In the last days of the year, in the cold weather, groups of students from the University of Education and Science and the Viet Nam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology under the University of Da Nang organized charity trips to give gifts to orphans and people in difficult circumstances.

Members of the Hand In Hand group of the Viet Nam - Korea University of Information and Communication Technology gave gifts of love to people and children at Rang Chuoi. Photo: H.V

Overcoming many winding roads and mountains, 70 members of the Hand In Hand Group at the Viet Nam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology set foot on the Rang Chuoi ridge in Village 1, Tra Tap Commune, Nam Tra My District, Quang Nam Province, to give gifts of love to local people and children with the hope of dispelling the cold in the highlands.

Student Pham Tran Ngoc Thuy, Head of the Hand In Hand group, expressed that during the advance trip to Rang Chuoi ridge, the members felt the difficult lives of the people. The place is home to 42 households, mainly Ca Dong people, of which 90% are poor households.

Located in a mountainous area with rugged terrain, Rang Chuoi is not only affected by harsh weather with flash floods and whirlwinds, but the infrastructure is still quite limited. Understanding the difficulties, the group planned to call for support to organise the programme "Warm Winter in the Jungle" to support necessities and facilities for the people.

Thuy said that in 3 days, 70 members organised many meaningful activities. In particular, 85 gifts including warm clothes, boots, uniforms, bags and toys, and 88 gifts of pens, notebooks and crayons, were donated to local pupils. At the same time, they got involved in giving free haircuts, screening movies, performing plays, cooking more than 100 meals and teaching the children how to clean themselves and classify trash.

In addition, the group installed 10 solar-powered lamp posts and 20 solar power systems for lighting, as well as offered gifts of necessities, and breeding and ducks pigs to local people.

To contribute to protecting environment, beautifying the landscape as well as renewing the learning environment for pupils, the group built a "Dream Playground" with slides, swings, seesaws and a soccer pitch; installed 2 medicine cabinets and 2 trash bins at 2 schools; and decorated classrooms.

"To bring hundreds of necessities to the venue, the group had to carry the goods on foot for 3 hours. Luckily, the group received support from the people for transportation. The group hopes that the gifts will help people feel secure in their work and the children have enough conditions to go to school," Thuy happily said.

Student Huynh Thi Nhat Minh, Deputy Team Leader of Hand In Hand Group shared “The trip left in my mind countless images of children with eager eyes when they first saw a movie, held toys or wore new clothes. I felt that the people and children were happy to have visitors and were reluctant to leave after having to say goodbye after 3 short days. The members of the group and I told ourselves that in the upcoming journey, we will try to organis such charity programmes in Rang Chuoi to help people”.

With the message "Opening arms - Living for the community", the Social Work Team under the University of Education and Science implemented the charity programme "With Team - Winter is not cold" at the Hoa Mai Orphanage Centre. The team had 3 weeks to raise funds by selling fruits and candies, and call for financial support from benefactors.

Student Nguyen Huu Duc, Head of the Social Work Team, said that in modern society, there are still unfortunate lives that need to be warmed, and the children at the centre need a lot of sharing and encouragement. Therefore, the team members spent the whole weekend visiting the children, planting trees, cleaning and preparing nearly 50 portions of lunch.

In the afternoon, the team organised games and cultural exchange activities, and gave gifts of cakes, candies, books, notebooks, and school supplies, to children at the centre.

The programme not only gave warm gifts but also left memorable moments with the children mixed with laughter and happiness. “For me, the programme is not only about meals and gifts but also about sending messages of life. I hope that in the future, the children - the future buds of the country will have more strength to continue their path of learning and to send love to everyone” Duc confided.

Reporting by HUYNH VU - Translating by M.DUNG