As part of the annual “Nối dài con đường đến trường” (“Extending the Path to School”) program for young students in the highland regions, on April 4th and 5th, 2023, the volunteer group from Hanoi Telecom’s “Cánh Buồm Xanh” Club embarked on a journey to visit the students of Hang Lìa Hồng Thứ School, situated in the Tủa Sín Chải – Sìn Hồ commune of Lai Chau.
During this trip, the Cánh Buồm Xanh volunteer group, after a short period of fundraising and preparation, brought along 70 gift packages for the students. They also carried a substantial amount of used clothes, books, and snacks donated by kind-hearted individuals to the school and the local community. With great excitement and a desire to meet and share with the young students, the 500-kilometer journey from Hanoi to Nậm Mạ posed no challenge to the unwavering physical and mental spirit of these “enthusiastic hearts brimming with love.”
Hang Lìa Hồng Thứ School is one of five schools in the Tủa Sín Chải commune and is known to be the most challenging one, situated on steep hillsides. The villagers of this area primarily belong to the Mông Hoa ethnic group, relying mainly on cassava cultivation due to the area’s limited fertility. The climate also prevents them from raising livestock, making life in this area exceptionally challenging.
After a 40-minute boat ride along the Đà River, the group arrived at the Háng Lìa Hồng Thứ pier and continued their journey on a narrow dirt road. This road, flanked by rocky cliffs on one side and steep ravines on the other, posed treacherous twists and turns. Despite its challenging conditions, this route’s beauty seemed to have no impact on the “enthusiastic hearts brimming with love.”
This school is home to 70 students, divided into two classes, primarily comprising of first and second graders. The region’s living standards remain low, and economic conditions are extremely challenging. As education isn’t highly valued among the local ethnic communities, teachers must stay close to the area and visit each household daily to encourage students to attend school regularly. The school’s facilities are notably lacking and modest.
The volunteer group quickly organized their tasks, carefully packaging each gift. They engaged the students in interactive games, exchanging laughter and handing over the gifts personally. The young students, not fully understanding the language, seemed a bit unsure and relied on their teachers to help convey the words of encouragement and support. Each member of the group felt indescribable emotions when confronted with the challenging reality. The difficulties were hard to comprehend until experienced firsthand.
The support trip to Hang Lìa Hồng Thứ School was a safe and successful endeavor, leaving behind cherished memories and valuable experiences for future journeys. After this trip, the group plans to support the school’s infrastructure in the near future. The Cánh Buồm Xanh Club extends sincere gratitude to Hanoi Telecom’s leadership, the compassionate contributions of employees from various units, who provided financial, moral, and material support, ensuring the program’s success and positive impact as anticipated. It is hoped that future initiatives to improve facilities will bring even greater success, carrying the spirit of compassion and enthusiasm of the youth to help the most remote and disadvantaged places in the homeland.
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