continuing the good deeds of the "fathers" at the border guards...
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Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/sat-son-tinh-quan-dan-bai-2-chan-chua-tinh-cha-con-bien-phong-3142794.html