A teacher spends 18 years 'lighting the fire' in the border region, helping her students avoid eating cold rice.

After 18 years of dedication to education in the border region of Dak Wil (Lam Dong), teacher Nguyen Thi Mai has become a beloved figure, respected by the local people and her colleagues.

VietNamNet•05/12/2025

Overcoming difficulties to ignite the flame in the border region.

In 2008, filled with youthful enthusiasm and a desire to sow the seeds of knowledge, teacher Nguyen Thi Mai (born in 1987) left her hometown of Ha Tinh and went to the border region of Dak Wil, beginning a meaningful journey.

In 2012, Ms. Mai was assigned to the school in Hamlet 4, Dak Wil Commune, located deep within a Hmong village.

â6.jpg Ms. Mai is always dedicated to her students.

"Back then, the population was sparse; you'd have to walk a long way to find a small house nestled among the hills. During the rainy season, the roads were muddy, so we had to leave our bikes at people's houses and walk to school," Ms. Mai recounted.

Ms. Mai said that the school is located in a Hmong village, where parents mainly work in the fields, and many do not speak standard Vietnamese, so they rarely have the opportunity to meet and communicate. On many days when students are absent from school, Ms. Mai and her colleagues have to go to their homes to bring them back to school.

Ms. Mai (far right) frequently visits and encourages the students at their homes. Photo: Provided by the interviewee .

"If we didn't love children, treat our students like our own, and have a passion for the profession, we wouldn't have been able to persevere until today despite those difficulties," Ms. Mai shared.

Over 18 years of unwavering dedication, teacher Nguyen Thi Mai has reaped many rewards. In 2020, she was honored with a Certificate of Commendation from the Minister of Education and Training for her outstanding achievements in her work. For five consecutive years (2020-2025), she received the title of Emulation Soldier at the grassroots level and the title of Outstanding Performance. Ms. Mai is also a provincial-level excellent teacher and a typical young teacher of Dak Nong province (formerly).

In addition, she has won other awards such as First Prize in the Young Propagandist Competition of the Border Guard and Second Prize in the Young Propagandist Competition of the Dak Nong Provincial Military Command. She has also been an outstanding Party member for many consecutive years.

Help children in border areas avoid eating cold rice.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai receives vegetables and fruits from parents to use in the school's canteen.

For the 2024-2025 school year, Ms. Mai was assigned to the school in Hamlet 18. This school has 17 students from ethnic minority groups.

Witnessing parents cooking meals early in the morning, packing them in lunchboxes for their children to eat all day, only for the food to get cold, Ms. Mai felt deeply concerned. She mobilized social resources to build community-run school kitchens, providing students with hot, delicious lunches and afternoon snacks.

The school canteen operates on a voluntary basis; parents contribute vegetables, fruits, and rice, while Ms. Mai and her colleagues directly cook and prepare meals for the students.

Parents donate rice to the school.

She brought cooking utensils from her home and actively solicited support from benefactors to improve the quality of meals.

Ms. Hoang Thi Hoa (born in 1982), whose child attends the school in Hamlet 18, said that previously, she had to prepare meals early for her child to take to school and eat all day. Since Ms. Mai started working in the community-supported school kitchen, she and other parents have felt "very relieved."

"Since the kitchen was established, the children have been able to eat hot and nutritious meals. Parents bring vegetables, fruits, and rice if they have any. We are very grateful to Ms. Mai and the school for taking such good care of and educating our children, allowing parents to focus on farming and developing the economy ," Ms. Hoa expressed.

The school in village 18 is located in a remote, hilly area.

Ms. Vu Thi Luyen, Principal of Dak Wil Kindergarten, acknowledged that Ms. Mai is a passionate teacher with strong professional skills and always demonstrates a dedicated spirit.

After taking on the role of Headmistress at the remote and disadvantaged Kindergarten 7 in Village 18, Ms. Mai successfully established a community-run school canteen model. She also proactively connected with and secured sponsorships from benefactors, ensuring a continuous supply of essential supplies and supplementary food for the children.

"Ms. Mai always patiently cares for and encourages each child, transforming the boarding school's kitchen into a place where love spreads. The students always see Ms. Mai as their second mother," Ms. Luyen shared.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/co-giao-18-nam-thap-lua-vung-bien-giup-tro-khong-phai-an-com-nguoi-2462404.html