Emotional first opening ceremony of the 'crescent moons' in Da Nang

On the morning of September 5, the Da Nang Red Cross Center for the Elderly and Disabled held an opening ceremony for 55 disabled students studying and living there. This is the first time the Center has held an opening ceremony for students (aged 15-25). Photo: Giang Thanh

Starting at 7am, parents busily brought their students to the Center. With the red flag with yellow star in hand, the students happily awaited the special opening ceremony.

At exactly 7:30, Mrs. Tran Thi Thom (born in 1960, Ngu Hanh Son ward) brought her son Tran Manh Kien (a student in the Center's incense class) to attend the opening ceremony. Mrs. Thom is a teacher, so in previous years, for each opening ceremony, she only took her son to Tuong Lai Specialized School and then was busy with the opening ceremony at school, never having the opportunity to attend her son's opening ceremony.

"My child has been studying and living here since last year, too old to attend a special school. This is the first time the Center has organized an opening ceremony. I am very happy and moved to attend the entire opening ceremony with my child for the first time," said Ms. Thom.

In the first opening ceremony, the students confidently performed performances such as: What is more beautiful, Vietnam I love... Although the sentences were not yet complete, the students still tried to perform the entire performance.

The exciting performances received enthusiastic cheers from the students.

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According to Mr. Nguyen Tien Lam, Vice President of the Da Nang Red Cross Society, this is not only a school but also a big family, where teachers and staff join hands to help students with special circumstances rise up and take control of their lives. "The Da Nang Red Cross Society will continue to work with the center to provide the best support for the students. We also hope that all parents and donors will join hands with the center to help the students change their fate," said Mr. Lam.

On behalf of the students, Nguyen Thi Anh (25 years old, sewing class student) emotionally said, "During our years of studying here, we received the care, love and dedicated teaching of the teachers. Thanks to that, we not only learned a profession but also practiced life skills, confidence in communicating and learning with the community."

At the end of the opening ceremony, Mr. Le Thanh Trung (born in 1971, Dien Ban ward) took a souvenir photo of his son. "This morning he woke up very early so his father could take him to the Center. I am really happy that my children had such a warm and intimate opening ceremony," Mr. Trung shared.

After taking photos, Le Thanh Thang (Mr. Trung's son) started his first class of the new school year. At the incense making machine, Thang quickly put in the powder and inserted the sticks to make the finished incense sticks. When asked about his feelings on the first day of school, Thang smiled: "I'm very happy."

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Tuyet, Acting Director of the Center for Care of the Elderly and the Disabled of the Da Nang Red Cross, in the 2025-2026 school year, the Center will provide care (semi-boarding and boarding) and free vocational training for 55 disabled students aged 15-25 with occupations such as sewing, printing, embroidery, beading, incense making, etc. "In the 2024-2025 school year, despite many difficulties, over 80% of students successfully completed the assigned vocational courses, many students confidently integrated into the community, some students found suitable jobs, the art movement and life skills training are increasingly vibrant," said Ms. Tuyet.

It is known that since its establishment, the Center has operated under a 100% self-financing mechanism. All funding is sponsored by charitable organizations and individuals inside and outside the city. It is estimated that every year, the Center has to mobilize money and goods worth more than 1 billion VND to maintain its operations.