Young people choosing to step forward despite challenges

Among the 70 outstanding Vietnam Youth Federation (VYF) officials honored with the 2026 Nguyen Chi Thanh Award at a ceremony marking the VYF’s 70th anniversary, held in Hanoi on the evening of October 11, Dong Nai had two representatives: Tran Thi Thanh Thanh, Vice Chairwoman of the VYF of Trang Bom Ward, and Cao Tien Dung, Member of the VYF Committee of Tran Bien Ward.

Cao Tien Dung (center) wins first prize in the 2025 "Joining Hands for Administrative Reform" Competition for young officials, civil servants and public employees with his initiative "Digital School – One Touch for All Administrative Procedures."

The outstanding VYF officials honored with the Nguyen Chi Thanh Award share a strong spirit of choosing to step forward despite challenges and making notable contributions to VYF activities and youth movements in their localities.

Bringing young people together to contribute to the community

Tran Thi Thanh Thanh has devoted 10 years to VYF activities and youth movements, serving as Member of the VYF Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the VYF of Trang Bom District before its merger and subsequently as Vice Chairwoman of the VYF of Trang Bom Ward. However, her involvement in VYF activities began many years earlier, when she served as head of the Trang Bom Life Skills Club, now affiliated with the VYF of Trang Bom Ward. In 2009, driven by a desire to bring young people together and provide them with opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to the community, Thanh established the club. Starting with fewer than 10 members and simple activities on a small scale, the club has expanded to 300 members over its 17 years of operation, organizing community-oriented activities that have made a lasting impact.

According to Thanh, during the Lunar New Year holiday, the club organized charitable trips to remote and isolated areas. During the Youth Month, it participated in environmental protection campaigns, social welfare activities, and local volunteer programs. Throughout the summer, club members also assisted local authorities with their digital transformation efforts by guiding residents in accessing and using online public services.

The Nguyen Chi Thanh Award, formerly known as the October 15 Award, is a prestigious honor presented by the VYF to its outstanding officials and members, as well as young people who have achieved exceptional results in their studies, work, and contributions to the VYF activities and youth movements.

Notably, all community-oriented social welfare activities were funded through resources mobilized by Thanh. She also personally conducted field surveys and coordinated with local authorities, schools, and relevant units to implement the programs. In 2026, with contributions from organizations, individual donors, and club members, the club organized four charitable drives both within and outside Trang Bom Ward. Through these activities, it donated 200 gift packages, 100 children's book titles and a set of drums for the Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneers Organization (HYPO), along with clothing, rice, and other essential supplies to children and families facing difficult circumstances.

Alongside community-oriented activities, Thanh has proposed organizing recreational and experiential programs to help young people develop their skills. These include the "Summer Dance 2026" program, which provided a healthy cultural and artistic environment that attracted hundreds of children and teenagers, and the "Brilliant Journey 2026" program, featuring eight experiential stations linked to films on revolutionary themes, enabling young people to learn about history while developing digital skills.

Nguyen Minh Kien, Member of the Dong Nai City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the city's Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, and Secretary of the City Youth Union, presents the "For the Younger Generation" medal awarded by the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to Tran Thi Thanh Thanh.

In addition to maintaining the Trang Bom Life Skills Club, Thanh has mobilized to establish two other clubs: the Youth Dance Club, comprising eight core members who own local dance studios, and the Youth Hairstyling Club, with seven members working in the hairstyling profession. These clubs not only bring together young people working in the same fields, providing opportunities for exchange and mutual learning, but also contribute to community activities. Specifically, the Youth Dance Club rehearses performances for local events, while the Youth Hairstyling Club provides vocational training support and job referrals for young people in need and participates in free haircut programs for disadvantaged individuals.

"In the coming period, I will continue to innovate the clubs' activities by providing guidance on the content of clubs’ meetings, assigning tasks, and developing annual program plans. At the same time, I will encourage the establishment of additional clubs in various fields to give young people more opportunities to participate in activities suited to their interests. Through these efforts, we can strengthen solidarity, bring more young people together, and share responsibilities with local Youth Union and VYF organizations," said Thanh.

Applying digital transformation to youth movement activities

Despite having received no formal training in youth movement activities, Cao Tien Dung has consistently strived to fulfill every task entrusted to him, helping bring greater order to movement activities at Tran Hung Dao Secondary School in Tran Bien Ward and making positive contributions to the ward's VYF activities and youth movements.

Tran Thi Thanh Thanh (far right) guides members of the Trang Bom Life Skills Club as they prepare for a charitable program.

According to Dung, after graduating from Dong Nai Pedagogical College, now Dong Nai University, he returned to Tran Hung Dao Secondary School to work as a teacher in charge of the school’s HYPO affairs. He was subsequently elected Deputy Secretary of the Teachers' Youth Union Chapter and became Member of the VYF Committee of Tran Bien Ward. Although he initially lacked the necessary skills and experience in HYPO activities, his willingness to learn enabled him to adapt quickly to his responsibilities.

Recalling his learning experience, Dung said, "I register for every training camp or skills workshop organized by higher-level Youth Union, VYF, or HYPO. The experience I remember most vividly was the 2015 Hao Khi Dong Nai Training Camp, held at the Thac Da Han Ecotourism Area in Trang Bom Ward. The camp took place during the peak of the rainy season, and because most activities were conducted outdoors, participants sometimes had to work through the rain to complete the camp's requirements. Although it was demanding, the experience was worthwhile because I acquired many essential skills that have helped me better meet the requirements of my job."

Beyond fulfilling his assigned responsibilities, Dung has developed numerous models and initiatives related to Youth Union, VYF, and HYPO activities, as well as youth movements. Amid ongoing digital transformation, he has proactively applied digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the effectiveness of communication, education, solidarity-building, and efforts to bring young people together.

One notable initiative is "Applying AI and digital transformation to innovate communication, youth engagement, and the organization of Youth Union and VYF activities in schools." According to Dung, the initiative focuses on making effective use of AI platforms such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Canva AI, together with QR codes, digital learning materials, videos, infographics, and digital media platforms, to develop products that support traditional education, digital skills development, and more effective youth engagement.

During the 2025–2026 school year, Dung also personally organized three training courses that helped hundreds of administrators, teachers, HYPO leaders, Youth Union members, and students apply AI to planning, designing communication products, and organizing youth movement activities. These efforts have contributed to improving digital capabilities and renewing the methods used in Youth Union, VYF and HYPO activities.

Through their practical and innovative contributions, these outstanding VYF officials have helped enhance the effectiveness of the federation activities and youth movements. Their dedication keeps motivating officials, members, and young people to uphold their youthful enthusiasm and contribute to the continued development of Dong Nai.

By Nga Son – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha