Over 75km away from the provincial hub, an immense rubber plantation, cow herds and manioc fields are developing well under care of volunteer youths.
First days of new life
Joy and hospitality are common characters of citizens at Volunteer Youth Plantation in Phu Giao district’s An Thai commune. Most of the volunteer youths are very young. The plantation has farming, animal husbandry teams with over 30 members.
Volunteer youths prepare for lunch.
Tran Minh Hiep born in Thai Nguyen Northern Province in 1986 arrived in the province with a hope of making a new life. In first days of living away from home, he cried for homesick but now he is accustomed to roads, white drops of rubber latex…
Mai Thi Hao, a girl from Ninh Binh Northern Province, said despite difficulties, we live together happily.
Joys ahead
With love and aspiration of youth, volunteer youths’ life herein shows a remarkable development. Despite low income and shortage of material life, they are eager to think about done results and have options for the future. Nguyen Thi Xuan from Thanh Hoa province, said every one here lives in unity and dedicates youth and volunteer spirit to the plantation.
Pham Hong Thang, head of the volunteer youth team, said the team in 2004 received and managed 140ha of land at An Thai commune to build a plantation with projects of agro-forestry and aquatic products. Till 2005, the team planted 40ha of rubber with budget capital of VND2.4bil. So far, 30ha of rubber is under exploitation since early 2011 with an income of over VND2bil/year.
In addition, the plantation’s youths raise pigs, cows, and chickens… to uphold efficiency. At present, youths here enjoy VND2-2.5mil per capita per month.
Efforts of the youths uphold valuable tradition of former generations. “We promise to excel our tasks to deserve volunteer youth generation in the new period”, added Thang.
Moreover, the plantation directorate mulls over to place jobs for youths completing narcotic detoxication in a bid to help them re-make life.
Reported by N.Trinh – Translated by A.C
