Border soldiers give gifts to ethnic pupils prior a new school year. (Photo: VOV)

Before the new school year begins, Ho Thi Minh, a grade-10 pupil in A Luoi district, receives books and school supplies from the border guards of A Dot Border Station. Minh is one of the pupils supported by the Station. Some years ago Minh would have had to stop going to school because of her family’s difficulties. But thanks to the care and encouragement of the border soldiers and a monthly support of 20 USD, she was able to continue her studies.

“In recent years the border soldiers bought me clothes and footwear and help me study. I’ll study harder and better,” said Minh.

A Viet Thi Ngoc Tuyen lives with her aged grandmother and her father, an Agent Orange/Dioxin victim who has been bedridden for 14 years. Her family is extremely poor. Tuyen has received regular support from the A Dot Border Station for 4 years.

“My family is very poor, and Tuyen lacks a lot of necessities for school. The border soldiers have helped ease my family's burden and helped Tuyen go to school. This program is very meaningful,” said Tuyen's father A Viet Phuong.

In the mountain border of Thua Thien-Hue province, along with the attention of local authorities and teachers, the border soldiers have been lending a helping hand for children of extremely poor families, orphans, and ethnic children.

Responding to the program, many officers and soldiers have donated money and acted as foster parents to take the children to school and teach them social skills. Second Lieutenant Nguyen Thanh Dat of A Dot Border Station, said that the station manages 3 communes in A Luoi district with nearly 1,900 households, including 1,000 poor households.

“The program "Helping children to go to school" tries to offer the best possible conditions for the pupils and helps ease the burden on their parents by giving them books and other materials,” said Dat.

Border soldiers often visit locals' houses to encourage their children to go to school. (Photo: VOV)

During the last 7 years, border stations of Thua Thien-Hue province have fostered 250 primary to secondary school pupils. 

“The program ‘Helping children to go to school’ shows profound humanity and gratitude to our compatriots. The fostered children have matured and have a strong will to overcome their hardships. Many of them have become teachers, nurses, and doctors in the village,” said Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Political Commissar of the provincial Border Guard Command.

Besides the task of protecting national border security and sovereignty, the border soldiers are like godfathers who help the children pursue their dreams of going to school. This is one of the meaningful activities of the Border Guard Command to eliminate hunger, reduce poverty, strengthen national security and defense, and maintain peace at the Vietnam-Laos friendly border.