Volunteer work – a badge of honour for young Vietnamese people

Youth volunteers measure the body temperature of students before a high school entrance exam, in the central province of Nghệ An in June last year. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo Bích Huệ

HÀ NỘI — For many years, in the spirit of lending a hand, youth volunteer campaigns have of highlighting the dedication of millions of Vietnamese youth union members.

Young people have volunteered to take on new and difficult jobs, go to remote places and contribute their youth to help others. 

Results of hard work 

Over the past 20 years, more than 500,000 youth projects have been implemented. Volunteer teams have repaired and renewed thousands of kilometres of rural roads and repaired or built new houses for people.

Youth unions at all levels have organised consultations, medical examinations and treatment, and distributed medicine for millions of people. Blood donation campaigns have attracted millions of union members and young people to participate.

Through the annual summer volunteer campaign, youth unions have discovered many members have a high sense of responsibility to join the Party.

Last year, the summer youth volunteer campaign took place from June 1 to August 31, attracting more than one million union members and young people, who participated in nearly 25,000 volunteer teams. They worked in rural areas, social security, national defence and security, and especially supporting people in COVID-19 control.

Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, first secretary of the Youth Union Central Committee, said that the youth campaign last year clearly showed the “3T” message “Tiên phong – Tương trợ – Thích ứng” (Pioneer – Support – Adapt).

In particular, the spirit of “pioneering” was carried out widely, through the images of young doctors, nurses, armed forces and young volunteers from all over the country ready to leave their families to be on the front line in preventing, controlling and overcoming the consequences of COVID-19.

The volunteer spirit is deeply rooted in young people’s lives across the country, showing eagerness, enthusiasm and dedication in every young person’s heart.

The campaigns’ effectiveness initially contributed to solving many specific problems across the country, said Tuấn.

Through practical activities, the summer youth volunteer campaign has left a beautiful image, strengthening the trust of the people and leaders at all levels and localities.

Volunteering has become a highly effective way to gather young people, with both their abilities and expertise. The campaign is like a lighthouse, orienting and leading spontaneous volunteer teams into regulated activities.

With the spirit of going to learn, contributing and growing up, the campaigns have helped generations of youth to experience new things, understanding more deeply and fully the spirit of “giving is receiving”, because what they receive is much greater than what they have given, said Tuấn.

What they received has transformed into beautiful and emotional memories, becoming a spiritual motivation for young Vietnamese people to live a meaningful and successful life.

Now, the volunteering spirit has been ingrained and become a beautiful culture of young Vietnamese people. Volunteer activities not only take place during the summer, but whenever society needs, at any time or place.

Bringing volunteer work into the community

Youth volunteers building a volleyball court for children in Đakrông Commune, Đakrông District, Quảng Trị Province. — VNA/VnExpress News Photo Hồ Cầu

Inheriting the tradition and enthusiasm of the previous generations, the youth of today has been taking action to get closer to community life, deepening the impressions of young people.

In particular, during the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly two million young people have volunteered to participate in pandemic prevention and control, supporting and helping children and people.

When the fourth wave of COVID-19 emerged, the youth union promptly followed the Government’s direction and the actual situation to effectively implement activities for pandemic prevention and control.

Furthermore, education to raise children’s and people’s awareness on pandemic prevention and control achieved many outstanding results.

Unions at all levels have called for the mass media to quickly and effectively convey information to the community about the pandemic situation.

Young people have also participated in the fight online, refuting fake news and malicious information while actively publishing, providing, and sharing official information, thereby spreading a feeling of determination to beat the pandemic.

The Youth Union Central Committee coordinated with relevant units to organise the “Thank you Việt Nam!” communication campaign, to thank medical staff on the front lines of the pandemic.

The online news article and mini-game, “Let’s say thank you to the medical teams and doctors against the pandemic”, has attracted millions of interactions and shares on social networks.

Young people have also supported farmers in harvesting agricultural products during the complicated situation of COVID-19.

When the country was in need, young people quickly responded with the motto “turning love into action”, to prevent and combat COVID-19. Hundreds of young doctors and nurses plunged into battle against the pandemic.

The volunteering journey is like an “extended red thread”, which will continue throughout the lives of Vietnamese youth.

It is a distinctive cultural feature, a beautiful symbol crystallised from the commitment of Vietnamese youth and their efforts and dedication for the development of the country in any period. — VnExpress News