Teacher Trinh Ngoc Trinh (Photo: Ngoc Anh/ VOV5)

Trinh Ngoc Trinh was born in Ninh Binh province in 1934. At 11, he joined the war against the French as a contact person. One day, while on duty, he was shot by the enemy, and had his arm amputated.

During the war against the Americans, Trinh worked as a teacher in Vietnam’s mountainous northwestern region. Later, while teaching at Hanoi National University of Education, he launched a movement called “Three Prepared”, which soon became a nationwide patriotic emulation campaign. Mr. Trinh said: “In April, 1964, the movement 'Three Prepared' was launched at Hanoi National University of Education. 'Three Prepared' meant we were ready to fight against the American invaders; ready to sacrifice ourselves to defend the North, liberate the South, and reunify the nation; and ready to go anywhere and do any task assigned by the Party, the State, and the people. One week later, the movement spread nationwide”.

Trinh worked for the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee for 10 years before teaching at the Hanoi National University of Education. Since 1990, as Director of the Highland Education Development Organization, Trinh has mobilized domestic and international organizations to improve the living conditions of people living in mountainous areas. The organization has carried out over 200 programs and projects for thebenefit ofpeople of 43 Vietnamese cities and provinces.

“We helped Ninh Thang secondary school in Ninh Binh province build a computing center. We also set up a scholarship fund called 'Little Ngoc' at Ninh Thang primary and secondary schools for orphans, disadvantaged students, and students affected by Agent Orange/dioxin. One of our projects was building a smart English learning center financed by the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society,”.  Trinh said. 

The Highland Education Development Organization has organized many workshops and conferences on education development in mountainous areas and has been involved in poverty reduction and socio-economic development for ethnic minority people.

“In an agriculture project in Bac Kan province, we helped local farmers reduce poverty by growing soybeans. Now, the soybean cultivation area there has expanded to hundreds of hectares,” Trinh added.

Director Trinh Ngoc Trinh was recently awarded the Labor Order, second class, by Vietnam’s President for his outstanding contributions to the community.