Border guard captain helps Thanh Hoa highlanders learn to read and write for more than 10 years

For the past 10 years, Captain Ho Van Di of Trung Ly Border Guard Station (Muong Lat District, Thanh Hoa) has been teaching literacy classes for local people. He has taught hundreds of people how to read and write.

People in Trung Ly commune used to call Captain Di (born in 1978) "teacher" because over the past 10 years he has taught dozens of literacy classes for hundreds of people in all the villages of the commune.

Mr. Ho Van Di lives in Com village, Pu Nhi commune, Muong Lat district. At the age of 22, he wrote an application to join the army and was assigned to Quang Chieu border post (Muong Lat). In 2001, he was sent to study by the unit commander. After graduating from the border guard college, he worked at Trung Ly border post until now.

Captain Ho Van Di has spent more than 10 years teaching literacy classes for ethnic minorities. Photo: CT

As a son of the ethnic minority, fluent in Mong and Thai languages, Mr. Di was trusted by his unit to teach literacy classes for the people. “Since 2014, I have been assigned to teach classes, and up to now, I have opened about ten classes, teaching hundreds of people to read and write,” said Mr. Di.

According to him, people often have an inferiority complex, are afraid to communicate, so they are reluctant to go to class. To organize a class, he had to go to each house to persuade them.

“At first, people did not want to go to school, so I had to spread the word to them. When they know how to read and write, they will know how to do business , learn about livestock development models, etc., and from there they will know how to raise livestock, grow crops, and have enough to eat. That’s why people are willing to go to class,” Mr. Di shared.

"Teacher" Di in a class. Photo: CT

To eradicate illiteracy among the people, he had to go to remote villages in the commune, such as Ta Com and Canh Cong, about 50km from the commune center, on dangerous mountain and forest roads. To get to the village, Di had to travel almost all day. He left at the beginning of the week and stayed there until Saturday.

According to Mr. Di, each class usually lasts at least 3 months. Depending on the nature of the unit's work, the class may have to be "suspended" for several months. Because his house is nearly 100km from the teaching location and his teaching work is at night, he can only visit his wife and children once in a while.

Mr. Di's students are mostly older people. Their hands are used to holding hoes all year round, so their handwriting is scribbled and their mouths are awkward when reading.

Most of the students are older, so Mr. Di has to hold their hands and teach them how to write each stroke. Photo: CT

“Some people came to class for a day but found it too difficult and left. The next day, I went to their house to persuade them to continue studying.

Most of the people who attend the class can read and write their names. Up to now, the campaign to eradicate illiteracy for the elderly Mong people in Trung Ly commune has become a movement. Those who do not know how to write or read their names invite each other to come to class to learn,” said Mr. Di.

According to Mr. Di, through the classes, he and the local Party cell and government integrated many activities to propagate the Party and State's policies for the Mong people.

Besides, we are mobilizing people to eliminate opium poppies, grow rice, corn, cassava, protect forests, not smoke opium, not let bad guys incite... contributing to the work of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and protecting the country's borders.

A corner of a village in the Muong Lat border area. Photo: CT

According to the leaders of Trung Ly commune, the commune's terrain is mainly mountainous, making transportation difficult. The commune has 15 villages, of which 11 are inhabited by Mong people. The rate of illiteracy is high, and the number of poor households accounts for over 50% of the commune's population.

Since the literacy classes were opened, people have been very happy and actively go to school. People know how to make a living, and their lives have gradually improved.

Captain Ho Van Di was honored to receive a certificate of merit from the Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee for his achievements in universalizingeducation and eliminating illiteracy for people in border areas.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/dai-uy-bien-phong-hon-10-nam-giup-nguoi-vung-cao-thanh-hoa-biet-doc-viet-chu-2389124.html