Mothers in Blue

One day in mid-October, we visited Ngo Thi Phuong Vy, in Hamlet 4, Hung Tien Commune, Kim Son District. In her old house, Vy was cleaning the house and teaching her younger siblings before returning to Hanoi.

Confiding about her situation, Vy teared up: My family has 5 siblings. My mother passed away from cancer, my father and brother worked hard to pay for my siblings' education. I used to feel very lonely and sad when I thought about the misfortunes I had to endure, especially when I saw my friends having mothers to care for and comfort them.

Being closed and isolated like that, but every time she saw her father struggling and her younger siblings, Vy tried to hold back and become a support for them. In 2021, responding to the "Godmother" program, Vy and her sisters were chosen by comrades in the Provincial Police Women's Committee to encourage and support them both materially and spiritually. Thanks to that, Vy felt less homesick for her mother, gradually became stronger and nurtured her dream of entering university.

"My mother passed away due to a terrible cancer. My sister also has a serious illness. Therefore, I dream of becoming a doctor who can cure people's illnesses, so that there will no longer be many children who are orphaned and unfortunate.

During my high school years, I was often encouraged, motivated, and helped in every way by the teachers in the Provincial Police Women's Committee. Therefore, I recently passed the entrance exam to Hanoi Medical University. For me, the teachers are my second mothers, who have kindled my hope and belief in the beautiful and kind things in life" - Vy shared more.

The "green shirt" mothers often visit and encourage Ngo Thi Phuong Vy (yellow shirt) in hamlet 4, Hung Tien commune, Kim Son district.

Leaving Vy's family, we visited Dinh Thi Thuy Van, Yen Binh ward, Tam Diep city - one of the students also chosen to be sponsored by the Women's Union of the staff and force building sector, Provincial Police.

Thuy Van lost her mother at a young age, and her family was in extremely difficult circumstances. With the encouragement of her "blue shirt" mothers, the help of her teachers and friends, Van always tried her best to study and achieved excellent results. In 2022, Van was valedictorian of the entrance exam to Nguyen Hue High School. In 2024, Thuy Van was admitted to the Military Medical Academy with a high score.

Dinh Thi Thuy Van said: "With the annual support from the Women's Union of the Staff and Force Building Block, my family's burden has been reduced so I can study with peace of mind. Although my mother is no longer here, I am proud to have more kind and capable mothers. I will try to study well to be worthy of everyone's expectations and help."

Vy and Van are two of many orphaned students in difficult circumstances who have been adopted by female police officers of the province under the "Godmother" program launched by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thi Duyen, Head of the Women's Committee, Provincial Police, said: Recognizing the humanity and significance of the "Godmother" program, the Executive Committee of the Provincial Police Women's Union (now the Women's Committee) has consulted on developing a plan and implementing it to all levels of the Women's Union in the Provincial Police with the motto "Where there are orphans, there are Godmothers".

After more than 2 years of implementation, the Women's Union of the Provincial Police Department has supported and sponsored 18 children in especially difficult circumstances with a support level of 500,000 VND/month until they finish high school. In addition, the comrades regularly visit and encourage the children to improve their lives. On holidays and Tet, the comrades visit and encourage the children and their families.

With their kind and tolerant hearts, the "blue shirt" mothers have become the support and the belief for orphans to rise up in life and continue their dream of going to school. Among them, many have passed the entrance exams to universities and colleges such as Hanoi Medical University, Military Medical Academy, National Economics University, Agricultural Academy, etc.

Kim Son District Police Women's Association visited and gave gifts to "Godchildren" in Phat Diem town.

During the implementation of the Program, all levels of the Women's Union closely coordinated with the Women's Union at all levels, Party committees, local authorities and religions. Therefore, the "Godmother" model has truly spread to all classes of people and local Party committees and authorities.

Typically, in March 2023, the Ninh Binh City Police Women's Association socialized and asked for a sponsor to support 50 million VND to repair the entire house for a family of children in difficult circumstances in Ninh Nhat commune.

Lieutenant Colonel Vu Thi Duyen, Head of the Women's Committee, Provincial Police, confided: "Family is a spiritual support, a warm home, a place to nurture the souls and personalities of children. But when they are unfortunately orphaned or born into difficult circumstances, they need attention and support from organizations and the community.

Each member of the Provincial Police Women's Union is a grandmother, mother, or sister, so we understand the hardships and losses of these children. Throughout the implementation of the program, we all hope to be able to protect and support them both materially and spiritually so that they can overcome difficulties, study with peace of mind, and look forward to a bright future."

With a warm and kind heart, the "Godmother" program has created the image of a "mother in green shirt" who is close, warm and loving in life. You are the fresh flowers that beautify the qualities of Vietnamese women, worthy of the 8 golden words that President Ho Chi Minh awarded: "Heroic, indomitable, loyal, and responsible".

Article and photos: Minh Hai

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/nhung-nguoi-me-ao-xanh-/d20241016074335324.htm