Collections from the 4th grade school year
Coming to the small house in An Bien commune, An Giang province, we were able to admire the collection of about 700 war artifacts by Mai Phu Hao. Hao appreciates every item he owns and talks about it as a true inspirational story teller.
My collection started when I was in 4th grade. When hearing the stories told and the lessons in class, Hao felt very curious about the stories in the past.
At first, Hao only collected items from the local area and were close to life. These are oil lamps, bamboo shoots or agricultural tools... After that, Hao met people with the same passion, they taught Hao, exchanged and shared meaningful items, from which the collection expanded.
Hao said that his greatest inspiration is his uncle. He is a veteran, a special war invalid, who participated in the resistance war against France in the Southern battlefield. His stories seemed to gradually penetrate the little student and his love for history grew within him every day.
Traveling far and wide to find souvenirs
Talking about the "talent" of a collection of about 700 antiques from the resistance war, the student excitedly shared: "I have a collection of army coats of the resistance war against France, of the Vietnamese army volunteering to participate in the resistance war in Laos. His most memorable possession up to now is the military uniform of the soldiers who came to take over Hanoi in October 1954, along with the helmet for the soldiers and officers of our army during the resistance war against France".
Hao said: "The giant ball of the French army was an item that I had a hard time finding. When I had the opportunity to go to Hanoi, I went to Phu Tho and went to the house of a veteran who owned a bottle. When he learned about the work you were doing, he happily left the bottle to me.
At first, pursuing this passion, Hao also encountered many difficulties because he was too young and did not have enough financial means. Hao also did not have a source of documents or instructions from his predecessors, not to mention the source of artifacts that were increasingly scarce and difficult to find. However, Hao overcame everything and proved his seriousness and passion for the destination. I also participated in the A509 group of young people from Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. The group was contacted by agencies and museums to restore, display or as exhibition topics in schools.
Continue to write passionately
"Many people sent me artifacts to repair for me such as helmets, bags, military uniforms... In the near future, I will try to arrange time to both collect and repair while still ensuring my studies at school," Hao shared.
In the coming time, Hao plans to cooperate and organize thematic exhibitions of artifacts and introduce history closer to young people. Hao hopes to disseminate this collection and restoration of history closer to everyone to inspire and bring a vivid approach to history.
"My intention is to take the entrance exam for Mechanical Engineering Technology because it is my favorite major. I think this industry will also support useful knowledge and experience in restoring and repairing historical artifacts, Hao confided.
Ms. Le Thi Kim Loan - Math teacher and also the homeroom teacher of Hao shared: Hao is a person with a good sense of learning, especially a self-conscious, hard-working and persistent spirit. I am not a runner for achievements but I study quite firmly in the foundation, especially natural subjects.
I and many other teachers are very impressed by his passion for collecting and restoring. I think history needs to be touched in kind by real stories, not just numbers or timelines. The school can encourage students like Hao to become storytelists, inspiring friends through club exhibitions or thematic talks. I believe that if the right direction and conditions are created, Hao will be the generation of young people to preserve and spread historical values in a good, vivid and lasting way, Ms. Loan expressed.
