Silent mothers "raise" their children in the middle of the forest

To overcome poverty, mothers in the highlands do not fear hardships, working hard to educate their children. The children also strive to continue their aspirations, not only for themselves, but also for the silent sacrifices their mothers have made behind them.

Efforts to teach children

The day Nguyen Thi Vut's (born in 1985, Tra Tap commune, Da Nang city) two children brought home their certificates of merit for excellent students to show off was also a day of joy mixed with worries for her. In this highland, university admission certificates are a "luxury gift" for her and other poor people.

The story of a mother raising two daughters studying at the University of Foreign Languages (University of Danang) and the University of Economics (University of Hue) and a son studying in primary school has become a typical example of studying and following Uncle Ho's example that many people admire.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vut works hard for her children's bright future.

Ms. Vut does all kinds of jobs, from selling bananas to raising goats, pigs, growing cassava, acacia, cinnamon, etc., but her family is still considered poor. But every time she looks at her children's certificates of merit hanging on the wall, the mother is determined to find light for her children's future. Not afraid of the long distance, from Tra Tap commune, she climbed mountains and crossed passes to Tra Linh commune (Da Nang city) to learn, collect capital, and borrow money to grow Ngoc Linh ginseng.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Vut invests in her children's education for a brighter future.

Sharing about her journey of overcoming difficulties, Ms. Vut said: "At first, I did not know the techniques of planting and fertilizing, and when I brought ginseng back to Tra Tap to plant, I was afraid that the land and climate would not be suitable. But in the blink of an eye, 10 years have passed, and now my family has planted more than 1,000 Ngoc Linh ginseng plants, more than 10,000 cinnamon trees, more than 2 hectares of acacia, and raised nearly 20 black pigs and 10 grass goats. Our economic life has become more stable since then."

Despite her efforts to escape poverty, the Cadong woman still takes the opportunity to fully participate in local women's movements and activities. "I have to set an example for my children and strive so that they are not inferior to their friends and can study with peace of mind. With knowledge, they will no longer suffer like me," said Vut.

In Phuoc Nang village (Da Nang city), Ms. Ho Thi Huong proudly boasts about her eldest daughter who is now a student at the University of Agriculture and Forestry ( Hue University), and her younger son who is also well-behaved and studies well. To invest in her children's education, her farm has more than 40 pigs, more than 20 cows and buffaloes, and nearly 10 hectares of acacia forest planted according to the VAC model.

The eldest daughter is continuing Ho Thi Huong's dream of going to university.

Participating in training programs and visiting typical garden and farm models organized by the Women's Union has helped her and other members improve their effective farming techniques.

"Ms. Ho Thi Huong is a Union official who has been with the Women's Union of Phuoc My commune (old) for more than 10 years. Ms. Huong regularly applies information technology to the development journey of the Union, actively coordinates with the Union at all levels to organize training courses, competitions, awareness raising programs, and knowledge development that are extremely concise, brief, easy to understand, and suitable for more than 95% of ethnic minority women members."

Ms. Le Thi Hien - Former Vice President of Women's Union of Phuoc Son district, former Quang Nam province

Talking about her unfulfilled dream, Ms. Huong said: "I still remember the day I was selected to study general medicine in Hue, full of hope for a bright future. But due to family circumstances, I had to give up my dream of university. Therefore, now I have to try to do business and learn about the development of society to give my children the right advice, helping them study smoothly."

Continue writing mother's dream

Born in a poor village in the highlands of Kham Duc (Da Nang City), Y Phung (born in 2007) has always strived to study since she was young. In 6th grade, her father died, and her mother had to support a family of 3 children of school age. Feeling sorry for her mother's hardship, after school, the Gie Trieng ethnic girl often worked extra in her free time, on weekends, and helped her mother with housework and farming.

Y Phung studied diligently in the kitchen corner with flickering light.

Y Phung constantly tries to study.

Feeling sorry for Y Phung's difficult circumstances but still determined to study and escape poverty, in 2022, Ms. Huynh Thi Phuong Thuy (Ban Thach ward, Da Nang city) accepted to sponsor and support 400,000 VND/month for her little daughter.

"Among my 5 sponsored children, Phung is the most obedient and studious. Last year, thanks to her excellent academic achievements, she was the only student in this mountainous area to be sponsored to visit Korea under the 'Godmother' program. She is young but very understanding" - Ms. Phuong Thuy shared.

Many times I thought I was about to collapse. The burden of food, clothing, rice and money was on my parents' shoulders, but my family and I never gave up. To pursue my studies and not disappoint my parents' expectations, I constantly improved my knowledge in class, read many books and newspapers, and practiced my skills on the podium through tutoring classes.

After finishing school, I want to bring knowledge back to my hometown in the highlands. For children born and raised in poverty and backwardness, only knowledge can help us overcome our fate and reach new horizons.

A Vo Thi Loan

Summer has come, in the small kitchen of her mother, the electric lights are dim but Y Phung's eyes are still sparkling. Phung has just taken the National High School Graduation Exam and is full of hope to pass the university entrance exam for tourism and travel.

Also nurturing the will to defeat poverty with letters, A Vo Thi Loan (born 2003, Ben Hien commune, Da Nang city) traveled more than 100km carrying her dream of studying and also her mother's dream.

To raise four school-age children, Loan's parents worked hard all day on the fields and plucked rattan in the forest. However, poverty could not extinguish the passion of the Co Tu girl to become a teacher in the highlands. She passed the university entrance exam to study pedagogy and was honored to be a member of the delegation of Quang Nam province (old) to participate in the 11th National Congress of the Vietnam Student Association (term 2023 - 2028) thanks to her excellent achievements in studying and training.

A Vo Thi Loan (second from right) actively participates in activities and movements of the Youth Union at Quang Nam University (Da Nang City).

Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Lien (Head of the Department of Primary and Preschool Education, Quang Nam University), who guided the little girl from the highlands throughout her studies, proudly shared: "A Vo Thi Loan is a diligent and progressive student. Loan actively participates in the activities of the faculty, the school, the Youth Union and the Student Association. In particular, the desire to study and bring letters to the highlands, changing the poor fate of this little girl makes many people admire her."

(To be continued)

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/nhung-ba-me-tham-lang-nuoi-con-chu-giua-dai-ngan-20250729155213778.htm