The border commune of Keng Du is located about 70km from the center of Ky Son district, the main settlement area of ​​Mong, Thai, and Kho Mu ethnic groups for many generations. Many years ago, people mentioned Keng Du because of its remoteness, difficult traffic, and the people's lives facing many difficulties.

But at the same time, thanks to the great policies of the Party, the State, the local government, the Border Guard, the border commune of Keng Du has had national electricity grid, telephone signal, and is happier when the asphalt road connecting Muong Xen town, Ky Son district with the center of Keng Du commune is nearing completion. After many years of returning, we were surprised when the central area of ​​the border commune, densely populated, solid houses "sprouted" up close together, many shops selling all kinds of household goods from clothes, televisions...

Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association coordinated with Keng Du Border Guard Station to present breeding goats to local people.

Keng Du Border Guard Station gives breeding pigs to poor households.

Through conversations with local people, it is known that most of the healthy young people in the commune work far away and bring back money to build decent houses and provide for their children's education. Local people also affirmed that the officers and soldiers of Keng Du Border Guard Station are always a reliable and solid support. Along with the task of protecting the border, the soldiers in green uniforms participate in consolidating the grassroots political system, helping people develop the economy and reduce poverty.

Up to now, the Party Committee of Keng Du Border Guard Station has mobilized 5 party members to participate in Party activities at border village and hamlet Party cells. The border guards have coordinated with the management board to propagate and mobilize people to comply with the policies and laws of the Party and the State. The unit has also sponsored 5 students from difficult family circumstances under the program "Helping children go to school". The soldiers in green uniforms actively participate in helping people repair and build houses and civil works.

Officers of Keng Du Border Guard Station support people to build houses.

Soldiers joined with people to repair inter-village roads.

Not only that, officers and soldiers of Keng Du Border Post regularly mobilize resources and implement measures to help people develop the economy.

Mr. Luong Pho Chan, Quyet Thang village said: “Many households here were given pigs, goats, and fruit trees by Keng Du Border Guard Station. The unit also sent officers to guide people on livestock and crop farming techniques to eliminate hunger and reduce poverty. People love the soldiers very much.”

Learning about the story, we learned that since 2015, the Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association has coordinated with the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command to implement a project for border guard stations to raise native pigs with the aim of giving piglets to poor people in the border area. To implement the project, the Nghe An Provincial Farmers' Association provided financial support for border guard stations to build barns and buy sows. On that basis, each year, each unit is responsible for supporting 20 piglets for local people. After nearly 10 years of implementing the project, the border guard stations under the Nghe An Provincial Border Guard Command have donated thousands of piglets to help local people have a livelihood and escape poverty sustainably. In particular, the Keng Du Border Guard Station is one of the units that effectively implemented the above meaningful project.

The Command of Keng Du Border Guard Station presented support money and gifts to students sponsored by the unit.

Although not completed yet, many passenger buses on the Muong Xen - Keng Du route have been put into operation.

Talking to us, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Ngoc Tu, Political Commissar of Keng Du Border Guard Station affirmed: “Along with the task of protecting the border and maintaining peace in the area, the officers and soldiers of the unit always clearly identify the spirit and responsibility to help people develop the economy and reduce poverty. In recent years, the unit has coordinated with local authorities to implement many practical and effective measures.”

We left the border commune on the bus from Muong Xen to Keng Du and heard many funny stories from the locals about the changes in this difficult land. In the stories, people often mentioned the kindness of the Border Guard soldiers towards the ethnic people in the area.

Article and photos: HIEU AN