Putting studies temporarily behind us, we are headed to the remote mountains with many kind-hearted, enthusiastic DTU students, eager to bring some joy and love to the local community. The expedition to the Dai Loc district of Quang Nam province in late September was unforgettable.
Members of the charity group traveling by boat to Dai Son
The expedition was named “Bring Back the Joy”. We finally arrived at Dai Son after three hours of boating through the hills. More than eighty young people from all over the country got together to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with the needy children living by Vu Gia River. Mr. Pham Dang Quang, the DTU Youth Forum Secretary said: “Originating from an idea launched on community websites, we went on this expedition to share their suffering and assist the people of Dai Son with their difficulties. This is not the first time that DTU students have take part in volunteer work and charitable activities. However we always experience extreme emotions whenever we return to Dai Son”. Participating in the trip were members of The Family of Human kindness from Ho Chi Minh City. While some of them frequently travel on charitable expeditions, others are taking part for the first time.
Crossing Vu Gia River by boat, we arrived at remote villages where there was no supply of electricity and clean water or telephone access. Generators provide power to the area with essential electricity from 6 pm to 8.30pm only.
But it’s the schools that symbolize the living here. The children’s most precious gift is education. The charity group made the dream of the mid-autumn festival true by donating 1,000 moon cakes, 1,000 lanterns, 30 bicycles and 50 other gifts to the village, as well as 12 million VND to assist three small children and one old person with severe diseases. We were all moved to tears when we met an 80 year-old woman who has to travel by boat to the other side of the river everyday to sell to supplies to poor residents. She said “Every day I go there to sell things to earn a living and I must pay forty thousand dong to travel. I have to work hard to support my granddaughter, who is currently studying hard at high school.
Administrator Tran Anh Tien said: “It was such a hard journey but our fatigue quickly disappeared when we thought about the joy we were bringing to the local children. Their life is difficult and they lack so many things. I hope that they will receive even more donations from kind-hearted organizations like ours.” All members of the expedition brought their love and shared to the pity of the people of Vu Gia River. Every charitable trip is a journey back home for DTU students, enabling them to share their lives with the underprivileged.
(Board of Website Editors)