The bitter meal of eggplant and dried fish of two orphaned brothers

"If their mother had not died, perhaps Y Khang B'Krong (12 years old) and Y Tuan B'Krong (9 years old) would not have gone to school. Because before that, both of these children still wandered around, collecting empty bottles to earn money to buy rice and food for their paralyzed mother" - Ms. Mai Thi Ngoc Hien, a teacher at Ha Huy Tap Primary School (Tam Thang Commune, Cu Jut District, Dak Nong Province) said about the two special students in the school.

Y Khang B'Krong (12 years old) and Y Tuan B'Krong (9 years old) just entered first grade 2 months ago (Photo: Dang Duong).

According to Ms. Hien, nearly 2 months ago, Y Khang unexpectedly became a student in her homeroom class. Compared to other students, Khang is larger both physically and in age. Perhaps that is why Khang receives attention from teachers and friends at school.

Compared to his classmates, Y Khang is older both physically and in age (Photo: Dang Duong).

Khang was only 11 years old when he entered first grade. His Vietnamese language skills were also very limited, because before that, Khang only hung around the village and rarely communicated with others.

When their mother was alive, Khang went out to collect scrap metal or pick up coffee beans, while his younger brother Y Tuan stayed home to take care of their mother. Some days they were hungry, some days they were full, but for many years, the two children never thought about going to school because "no one would let them go to school".

Like his brother, Y Tuan is taller than his classmates (Photo: Dang Duong).

Sharing more about her students, Ms. Hien said: "Khang and Tuan entered first grade when they were already in the second semester, so the teachers also set aside time to supplement their knowledge. However, because they entered school late and had limited communication skills, they still cannot use Vietnamese well. In their first year, they mainly got used to the classroom environment, and next year they will both return to first grade."

In the first school year, brothers Y Khang and Y Tuan get acquainted with the classroom environment (Photo: Dang Duong).

After school, Y Khang and Y Tuan returned home with two old bicycles given to them by the villagers. These are the two orphans’ most valuable assets to date.

Two orphaned brothers go to school with a bicycle donated by a local resident (Photo: Dang Duong).

Inside the 12m2 house built many years ago, the portrait of Ms. H'Drunh (Y Khang's mother) is placed in a corner of the house, right on the cold ground.

Although it has been nearly 2 months since their mother passed away, Y Khang and Y Tuan still have not been able to buy a table to place their mother’s picture. Perhaps the price of the table is too high for the two brothers when their meals only consist of bitter eggplant and dried fish brought over by relatives every day.

The children's mother's portrait is placed on the ground (Photo: Dang Duong).

Working hard grilling fish in the small kitchen, Y Khang said that before his mother passed away, the family's life was very difficult. His father often had mental illnesses and wandered around begging for money. Occasionally, when he was sober, Khang's father would come home, usually around 1-2 am.

"My mother died of liver cancer . Before she died, her belly was as big as a drum and she couldn't walk. The day my mother died, my father wasn't home. At 10am, I was out collecting scrap metal when my younger brother called and said my mother had passed away!" Khang recalled.

The meals of the two orphaned brothers include bitter melon and dried fish brought over by relatives every day (Photo: Dang Duong).

The funeral of Y Khang’s mother was supported by relatives, villagers and the Tam Thang commune government. After that day, Y Khang and Y Tuan still lived in the old house. Rice, salt and daily food were also supported and helped by everyone. There were still some hungry days and some full days, but both brothers did not have to collect scrap and scrap but could go to school to learn to read and write.

Talking about the life of the two brothers, Y Khang confided: "In the early days, the two brothers were also sad because they no longer had their mother. Now that they can go to school and meet many friends, they are not so sad anymore. With the support of relatives and teachers for rice and food, after each class, the two brothers go home to cook and eat. The two brothers no longer have a mother, so they just wish their father would come back to live with us."

The two brothers no longer have a mother so they just want their father to come back to live with them (Photo: Dang Duong).

Talking about his father, Y Tuan's eyes filled with tears. The boy bowed his head, choked up, and said incoherently: "I miss my father and mother so much!"

Talking about the students' circumstances, Mr. Cao Xuan Hoang, Principal of Ha Huy Tap Primary School, shared: "Due to family life, the children are not exposed to a learning environment. After discovering that the two children have not been to school, the local authorities asked the school to accept them. Over time, the children have learned to recognize letters and integrate with their friends."

Over time studying, Y Khang and Y Tuan learned to recognize letters and integrate with friends (Photo: Dang Duong).

According to Mr. Hoang, in the past, the local government, the school board and the parents' association have donated and supported clothes, books and food for Y Khang and Y Tuan. However, due to limited resources, the school also hopes that benefactors will join hands and support so that the two brothers Y Khang can have the best living and studying conditions.

All support and help with code 4812 please send to:

1. Ms. Mai Thi Ngoc Hien , Teacher at Ha Huy Tap Primary School (Tam Thang Commune, Cu Jut District, Dak Nong Province)

Phone: 0949.400.804

Ms. Hien was authorized by Y Khang and Y Tuan.

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Source: https://dantri.com.vn/tam-long-nhan-ai/bua-com-ca-phao-ca-kho-nghen-dang-cua-2-anh-em-mo-coi-20230321163113642.htm