An Army Captain on a journey to spread literacy in the highlands.

Captain Lo Van Thoai, born in 1981 in Muong Va village, Muong Va commune, Sop Cop district, Son La province, is of Lao ethnicity. Born into a disadvantaged family, he nurtured a strong will from a young age, dreaming of becoming a capable officer to help his people overcome poverty and build a prosperous and beautiful homeland. With that determination, he gradually realized his dream.

Captain Lo Van Thoai diligently participates in "popular literacy" classes. Photo: Provided by the subject.

In 2003, after graduating from Border Guard Intermediate School No. 1, Captain Thoai was assigned to Muong Lan Border Guard Station (Son La Provincial Border Guard) as a community outreach officer. This also marked the beginning of his journey as a teacher wearing a military uniform.

Starting from hardship

The Muong Lan Border Guard Post is responsible for 16 villages and 2 residential areas, mostly inhabited by the Mong ethnic group. Here, illiteracy is widespread, and outdated customs are deeply ingrained in daily life. Faced with this situation, Captain Thoai proposed opening literacy classes to help the people access knowledge and the law.

However, persuading people to attend literacy classes was not easy. Many believed that learning to read and write was useless, "ultimately, they would only end up working in the fields." Undeterred, he persistently went to each house, explaining the benefits of knowing how to read and write. Seeing that this approach was ineffective, the Captain applied the "four together" principle: eating together, living together, working together, and speaking the ethnic language together, to create a sense of closeness. Thanks to his dedication, he gradually convinced the villagers to attend classes.

Despite lacking formal pedagogical training, Captain Thoai proactively learned from experienced teachers to create suitable lesson plans. However, teaching was challenging because the students were of various ages, and many elderly people were unable to hold a pen. The Captain patiently trained each student individually, taking months to help them write their first letters.

" Some students hide their notebooks when they can't write properly, but when they can write their names, they become much more enthusiastic ," he recounted. To retain students, he always creates engaging lectures.

During the day, Captain Thoai was tasked with mobilizing the community; at night, his classroom lit up, welcoming villagers returning from working in the fields. After a few months, the first students learned to read and write. From then on, the class grew larger, and the number of graduates steadily increased.

Continuing the journey of knowledge

In early 2022, Captain Thoai took up his post at the Nam Lanh Border Guard Station, in charge of the two communes of Nam Lanh and Muong Va. This is an area still facing many difficulties, with widespread illiteracy, relapses into illiteracy, and child marriage. Concerned about these limitations, he compiled a list of cases needing literacy support and proposed opening literacy classes in Pa Khoang village.

Initially, the class had only a few students, but after much effort, the number increased to 24, ranging in age from 14 to 45. The students not only learned to read and write, but also how to save relatives' names on their phones. Many realized that learning helped them improve their lives, understand books, take care of their health, earn money , and become more confident in communication.

Captain Lo Van Thoai's class has students of various ages. Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Captain Thoai also integrated teaching content with the dissemination of the Party's guidelines, policies and laws, the preservation of national culture, and the eradication of outdated customs. He encouraged the people to apply their knowledge to production and livestock farming to increase their income.

The Sower of Hope

Captain Thoai's classes not only helped people in the border region learn to read and write, but also inspired them to strive to escape poverty. With his dedication, patience, and love for his people, he is affectionately known as "the teacher in the green uniform."

" I only hope that after completing the course, the people will know how to apply their knowledge to develop the economy, take care of their families, and together build a more prosperous and beautiful homeland ," he shared.

Captain Thoai's journey is a beautiful story about a border guard soldier who not only protects the border region but also paves the way for knowledge, helping ethnic minority communities change their lives.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/dai-uy-quan-doi-บน-hanh-trinh-gieo-chu-noi-vung-cao-362903.html