TASECO joins hands to contribute love in Quang Binh - A journey full of unforgettable memories

From November 6-8, 2020, with the connection of the charity organization "Dream School" (NTUM), the Trade Union of Thang Long Aviation Services Joint Stock Company (Taseco) in coordination with the Company's Youth Union and partner BIDV Transaction Office 1 (BIDV Department of Education 1) jointly carried out a charity trip to Thuong Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province. The total value of cash and in-kind donations was 1 billion 36 million VND, which was handed over by the Taseco & BIDV Department of Education 1 delegation to people at the villages throughout the commune.

Early in the morning of November 7, all members of the volunteer group from three directions: the North (Taseco Group, Taseco Airs, Taseco Land, BIDV Department of Education 1), the Central region (Taseco Da Nang and A La Carte Hotel), the South (Taseco Saigon) and the NTUM team gathered in Phong Nha - Ke Bang. After quickly loading the boxes of goods and necessary supplies onto the vehicle, we traveled nearly 60 km along Highway 20 and Highway 562 to reach the People's Committee of Thuong Trach Commune. Before departure, the group was ready for a complicated journey and prepared for risky situations because the effects of the recent floods and rains were still present.

The group's first challenge was to overcome a serious landslide caused by heavy rain the night before, about 400m from the Eight Young Volunteers Cave Historical Site (Tan Trach Commune, Bo Trach District, Quang Binh Province).

After nearly 2 hours, the road was cleared again thanks to the rescue of the engineering soldiers.

The next winding and bumpy journey took nearly 2 hours, although it was only about 33km long, and the group finally arrived at the People's Committee of Thuong Trach Commune. Here, local government representatives guided and supported us to the villages in the commune.

The delegation divided into 4 groups: Group I approached Thuong Trach Primary School No. 1, Noong Cu village and Noong Moi village; Group II moved to villages 51, Cham Pu village, Co Do village, village 61, A Ky village, Troi village, Tuoc village; Group III supported people in Cooc village, Con Roang village and Cu Ton village; Group IV stayed at the People's Committee headquarters to give gifts to people in Ban village, But village, Niu village, Ca Roong 1 village, Ca Roong 2 village, Khe Rung village and students of Bo Trach district's Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities.

The journey of Group I was perhaps the most arduous, difficult but most memorable of this trip. First, the group transported artifacts including televisions, tables, chairs, books, school supplies and coats to Thuong Trach Primary School No. 1 (more than 1km from the Commune People's Committee) by motorbike and rickshaw because cars could not enter. We were greeted at the school by the innocent, curious and eager faces of the children as well as the enthusiastic welcome of the teachers here.

Mr. Vu Minh Tuan - Deputy General Director of Taseco Airs Company in charge of Group I, together with representatives of NTUM organization, presented gifts to Thuong Trach Primary School No. 1, continuing to help students' dreams take flight.

Saying goodbye to the school with much regret, Group I continued to go deeper into Nong Cu and Nong Moi villages. The commune officials had told us in advance that the journey would be difficult because these were the two most remote villages in the commune that were isolated due to landslides. But that was why the group was even more determined to continue to spread the spirit of mutual love to our fellow countrymen. After more than 3 hours of persistently crossing the forest and wading through streams, sometimes the water was higher than our bodies, the whole group still held hands together to overcome, no one gave up halfway but took turns accompanying each group, and finally we reached the village.

The makeshift, shabby, damp wooden houses gradually appeared before our eyes. The people here are isolated because the landslide has not been repaired yet and every day they survive on instant noodles and food from volunteer groups.

The delegation members sent gifts to each representative of the households in Nong village.

Group II was led by commune officials to Village 51 and Cham Pu Village first, where electricity was still cut off due to the impact of floods and rains, making people's lives very difficult.

Visiting people after the damage caused by floods, Mr. Nguyen Quang Huy - Chairman of Taseco Trade Union (far left) - head of group II directly presented support money to representatives of households.

On the other side of the Thuong Trach commune, group III led by Mr. Pham Xuan Tien - General Director of Taseco Saigon, went to Cooc village, Con Roang village and Cu Ton village to give support money to the people. Con Roang border post is the gathering point for people from the three villages.

The final gift distribution point at Thuong Trach Commune People's Committee was managed by Group IV. Mr. Pham Duc Long - Vice Chairman of Taseco Trade Union (far right) was the head of the delegation and personally handed over the donations to the people of Ban, But, Niu, Ca Roong 1, Ca Roong 2, Khe Rung villages and students of Bo Trach District Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities.

All 4 groups returned to the Phong Nha Ke Bang gathering point after saying goodbye to the villages, the next day the group set off to return to their daily lives. The smiles of the people, the joyful eyes of the children, the hope of the teachers and the resilience of the border guards added a lot of motivation and meaning to life for the green shirts of Taseco & BIDV volunteers to continue to strive to work.

We would like to sincerely thank the connection of the organization "Dream School", local authorities, comrades at the Border Guard Stations Ca Roong 1, Ca Roong 2, Con Roang in Thuong Trach commune, Bo Trach district, Quang Binh province for helping the working group have the opportunity to share with the people in the commune. In addition, we would like to sincerely thank our partner BIDV, Transaction Office 1, for joining Taseco in this charity project.

Taseco staff will continue their journey to places where people face many difficulties and hardships in this program "Joining hands to contribute love".