From many small bamboo sticks, the star lantern gradually grows and is completed under the creative and dedicated hands of teachers and students of Co Ma Boarding Secondary School, Co Ma Commune, Son La. In a remote area, far from the city, without modern games, without luxurious cakes and gifts... but the students here are still welcoming a warm full moon season, filled with love.

Students decorate lanterns by themselves to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival.

My name is Sung Thi Tau, a student at the school said: We are far from home, staying at the boarding school with our teachers, so this Mid-Autumn Festival we get to celebrate a warm festival with our teachers and friends at school. We get to make star lanterns together, and participate in cultural exchange during the full moon festival, I am very happy and excited.

Mid-Autumn Festival is simple but full of joy in the highlands of Co Ma

Most of the nearly 650 students of Co Ma Ethnic Boarding Secondary School are children of ethnic minorities, from poor, near-poor households and in especially difficult circumstances. Although the government has invested in learning and living conditions, and provided boarding accommodation, in this particularly difficult commune of Region III, the children still face many disadvantages and deprivations.

Teachers and students of Co Ma Boarding Secondary School make star lanterns by hand.

Teacher Le Trung Kien, Vice Principal of the school shared: Students here are at a disadvantage compared to their peers in more favorable areas. Understanding these difficulties, the school has mobilized all resources from society, organizations and individuals to organize a meaningful full moon festival, helping students gain more experiences, thereby gaining more spiritual motivation to excel in life and study.

At the border commune of Phieng Pan, officers and soldiers of Phieng Pan Border Post, Son La Border Guard Command and volunteer groups also crossed mountains and forests for dozens of kilometers to bring Mid-Autumn Festival to preschool and primary school children who are trying to stay in class at schools.

Volunteer group goes up the mountain to bring gifts to children in remote schools

As one of the most difficult satellite schools of Phieng Pan Primary and Kindergarten, Ta Luc village is more than 20 km away from the commune center by forest road; 76 students here, some of whom have never known what Mid-Autumn Festival is, and have never tried the sweet aroma of moon cakes, baked cakes...

Now, holding in their hands the gift bags with all kinds of cakes, fruits, toys, and school supplies, the children could not hide their joy: This is the first time I have received a Mid-Autumn gift, I feel very happy. I thank you - Tong Van Dat, class 4A, Phieng Pan Primary and Kindergarten, Son La said.

Children in the border area of ​​Phieng Pan, Son La are excited to receive Mid-Autumn gifts.

Along with gifts and essential items, on this occasion, the children and their families also received health check-ups, consultations and free medicine distribution... The gifts seem simple, but are very meaningful to the children and people in remote areas here. The program was organized by Phieng Pan Border Guard Station in coordination with the Youth Union of Son La Department of Health and other donors.

Practical gifts have encouraged the spirit of children in difficult areas.

Ms. Do Thi Minh Hanh, Secretary of the Youth Union of the Department of Health of Son La province, said: We are very happy to connect with sponsors and benefactors to bring a warm and joyful Mid-Autumn Festival to the students here. At the same time, we also organize medical examinations and provide free medicine to people in border areas, joining hands for community health. We also hope that in the coming time, we will continue to call for and connect with more practical programs, accompanying teachers, students and people, helping them to reduce difficulties in life and study, adding confidence and motivation to rise up.

Students and people in border areas receive free health check-ups, consultations and medicine.

Although not everywhere is bustling with lion dances, drums, and cakes and gifts... the full moon season is still coming to children and people in all the highlands and border areas of Son La, and even areas that have just been affected by severe natural disasters... That is a special source of spiritual encouragement, adding motivation for students here to continue to stay in school, stay in class, overcome difficulties, and strive./.