Celik Gedik, a 19-year-old German student, shared his astonishment and admiration for the altruistic spirit of Vietnamese youth as they enthusiastically participated in a blood donation program this weekend.

Gedik, presently serving as a volunteer teaching assistant at the Hanoi University of Industry, recently made his inaugural blood donation at the 'Voluntary Hearts' program.

This initiative, a collaborative effort between the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion and the Hanoi Blood Association, took place in the capital city of Hanoi on Saturday.

The German man said long lines of people waiting to donate their blood astonished him.

"I appreciate the sense of community among the Vietnamese people. While Germany also has blood donation programs, they lack the widespread support seen in Vietnam. Here, the participation of young donors is notably high, and it's akin to a hobby for them," Gedik said.

"As a volunteer, I believe engaging in such acts of kindness is truly commendable. Maintaining good health to travel to various locations and donate blood serves as a meaningful way to support disadvantaged individuals."

He also mentioned that he had previously participated in activities aimed at assisting individuals facing health challenges in Germany.

Hence, the blood donation program in Hanoi provided him with an opportunity to contribute his blood, thereby enhancing the vitality and confidence of the patients in need.

Clutching his blood donation certificate, Gedik expressed a sense of pride, considering it akin to a 'medal' of honor. He extended his heartfelt wishes for a swift recovery to under-treatment patients, hoping they would soon resume their normal lives.

Joining the queue at the event, Tran Duy Hoang, a student at a university in Hanoi, shared that he attended the event with five friends. Instead of spending their time socializing, they collectively decided to participate in the blood donation, emphasizing the value of contributing to a greater cause.

In contrast, Vu Thi Yen, a Hanoi resident, revealed that she, along with her husband and two children, traveled over 20 kilometers to attend the program. This marked her ninth blood donation and her husband's fourth, highlighting their consistent commitment to this charitable cause.

"I've been donating blood since my university days, and I've made an effort to sustain this practice. Bringing my children to the program today was important to me, as I wanted them to witness the value of voluntary activities that contribute to helping many people in need," Yen added.

Launched in 2009, the 'Voluntary Hearts' program is one of the four largest blood donation drives in Hanoi.

The program has attracted more than 40,000 donors and received nearly 32,200 blood units over the past 14 years. (A unit is about 250 milliliters.)

Doctor Tran Ngoc Que, director of the National Blood Center under the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, emphasized that the institute aimed to collect approximately 110,000 blood units in the next three months.

This ambitious target is crucial to address the treatment demand from 182 medical units spread across 31 localities, Que added.

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