Vietnamese Soldiers with “blue beret” bring smiles to children in South Sudan
Vietnamese peacekeepers give gifts to children in South Sudan According to these officers and soldiers, while children around the world enjoy a joyful International Children’s Day, a child’s smile remains a rare and precious sight in conflict-torn regions like South Sudan.
Vietnamese soldiers with “blue beret” bring smiles and hope to children in South Sudan
Life in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp - home to over 120,000 people affected by conflict - vividly reflects the daily hardships faced by children here. In the cramped and under-resourced setting, Banpa Primary School is one of only four schools still opening. With over 2,200 students and only 11 makeshift classrooms built from corrugated iron and wood - lacking doors, fans, or proper lighting - the school has only blackboards for teachers and a few long benches where children squeeze together to learn.
In this context, on June 1st, staffs of Vietnam’s Level-2 Field Hospital No. 6 carried out a meaningful gesture. In addition to providing essential school supplies such as whiteboards, pens, and notebooks, the Vietnamese peacekeepers also donated 250 gift packages to outstanding students - small gifts that carry great emotional encouragement for young children growing up amid hardship.
Amid a complex cholera outbreak in the IDP camp, the team also provided the school with disinfectant, soap, and held a hygiene education session for both teachers and students to help prevent the spread of disease.
Joy on the children faces receiving gifts from the Vietnamese peacekeepers
These were not only material presents but acts of compassion and solidarity - heartfelt gestures from Vietnamese peacekeepers. In the harsh and scorching land of Africa, their presence has become a beacon of hope, spreading humanity and love, and enhancing the image of Vietnam in the eyes of the international community - especially in the hearts of South Sudanese children.
