Lieutenant Colonel Ngô Thị Anh Minh, Head of the Bắc Giang Provincial Police Women's Committee, presents gifts to her goddaughter Nguyễn Thị Thuý An on the first day of school. — Photos courtesy of Bắc Giang Province

BẮC GIANG — Two years since the beginning of the 'Godmothers' and the 'Police Officers are Foster Brothers' programmes, fifty-nine orphans and disadvantaged children have been helped by caring officials from Bắc Giang Provincial Police.

The officials in the province have not only provided material support, each 'mother' and 'brother' has been attentive and caring, regularly visiting and encouraging the children.

As a result many of the children have become excellent students, passed university entrance exams and have been set on their way to make their dreams come true.

The 'Godmothers' programme is currently sponsoring 26 children with VNĐ300,000-500,000 (US$12-20) per month per child.

It has already helped four children directly, including helping two students head off to college and two others to study at university.

Major Phạm Thị Quỳnh Nga, Chairwoman of the Lạng Giang District Police Women's Union could not hide her joy talking about the two children she adopted, twins Trần Hà Thương and Trần Huy Long.

They are 18 years old, students of the Lạng Giang High School No 2 and living in Kép 12 Village, Hương Sơn Commune.

The twins have especially difficult circumstances, their mother died when they were young, their father is often sick and unable to work, so they have become carers while also having to study.

Lieutenant Colonel Minh assists the biological mother of her goddaughter An with walking.

Hearing of their situation, the district police Women's Union were full of sympathy and elected to become godmothers to the twins in 2021.

Each month, the two children receive VNĐ700,000 ($28) from the union members’ contribution.

Thương and Long passed the university entrance exam this year.

Nga said: “The two children have tried their best, this is a worthy result. It is the greatest reward for the children, for their late mother and the Women's Union of Lạng Giang District Police.”

To realise their dream of going to university, she and her two adopted children often confided and talked about what careers they would want to suit their interests and circumstances.

As soon as the two children received the admission notice from universities, the Women's Union, Youth Union of the district police gave them VNĐ14 million ($560) to help cover the tuition fees.

Another case that received help from the 'Godmother' programme is Nguyễn Thị Thuý An, an 8th grader at the Thắng Town Junior Secondary School in Hiệp Hoà District.

An’s mother had an accident which meant she has major health problems and needs long-term treatment. Her father is a seriously wounded veteran and is often sick.

The difficult family situation made An consider dropping out of school to work to help her parents.

Luckily, An was sponsored by the Bắc Giang Provincial Police Women's Committee, so she was able to continue studying and has made them all proud.

An has been an excellent student for many years, winning third prize in history and second prize in literature in the district-level excellent student competition.

An's 'Godmother' is lieutenant colonel Ngô Thị Anh Minh, Head of the Women's Committee.

She said that with the desire to give An more motivation to excel in her studies and life, the committee presented An with VNĐ500,000 per month, given her school supplies and books and will support her until she finishes high school.

Talking about her plans, An said that she would continue to focus on her studies and was reviewing history to prepare for the Excellent Student Competition in the 2024-2025 school year.

In addition to the Godmothers programme there is also the 'Police Officers are Foster Brothers' model, again helping disadvantaged students in the province.

The Bắc Giang Province Youth Union and Police present gifts from the 'Police Officers are Foster Brothers' programme.

According to head of the Bắc Giang Provincial Police Youth Committee, Major Đoàn Văn Phương, the model has helped 33 students, of whom three have graduated from high school. Two of them are in vocational colleges and one is a university student.

The programme has an estimated budget of VNĐ250-300 million ($10,100-12,100) with support levels of VNĐ300,000-500,000 per month per student.

Every month, the unit transfers the sponsorship funds for students to their homeroom teacher or the Youth Union Secretary of the commune where the students are studying and living.

The fund comes from contributions of different organisations including the Youth Union, the police, groups, individuals, philanthropists and companies.

In addition to monthly funding, the provincial Police Youth Union also supports the children with study supplies and helps those in need with transportation, aiming for a higher-level number of sponsorships year by year.

Head of the Bắc Giang Provincial Police Women's Committee, Lieutenant Colonel Minh, said that the committee was working with local authorities to review and make a list of orphans and poor children in the area as a basis for adoption.

The unit is also raising awareness among soldiers, union members and youth officials about the programmes’ purpose and meaning, actively asking for more support, so that more and more orphans and poor children in the area are cared for and protected. — VNS