It was a raining midnight two years ago.

It had been raining for a week. I fell into a deep sleep when a loud noise woke me up and so did many people of surrounding houses.

The noise came from the old three-storey building at the top of the street when the verandas and the walls below the verandas collapsed themselves to the ground.

Responsible persons of the ward and a group of young men rushed to the scene. At the top of their voice, they asked the people in the building to get down from it as soon as possible.

Due to the rain water, the walls became soft and collapsed. The remaining walls of the building might also collapse, so the volunteers, raising their voices, warned the people in the building about possible dangers.

They evacuated elderly persons from the building to a Dhammayon (prayer hall) that was converted into a temporary shelter for the victims. The young volunteers help and conveyed the people from the building to the shelter.

Some of the volunteers engaging in the rescue were young women.

The incident took place at the top of the street, behind Botahtaung police station at the corner of Merchant Street.

I asked my grandchild, “Who are they?” He answered, “They are Pyi-Khaing-Phyo (USDA) members”. So, I came to know that they were young members of the USDA.

Having a look at what they were doing, I happened to recall some events I had faced in the time of Fascists.

At that time, I worked as in-charge of Nyana Bala group (it had to take responsibilities for improving intellectual power of the youths) at Pakokku District Asia Youths Association. The association was designed to improve five kinds of powers of the young and carry out social welfare services.

In particular, we took responsibilities for giving help to and rescuing town dwellers when the town was under air strikes. We, members, dealt with the houses ablaze with flames due to incendiary bomb attacks and evacuated those who were caught in burning houses.

We contributed voluntary services like young USDA members who evacuated the people in the building collapse.

When the time was ripe to resist against Fascists, we, members of Asia Youths Association, became revolutionaries.

In the time of Fascists, the national political goal was to launch a Fascist resistance. So, we were duty- bound to serve as revolutionaries to fight Fascists.

Similarly, the national goal today is to build a modern and developed democratic nation with flourishing discipline. Surely, the members, who contributed their voluntary services to evacuate the victims in the building collapse, will play an active role in the tasks for building a new nation. I visualized that these USDA members will shoulder bounden duties.

One day, I noticed that a group of young people collectively engaged in the mass activities of dredging the drain along the street where I live.

It was a mass movement, so the people of our street, young and old and female and male, were contributing their voluntary services to the movement. The majority of them were USDA members.

I wonder what their concept was. So, I said to them, “The responsibilities for dredging this drain are the Development Affairs Committee’s. But, why are you doing so, my boys?”

One of them replied, “You are right, Grandpa. The Development Affairs Committee is responsible for doing so. But, our township is large. I have no idea how long we have to wait for to have our drain dredged by the committee. During the days we have to wait for, millions of mosquito larvae in the drain can hatch. And if they bite our children, they may catch dengue haemorrhagic fever. So, we should take preventive measures”.

They seemed tireless and pleased to carry out community welfare services. They had such a noble concept.

Once, I took a No. 33 bus at the 50th Street bus stop to go to Yankin. Then, I had a look around to find if there was a vacant seat. The seats in the bus were all occupied. So, I held the overhead bar. There was a girl sitting beside me at that time.

Looking me up, the girl said, “Grandpa, take my seat, please.” I said, “Thank you” and took the seat. Then, I asked, “Are you going to school?”

She said, “I have passed my matriculation exam. Now, I am doing a computer course. I am going to join university”.

“What course are you taking?”

“The computer course the USDA conducts”, she said.

“You are a USDA member, then?”

“Yes, Grandpa.”

It was very thoughtful of that girl to offer me her seat. So, I could make my trip with comfort.

On 25 August 2007 (Saturday), I went to Maubin by boat along with U Tin Yee (Kayan). He was also an elderly person.

It was about 9 pm by the time the ship approached Maubin port. At the time, another ship was already moored at the pontoon. So, I would have to get through that ship to get to the bank.

U Tin Yee got to the bank along with the crowd of the passengers. Having a poor eyesight, I was left in the ship. At that time, two young men approached me and asked if I would get off the ship, bewildering. Then, they led me to the bank.

Fortunately, on the street, I saw Ko Saw San Ba Aung who was there to fetch me.

“Thanks, my boys. The man over there is the one who fetches me”, I said.

“Very well, Grandpa. We are USDA members. We are going to Myaungmya. Bye-bye, Grandpa”, said the two young men. Then, they got on board the ship.

I thought that I had often met USDA members.

Recently, I asked after a friend of mine who was receiving treatments at Yangon General Hospital.

He was getting better and was in good condition. He said, “Oh! It has been a long time since we last met. Let’s have a chat”.

I noticed a young man beside him. My friend introduced him to me, saying, “This is my grandson. He is a USDA member”.

We were having a long conversation when the bell rang.

I said, “Well, friend, guest time is up. I must go now”.

Then, the young man said, “It is getting dark. I will lead you to your car”. And, he held my hand to take me to the car.

My friend said, “My grandson has a social welfare spirit. I wonder how the USDA nurtures and trains him. He is very active to contribute community welfare service”.

He saw me off to the taxi. So, I got home with comfort.

What I have presented are some of my true stories in which I met young USDA members.

Owing to these experiences, I came to take interest in the Union Solidarity and Development Association.

I perceive that the Association places emphasis on the nurturing of the youths who are the future of the nation.

It is conducting various courses for its members to be able to catch up with others including computer courses, language courses, and tailoring courses.

Moreover, it is equipping the members with patriotic spirit, and training them to take interest in social welfare services and community welfare services.

Regarding the health sector, members of the Association provide health care to elderly persons occasionally.

In a word, the members are taking a leading role in fulfiling the requirements of the people.

With respect to the political field, members at all levels are making efforts with might and main to see to the State’s seven-step Road Map.

Thus, the people have to recognize the USDA as a strong force that is reliable for serving the interests of the nation and the people.

I wish the Association a long existence.