>> Construction begins thanks to donations from readers
>> Wish for Po Ko River charity bridge granted
>> ‘Charity bridge’ needed to realise children’s dreams of schooling
>> Crossing the river by cable could be deadly
Finally, thanks to Khuyen Hoc & Dan Tri Bridge over Po Ko River in the Central Highlands, children will be able to safely get to school.
Located in Kon Tum Province, the bridge was opened to traffic today (November 15).
The bridge was funded by readers of Dantri/DTiNews and will replace the cable that was used to cross the river by locals.
The opening ceremony of Khuyen Hoc & Dan Tri Bridge
At the opening ceremony, Pham Huy Hoan, Editor in Chief of Dan Tri/DTiNews and Director of the Vietnam Fund for Promoting Education, said the bridge helped link two banks of Po Ko River as expected for thousands of people.
Readers of Dan Tri/DTiNews and benefactors contributed a sum of over VND1.5 billion (USD75,000) to help the Kon Tum Province Association for Promoting Education build the bridge.
Ka Ba To, Chairman of the Kon Tum Province Association for Promoting Education said, “Khuyen Hoc & Dan Tri Bridge is a great joy for pupils, teachers and people in Dak Ang Commune. From now on, local pupils will not have to swim cross the river to go to school, now there is a blue bridge crossing the river.”
In a letter written to Dan Tri/DTiNews on the occasion of its five-year establishment (July 15, 2010), Journalist Huu Tho, Former Head of the Party Central Ideology and Culture Commission shared, “I really feel moved to know that Dan Tri was the first newspaper which collected contributions to build a river across Po Ko River for people in Kon Tum Province. I feel even more moved when the bridge construction was kicked off after just a short time and was sped up to welcome the new school year. This activity not only shows the humanity and spirit but also helps to raise the newspaper’s prestige.”
Dan Tri & Khuyen Hoc Bridge is the first put into operation among three bridges whose construction was funded by people nationwide to link two banks of the Po Ko River.
The locals could not hide their happiness at the event. Right from early morning, hundreds of Xe Dang ethnic minority people in Long Jon, Dak Blai and Dak Rome villages in Dak Ang and Ngoc Hoi communes gathered to see the opening ceremony.
A Hoe shared, “The bridge is very convenient. It is much easier for me to take cassava across the river to change it for rice. Earlier, I had to come to Dak Gia Village and then cross the river. The old bridge is very small. One day, I collided with the bridge ropes and then fell into the river although I did not drink any wine. Luckily, my motorbike and cassava did not fall into water. With the new bridge, I am no longer worried of falling.”
Y Sui looked at her boy, A Them, aged between 8 and 9, and said with joy, “From now, he will not have to wade across the river to get to school. I am no longer anxious that my son’s clothes and books will get wet and the water might sweep him away. Now, my son can go to school even when the water is high and dangerous.”
Y Sui’s husband A Dung smiled, “The bridge is very useful. The locals will not have to go on trees across the river and will not worry about falling into the water. Thank the state for the bridge.”
Nguyen Toan Thang from Kon Tum City, who sent a letter to Dan Tri/DTiNews to propose the bridge construction after reading the first news of crossing the river with a cable by the locals, said that he was extremely happy when his hope became true.
Dinh Van Truyen, Vice Principle of Ngo Quyen Secondary School in Dak Ang Commune, said the new bridge is located where the old bridge was swept away by a flood in 2009. People in Dak Ang Commune will benefit from the Khuyen Hoc & Dan Tri Bridge the most.
On this occasion, Pham Huy Hoan Editor in Chief of Dan Tri/DTiNews granted two laptops and tables worth VND25 million (USD1,250) to Ngo Quyen Secondary School. The Kon Tum Province Association for Promoting Education also presented 55 scholarships worth VND400,000 (USD20) and many gifts for pupils in Dak Ang Commune.
At the inaugurating ceremony, Editor in Chief Pham Huy Hoan said, “On behalf of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, Dan Tri Newspaper and the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education, I want to send a heartfelt thanks to readers inside and outside the country who believed and assigned Dan Tri to realise your expectations: Linking two banks of Po Ko River.”
From now, Po Ko cannot prevent local pupils from going to school
Dangerous water currents cannot prevent the determination to link Po Ko River
Editor in Chief, Pham Huy Hoan, expressed thanks to benefactors
With the solid iron bridge, the locals will feel more secure to cross the river
A large number of people in Xe Dang gather at the bridge launching ceremony
Great happiness of people in Xe Dang Commune in the bridge launching ceremony
A sold bridge seems to be a “miracle” to the locals
Editor in Chief Hoan and Ka Ba To, Chairman of the Kon Tum Province Association for Promoting Education, granted gifts to Ngo Quyen Secondary School
Editor in Chief Hoan granted scholarships and school bags to poor pupils in Dak Ang Commune
Miss Vietnamese Friendly in the U.S., Lisa Van Anh, shared the joy with pupils
Delegates cut the ribbon to open the bridge
The wish has become true
