After Da Nang saw a second wave of the coronavirus late last month, many young people in Da Nang have been doing all they can to support Da Nang's efforts to tackle Covid-19. 

Huy and Oanh puting on their stuffy protective suits to embark on their tasks in a designated quarantine facility.

Staying calm in the novel coronavirus “storm”, Pham Dang Gia Huy and Ho Ngoc Oanh residing in Son Tra District’s Phuoc My Ward, both of whom are 16-year-old, has put aside their summer break to join practical pandemic prevention activities at a local designated quarantine facility, regardless of the hardship and potential dangers. The halls of residence for students at the Son Tra District-based Food Industry Junior College is used as a coronavirus isolation and quarantine site.

Initially, the two teenagers’ decision to participate in such voluntary activities faced intense objections from their parents due to their overwhelming anxiety and fear over the possibility that their school-aged children might catch the deadly coronavirus disease.  Finally, the duo managed to successfully persuade their parents for permissions.

Mr Pham Van Phuoc, Huy’s father, said in happiness, “At first, I was a bit worried because my son was still young, and he did not have many life skills to protect himself.  However, mulling over his practical intention again and again, I allowed him to do something highly meaningful for the sake of the community. His deed, indeed, demonstrated his high sense of responsibilities towards our community”.

The duo doing all kinds of tasks such as distributing portions of meals to the quarantined and collecting garbage for appropriate disposal

“I don’t think anyone should just wait for their turn.  Rather, no matter where they are in the world and where in the age spectrum they sit, everyone should be working together to reach the common goal of completely repelling the terrible virus. We can't do big things due to our ages, but we can do the best by carrying out simply yet highly practical deeds for the community”, strongly affirmed Oanh.

Meanwhile, Huy said, “Although this is just a volunteer activity, I always remind myself to fulfill my assigned tasks, especially be always careful. In light of the complicated pandemic outbreak, even the smallest degree negligence or any mistake might result in a high risk of infection for myself and others”.

Every day, the duo have to wake up early in the morning, do personal hygiene in a prompt fashion, put on their stuffy protective suits, and then embark on their tasks in the quarantine site.

Huy placing meals in front of a quarantined room

Here, Huy and Oanh, as well as other volunteers, do all kinds of tasks such as distributing portions of meals to the quarantined, collecting garbage for appropriate disposal, receiving supplies from the quarantined people’s relatives, and helping the medical staff here conduct body temperature measurements on the sequestered and do many other volunteers activities.

“As we received sincere thanks from the quarantined for our good deeds, all fatigue seemed to disappear. At this time of hardship, people can still feel each other’s warmth even though they can’t be close physically”, Oanh said in pride.

Nguyen Hoang Thi, the leader of the volunteer team at the quarantine facility said, although Huy and Oanh are the youngest in the team, they always complete their assigned tasks sooner and more effective than expected.

After completing a certain task, Huy (right) and Oanh (left) supporting each other to disinfect themselves

It is worth praising that, apart form their voluntary activities in the quarantine site, the duo are joining other active Youth Union members in Phuoc My Ward for practical activities.

They have showed their eagerness in making hundreds of face shields, cleaning up some schools for their turning into quarantine sites , and raising the public awareness of complying with the municipal government’s infection prevention and control measures plus the ongoing social distancing restrictions.

By THI NGA-HUY HOANG – Translate by A.T