Along with 150 students who are their children or grandchildren coming to receive gifts from Tan Hiep Phat Group’s journey “Connecting with love – Steadfastly going to school”, parents and grandparents were all moved by the community’s kindness to support the children’s efforts to go to school.
One hundred fifty gifts, with each of them worth VND2 million, were given to students in challenging circumstances in Hau Giang Province in the “Connecting with love – Steadfastly going to school” program supported by Tan Hiep Phat Company through coordination with Red Cross in Hau Giang last weekend.
“I dream of one day buying a boat again to take my grandchild to school.”
Although the program started at 9:00 a.m., parents and their children were already present at the Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda Department Hall by 7:00 a.m. to wait for Tan Hiep Phat’s gifts.
Sitting in front of the hall, Mrs. Duong Thi Tam, a 73-year-old resident in Vi Dong Commune, Vi Thuy District, said that she felt “so happy that I couldn’t sleep” these past few days since hearing that her grandchild would receive a gift.
Mrs. Tam’s grandchild, H.H.Y.V, is currently a 4th grader. V.’s parents have broken up. His mother went to work far away. V. lives with her grandparents. Vy’s mother sends Mr. and Mrs. Tam VND1.5 million every month to help with the child’s education.
“I have a heart disease. A few years ago, I had to sell all my land to go to Can Tho for heart surgery. Without land, my husband and I have to live in the field, making a living by picking vegetables to sell, earning only VND40,000 to VND50,000 a day. The other day, I used the money I saved from the beginning of the year to buy a new boat for 3.5 million to go to the market and take my grandchild to school more safely but it was unfortunately stolen,” Mrs. Tam lamented.
Ms. Tam and her grandchild took an old and worn-out boat to the market to park it to an acquaintance and then took a motorbike taxi to get here, she said. “I’m very happy. I’ve worked hard but can hardly make ends meet. Today, with a gift from the benefactor, I will take my grandchild to buy her a new outfit for the beginning of this school year. I just wish that one day I would have enough money to buy a new boat for my child to go to school. Since my house is in the middle of the field 2km from school, I have to take the boat to bring my grandchild to school every day,” Ms. Tam revealed her plans for both of them.
On the same boat is Ms. Nguyen Thi Chin residing in area 3, Long My Town. Mr. and Mrs. Chin do not have farmland and have to rely on the market for daily subsistence.
Mrs. Chin’s grandchild is P.N.A, a student of Class 4A6 at Thuan An primary school, Long My town. She said that every year her grandchild receives a certificate of merit for being an excellent student.
Her father passed away. Her mother remarried and A. has since lived with her grandparents. The family has no land. So Mr. and Mrs. Chin wake up at 4:00 a.m. to cook sticky rice, and at 6:30 a.m. they take it to the market to sell. If they can’t sell it all, they go out and sell it on the street. Mrs. Chin said that she has to take care of A. alongside another maternal grandchild because her daughter works far away.
“Today I went to receive gifts so I took a day off from selling sticky rice,” Mrs. Chin said with a smile. “Two of us took a motorbike taxi ride at 7 a.m. I am very happy because the gift is the equivalent of what both my husband and I earn from selling sticky rice all month. After receiving the gift, I will take my grandchild to the market for a bowl of pho,” Mrs. Chin said.
Efforts to be of service to society when caring for and protecting children
Sharing at the gift giving ceremony, Mr. David Charles Riddle, representative of Tan Hiep Phat Company, emphasized: “The gifts not only have material value but also motivate and encourage children to develop their spirit of ‘Nothing is impossible’: working hard to overcome difficulties; studying hard towards a better future.”
Mr. Tran Van Huyen, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Hau Giang Province, sent his thanks to Tan Hiep Phat Company for not only investing in the factory, creating jobs for workers, contributing to promoting local economic development but also paying special attention to students in challenging circumstances in Hau Giang Province. At the same time, he reminds students to continue their efforts to overcome difficulties to pursue their studies as education and qualifications are the foundation to improve their livelihood and to have a solid future. “If you have any difficulties, please contact the relevant agencies, the Party Committee and the People’s Committee of Hau Giang Province. We will join hands with the children. The provincial leaders’ view is: “Not under any circumstances or difficulties should children have to drop out of school,” Mr. Huyen said.