Fulfilling Phin Ho's Dreams

Amidst the rolling mountains of the Sin Ho district plateau (Lai Chau province), mist hangs over the muddy dirt roads, but it cannot deter the dreams of literacy for the ethnic minority children here. This year, on International Children's Day, two new classrooms at the Pa Phang 2 school branch of Phin Ho Kindergarten were inaugurated with joy by teachers, students, and parents, providing further motivation and support for their dreams of going to school, despite the many challenges that remain.

From 2022 to the present, six new classrooms have been built at three locations of Phin Ho Kindergarten with the support of the "Warm Winter for Children in Highland Areas" project, helping to eliminate the need for temporary or makeshift classrooms. As a result, the school, which previously faced many difficulties and had 76 H'Mong children, has gradually achieved a 100% enrollment rate for children aged 3-5, with an attendance rate of over 90% – a task that was previously considered impossible.

The joy of going to a new class.

From early morning, Mr. Ha A Thanh and his wife, Ms. Vu Thi Mai (living in Pa Phang 2 village), busily prepared to take their two children, aged 4 and 6, to the school for the inauguration ceremony of the new classroom. The two children had never attended a ceremony where they could directly participate in performing arts, dressed in their traditional ethnic costumes. It was also the first time both parents had temporarily left their fields to take their children and eagerly stayed until the end to watch. “I heard the teacher say that the new classroom had been built and they would be practicing after school so the children could perform at the inauguration ceremony. I prepared my phone to record it as a memento,” Ms. Mai shared.

The small schoolyard of Pa Phang 2 school was never so crowded with parents, who had previously been hesitant to bring their children to school. The little children, with their chubby faces, excitedly held brightly colored gift bags in their hands, sitting quietly in their seats in the two new classrooms, each over 90 square meters, attracting the attention of many volunteers from the "Warm Winter for Children in Highland Areas" project from across the country.

Dr. Le Dai Duong, the project leader, said: “Over the past 10 years, the project has supported the construction of dozens of classrooms at 19 schools, all in mountainous provinces such as Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Lang Son, Bac Kan, and Lai Chau, as well as donating educational equipment to support teaching and learning, organizing gift-giving programs, Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, International Children's Day events, etc. Our wish is to contribute to helping children attend school safely and access literacy as early as possible.”

The project first launched in 2015 to fund the construction of classrooms at remote, isolated schools. At that time, Mr. Duong and the initial members faced significant challenges in securing funding for the initial phase, as well as continuously experimenting with construction technologies and selecting materials suitable for the harsh climate of the northern mountainous region. Over the years, experience has been gained, and the project has been able to complete the construction of schools at stable prices and with quick construction times, while ensuring quality. In 2022 and 2023, four classrooms at the Ta Tau school (Ta Ghenh village) and the center were supported by the project with the construction of prefabricated buildings, boasting advantages such as fast construction time and proven durability and resistance to the local weather.

In 2025, the next two classrooms will continue to be built using this method in Pa Phang 2, fully equipped with educational facilities, on schedule and with guaranteed quality. Ms. Ha Thi Thieu, Principal of Phin Ho Kindergarten, shared: “Our school has six separate school locations, all situated in difficult areas. Previously, most teachers and students had to endure temporary or borrowed classrooms. With the support of philanthropists and the efforts of the education sector to improve policies for disadvantaged areas, the learning conditions for the children are improving day by day.”

Helping children in mountainous areas get to school.

The support of charitable organizations and generous hearts has breathed new life into the challenging educational journey in Phin Ho. Classes, Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, International Children's Day events... filled with laughter and joy, have motivated students and children to avoid dropping out. They eagerly look forward to going to class with their friends. Bui Dinh Duong, a volunteer for the "Warm Winter for Children in the Highlands" project, recounted: "During many trips to build schools, I and other members can never forget the children shivering from the cold but still making their way to school. We told ourselves we had to do something to make it easier and less difficult for them to attend school and pursue their education to the end."

From relief aid deliveries to fundraising campaigns for school construction, every effort is directed towards contributing to a better learning environment. However, the change isn't just about new walls or modern desks and chairs; it's also about the local people's awareness of the value of knowledge. Parents from ethnic minority communities, despite their hardships, have begun to understand that the path to school isn't just a climb up a mountain, but a journey to a brighter future for their children. Mr. Ha A Vinh, head of Pa Phang 2 village, said: “The people are still poor, and even with hard work, they don't earn much because they mainly grow corn and cassava… But the fact that many people are proactively sending their children to school to learn to read and write early is a significant change amidst the countless difficulties of life.”

In the 2024-2025 school year, Phin Ho Kindergarten mobilized parents to contribute 450 man-days of labor to build a playground and improve the environment for children's play and experiences, as well as donating rice and other expenses for cooking at the central school site. This is considered a huge moral support for the teachers' efforts. Ms. Vu Thi Trang, originally from Nam Dinh, after graduating, decided to stay and dedicate herself to the education sector in Lai Chau for the past 20 years. “It all started with fate and under very difficult circumstances. But I must admit that after so much effort, the positive results in school attendance in remote areas like Phin Ho today are a remarkable achievement and not easily attained,” Ms. Trang shared.

For many years, despite difficult conditions, the teachers here have always been prepared for first grade by taking the children on tours of primary schools and allowing them to experience extracurricular activities. The teachers at Phin Ho Kindergarten actively participate in online courses to update their digital skills related to pedagogy and management. Principal Ha Thi Thieu said: “Although the school website is managed by only one teacher, the school still strives to provide professional information and teaching and learning activities online to innovate communication and dissemination methods. This also provides an opportunity for the school to connect with philanthropists and other sources to support overcoming difficulties in facilities and improving teaching and learning conditions.”

Dr. Le Dai Duong emphasized: “The path of education is the shortest path to success. Therefore, in the coming time, our project will establish a long-term scholarship fund for high school students with excellent academic achievements but difficult circumstances, so that they can continue to pursue their educational dreams and build a sustainable future. These students will later be a crucial source of human resources to develop the country.”

PHONG CHUONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chap-canh-uoc-mo-phin-ho-post883774.html