When soldiers become "godfathers" to disadvantaged children

Implementing the program "Helping children go to school", officers and soldiers of units under the Gia Lai Provincial Military Command have become spiritual support and godfathers of many children in especially difficult circumstances, helping them dream of a bright future.

Helping children go to school

Kpuih H'Lang (Phu Thien commune, Gia Lai province) lost his father in 2019, and not long after that, his mother abandoned him to work far away and start a new family. H'Lang and his younger brother depend on their eldest brother, living in poverty and deprivation in every way.

In a situation of struggling to make ends meet, it was thought that Kpuih H'Lang would have to give up her dream of going to school. But fortunately, H'Lang was adopted by Company 72 - a unit stationed in the area - and sponsored all of her study expenses with a support level of 23.9 million VND/year. Not only stopping at providing material support, the Company's officers and employees also regularly visited and encouraged H'Lang; closely coordinated with the school to closely monitor her learning process. Thanks to that, she had more motivation to try harder in her studies and improve her life. From an average student at risk of dropping out of school, H'Lang achieved the title of good student in the 2024-2025 school year.

Staff of 72 One Member Company Limited guides Kpuih H'Lang to study. Photo: Vinh Hoang

It is known that for many years now, through the program "Officers and soldiers help children go to school", hundreds of children in especially difficult circumstances in the locality have been supported materially, cared for spiritually, and given motivation and confidence to overcome adversity. With practical actions, the program has truly become a bridge to spread kindness, contributing to strengthening the relationship between the army and the people, beautifying the meaningful life in the border area.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Pham Xuan Tri, Director of Company 72, implementing the program "Officers and soldiers help children go to school", up to now, the unit has sponsored 8 students with especially difficult circumstances in the border area, bringing them to be raised directly in the families of officers and soldiers. At the same time, it regularly supports 25 other children (like H'Lang).

"Our greatest wish is to accompany and give strength to children in especially difficult circumstances so that they can have a support system, continue to go to school, and look forward to a bright future," Lieutenant Colonel Pham Xuan Tri expressed.

Great responsibility, noble sentiment of a soldier

At Ia Nan Border Guard Station, Gia Lai Province, the border guards are not only silent border guards but also special foster fathers to children in particularly difficult circumstances in the locality. Among them, Kpuih Tri is always the pride of the collective of officers and soldiers of Ia Nan Border Guard Station.

As a student with a spirit of overcoming difficulties, Kpuih Tri always strives in his studies. During his 5 years of primary school, he was awarded the title of good student and received certificates of merit from the school for his studies and training. Last school year, Tri studied in grade 6 at Phan Boi Chau Secondary School and continued to receive positive reviews from teachers for his diligent and progressive learning attitude.

Kpuih Tri was picked up by his foster father at Ia Nan Border Guard Station after school.

Living with his foster dads every day, Tri is taken care of and taught many things in life. He said, "In addition to teaching me math and studying, my dads also take turns taking me to and from school every day. When I get sick, my dads are very worried, they all ask about me, take me to the doctor, remind me to eat enough nutrients and give me instructions on how to take medicine. I will try to study well and be obedient so as not to disappoint my dads' kindness."

Lieutenant Colonel Le Tuan Anh, Chief of Ia Nan Border Guard Station, said that because Tri was still young when he was adopted and needed special attention, the station's leadership arranged for officers and soldiers to take turns caring for and guiding him in even the smallest things. In addition to school hours, the unit has created a separate schedule for him to review and study.

Ia Nan Border Guard Station officers guide Kpuih Tri in his studies. Photo: TD

"With the responsibility of foster fathers, we regularly contact the homeroom teachers and the school to grasp the learning situation, thereby having timely measures to support the children. The remarkable progress of the "godchildren" is a great motivation, helping the officers and soldiers of Ia Nan Border Guard Station determined to complete their tasks well, especially in the mass mobilization work at the front line of the Fatherland", Head of Ia Nan Border Guard Station Le Tuan Anh shared.

For many years, implementing the program "Helping children go to school - Adopted children of Border Guard stations", in addition to the main task of firmly protecting the territorial sovereignty and national border security, Border Guard officers and soldiers are always ready to take on the additional role of fathers and teachers, directly caring for and educating orphans and children in especially difficult circumstances. This is a practical activity that demonstrates the great sense of responsibility and noble sentiment of soldiers towards the border community.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/khi-nguoi-linh-lam-cha-do-dau-cua-tre-kho-khan-2025070917032027.htm