For the past few days, Ly Hoang Quynh Nhu, a 12-year-old girl from Dong Tam village, A Doi commune, Huong Hoa district, Quang Tri province, has been living in a dream. After so many longings, the disadvantaged girl finally has a brand new, beautiful bicycle.

On the day Nhu received her new bicycle, A Doi commune's Youth Union Secretary Vo Thi Thu Huong took her on a long ride to the town center to receive the gift. Huong recounted: When she was less than a year old, Nhu lost her father. Nhu's mother was almost exhausted for raising four children on her own. Living in poverty since she was a child, Nhu never dared to ask for anything. She only wishes to have a bicycle to make the 5-km journey to school less tiring.

“Receiving the new bike, Nhu was overjoyed. Her eyes were filled with tears. I was also touched looking at her. Thank the American veterans for making her dream come true,” Huong said with the press.

Rich Allen, Vice President of VFP 160, took a photo with Ho Bao An next to her new bicycle. (Photo: RENEW)

Ho Bao An (9 years old), a girl from Pa Ko ethnic group, in Lia commune, Huong Hoa district also shared her joy when receiving a new bicycle from American friends.

"I have to travel 3km from my house in A Xoi Hang village to school, so my parents have to take me to school every day. Now with this new bike, I can go to school by myself. Parents will have more time to work in the fields," she said.

Ly Hoang Quynh Nhu and Ho Bao An are two of 60 children in difficult circumstances in Trieu Phong, Cam Lo and Huong Hoa districts of Quang Tri province who received gifts from the VFP 160 since May 2024, with support from Project RENEW. The gifts have a total value of over VND 100 million.

Directly handing out bicycles to disadvantaged students in Quang Tri province, Rich Allen, Vice President of VFP 160, expressed hope that the new bicycles will help their road to school less struggled.

VFP 160 donated bicycles to children in Quang Tri in May 2024. (Photo: RENEW)

Rich Allen, once a 19-year-old soldier in Quang Tri, witnessed the devastation of war firsthand. However,what truly stayed with him were the faces of the children. 'Now, with the open hearts of the local authorities and people, we have the opportunity to see the faces and bright smiles of the children here again,' he said.

Rich Allen chose Vietnam to live the rest of his life and served the mission of VFP 160 as an effort to give back. "I received kindness and tolerance. I feel grateful and happy when I see the Vietnamese people I meet are focusing on the present and the future instead of the past. Even the veterans from the Northern Vietnam, whom I met at ceremonies and events, also welcomed me as a brother. We talked with each other about what happened during the war. The war was indeed terrible, so many soldiers and civilians suffer. As a member of VFP 160, my views reflect my belief in the importance of peaceful solutions instead of war," said Rich.

In 2021, with the support of the RENEW, VFP 160 established the program "Bicycles for Education". Since then, the organization has helped more than 220 students in difficult circumstances in Quang Tri.

Talking about future plans, Rich Allen said that he and VFP 160 members will continue to make efforts for a more peaceful, rich and beautiful Quang Tri. They all want to support more poor students in Quang Tri because they know that the children are the ones who help the once painful land transform and flourish.

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