The loving Tet market of special 'little traders'

The Phu Yen Inclusive Education Development Support Center (Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province) is a place that cares for and educates children with disabilities. Here, a traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) market is held, selling products made by the center's students and teachers.

We want the children to experience the Tet atmosphere.

Early in the morning, the young vendors were busy selling their wares without a moment's rest. Unlike the bustling Tet markets filled with the laughter and chatter of buyers and sellers, here people communicate using sign language. Few words, much is understood, and everyone is happy because they give and receive.

The market features 10 stalls selling various kinds of cakes and candies handmade by students and teachers.

The market took place from January 19th to 31st, with the participation of 115 students from the center and 10 stalls selling a variety of products. In addition to direct sales, the market also sold online. Thanks to everyone's interest and support, the Tet (Lunar New Year) market at the Phu Yen Center for Supporting Inclusive Education Development was very popular.

The small stalls, constructed from bamboo and thatched with simple straw, are attractively decorated, reminiscent of traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) markets of the past. Traditional local snacks such as: "banh phuc linh" (a type of Vietnamese cake), "banh kep" (a type of Vietnamese sandwich), ginger jam, coconut jam, "banh com" (a type of Vietnamese rice cake), as well as pickled vegetables, pickled onions, and sausages are sold at prices ranging from 15,000 to 100,000 VND per item.

People here communicate with each other using sign language, and everyone is happy to give and receive.

"Born into a disadvantaged family, we feel compassion and empathy for these children, so we really want to create an environment where they can have fun. We recreated a traditional rural market with the hope that the children would feel the Tet atmosphere, experience buying and selling activities, learn how to give change to customers; and at the same time, practice communication skills and apply the skills they learned in class. In addition, we also let them experience making cakes and jams at school. The children enjoyed it very much," shared Ms. Le Thi Thu Hong, head of the skills class 2.

School is so much fun!

To create an authentic rural market, teachers and students at the center previously worked together to cut bamboo, gather leaves, mow grass, weave thatch, and personally carry out the tasks of setting up the market and arranging stalls. These activities allowed the children to experience the bustling atmosphere of the days leading up to Tet (Lunar New Year) in the most genuine way.

Mr. Dang Ngoc Thanh (parent of Dang Minh Tuan) shared: "This is the first year my child has studied at the center, and he told me that he had a lot of fun at school. Seeing the school decorated for the Lunar New Year market for the children to experience, I am very grateful for the school's care. This is not only a place for the children to learn, but also a place for community activities, interaction, and practicing the skills they have learned to improve and integrate into the community."

Besides selling goods, the children are also guided and given hands-on experience in making fabric flowers, baking cakes, and practicing calligraphy.

The market attracted a large number of supporters.

Ms. To Thi Thu Hang, Director of the Phu Yen Center for Supporting Inclusive Education Development, said that this is the first year the center has organized a reenactment of an old-fashioned rural market, creating an environment for children to practice and develop skills.

"The proceeds from the market sales will be used to give lucky money to the children, as small gifts to celebrate the New Year. On this occasion, the center also collaborates with volunteer organizations to make and give sticky rice cakes to the children to take home for Tet," Ms. Hang added.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/cho-tet-yeu-thuong-cua-cac-tieu-thuong-nhi-dac-biet-185240131142436855.htm