Can't stand by and watch children in flood-affected areas face drowning

Bringing swimming pools to students in flood-hit areas

- First of all, thank you for taking the time to answer this interview. It is known that you and the members of the association have just had a charity trip to Quang Tri . Could you please share with readers about this trip?

- Thank you to the Newspaper and Quang Tri PT-TH for giving me the opportunity to talk to readers. I, along with members of the Vinaconex Charity Association and friends, have just returned from Quang Tri after a volunteer trip. In the locality, we handed over two swimming pools to students of Cam Hieu Primary and Secondary School (Cam Hieu Commune, Cam Lo District, now Hieu Giang Commune) and Hai Son Primary and Secondary School (Hai Son Commune, Hai Lang District, now Nam Hai Lang Commune).

Although this was not the first time I came to Quang Tri, this trip still left me and the members of the association with many emotions. We were very happy to hand over the swimming pool and give small gifts to local students. Seeing the joy on their faces, we had more motivation to continue our meaningful work.

- Up to now, how many "Swimming Pools for Children" have Vinaconex Charity Association and friends built in Quang Tri, sir?

- From 2019 to now, we have donated 17 “Swimming Pools for Children” projects to schools in Quang Tri. Most of the schools receiving the swimming pools are located in areas vulnerable to natural disasters. Although they really want to, due to lack of facilities, the schools do not have the conditions to organize swimming classes for students. This is also a concern not only for teachers but also for parents and local students.

- What motivated you to bring "Swimming Pools for Children" to schools in flood-affected areas?

- Vinaconex Charity Association and friends came to Quang Tri from trips to support people affected by storms and floods. At that time, the luggage we brought to support local people was: clothes, rice, instant noodles... Through the trips, we clearly understood what the people lacked and needed. Therefore, a few years ago, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoa, the head of the association, discussed with us, then coordinated with the local government to research and build kindergartens, community houses and houses with steel frames and 2-storey architecture to withstand storms and floods. Up to now, the association has sponsored the construction of 4 kindergartens, 1 community house to avoid floods, and 2 houses in Quang Tri.

During the months of working on projects to help people in Quang Tri prevent storms and floods, we realized that the need for drowning prevention skills among the people, especially local students, is very high. However, due to the lack of facilities and swimming teachers, this need can only be met to a small extent. Meanwhile, Quang Tri is a locality with a long coastline, many lakes, rivers and streams... During the rainy and stormy season, widespread flooding often occurs. That is the reason why almost every year there are several drowning incidents in the area. In those heartbreaking incidents, the victims are mainly children.

Thinking that we need to take responsibility to join hands to solve this situation, we came up with the idea of organizing the program "Swimming Pool for Children" and building a smart swimming pool model with suitable size and standards to support schools and students. These swimming pools will help solve the concern about facilities, helping students approach swimming safely and effectively. After implementing the model, we were very happy to receive very good feedback. Therefore, the members have more motivation to replicate the model.

Can't stand by and watch children in flood-affected areas face drowning

Mr. Nguyen Huu Ngoc and representatives of Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union talked with students of Cam Hieu Primary and Secondary School - Photo: TL

Will try harder

- It is known that each “Swimming Pool for Children” is worth over 150 million VND. How did you and the members of the association mobilize such a large amount of funding?

- Vinaconex Charity Association members and friends are all workers, working in many different jobs and fields. However, we share the same volunteer spirit, the desire to share and help people in areas with difficult socio -economic conditions, especially areas affected by natural disasters.

To organize charity programs and build “Swimming Pools for Children”, we join hands by those who have a lot contributing a lot, those who have little contributing a little. In addition to promoting internal strength, we also actively mobilize more support and care from relatives and friends.

Mobilizing resources is sometimes difficult. The reason is that the work of the association members is not always favorable. Support from relatives and friends is also limited. However, the association members always strive to overcome difficulties and successfully complete the annual goals.

- When learning about the program "Swimming Pool for Children", many Quang Tri people want to know more about the Vinaconex Charity Association and its friends. We hope you will share about the association and the meaningful activities that you and your colleagues have done?

- The Vinaconex Charity Association and Friends was established 15 years ago. As I share, we are all workers, doing many different jobs and fields. At first, the common point of the association's members was that they all worked at Vinaconex Corporation. Later, seeing the association's effective operation, many of our friends and partners are also registered and offered to join. We operate not for profit. The association's programs and activities are funded by contributions and donations from our brothers. Therefore, everyone is very united with each other.

During its operations, Vinaconex Charity Association and its friends have mainly targeted localities with difficult socio-economic conditions. Up to now, the footsteps of the association's brothers have reached many provinces and cities across the country. However, the areas that we focus on supporting the most are the northern mountainous provinces and the Central region. Having been to many places, we have realized that these are the areas where people need the most attention and support. Therefore, there are provinces that we have visited and returned to many times, such as Quang Tri.

Up to now, we cannot remember exactly how many activities we have organized in Quang Tri. However, the memories are still as if they happened yesterday. In 2018, the association sponsored the construction and handover of Hai Thai Kindergarten to local officials, teachers and students. During the complicated period of COVID-19, the association launched a peak period, mobilizing many resources to support the people of Quang Tri. From 2024 to present, the association has coordinated with the Quang Tri Provincial Youth Union to organize many activities, of which the most meaningful activity is probably bringing "Swimming Pools for Children" to students in flood-hit areas.

- In the coming time, what will Vinaconex Charity Association and its friends do to develop the association and at the same time multiply the joy from the program "Swimming Pool for Children", sir?

- As workers, despite many hardships and difficulties, the passion for charity work has never diminished in the hearts of Vinaconex Charity Association members and friends. The members of the association agree that they will always try to do charity with their own finances, efforts, and abilities; actively mobilize the participation and support of friends, relatives, organizations, and kind-hearted individuals... This is the way for us to continue writing the pages of 15 years of hard work and efforts to do charity work. In our activities, the association will continue to focus on the program "Swimming Pool for Children". Because, we know that the pain of drowning will last forever if we just stand by and do not join hands to prevent it. Every small action has a great meaning.

Thank you!

Implementation

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/khong-the-dung-nhin-tre-em-vung-lu-doi-mat-voi-duoi-nuoc-195541.htm