Free education for poor children

Students at Ms. Thuy's charity class.

Starting from seeing many poor children in the locality who did not have the conditions to go to school, in 1995, Mr. Nguyen Huu Thoi (Ba Thoi) - a veteran decided to establish a charity class. In the early days, the class only had 3-4 students, but thanks to Mr. Ba Thoi's persistent advocacy and theeducational effectiveness that the class brought, the number of students attending the class gradually increased. Some parents saw the benefits and significance of the class, their children were well-behaved, diligent and obedient, so they voluntarily sent their children to the class.

After many years of working in the class, due to old age and poor health, Mr. Ba Thoi did not directly teach the class but handed over the management and teaching tasks to Ms. Phan Thu Thuy. Although she did not receive formal training from a teacher training school, Ms. Thuy has persistently researched and applied appropriate teaching methods to help students easily absorb knowledge. Many benefactors have also come to help maintain the charity class until now.

For over 15 years, Ms. Thuy has been tirelessly teaching the children each letter, practicing math, teaching them to sing, telling them fairy tales and fables... Her love for children is the driving force for Ms. Thuy to persevere in guiding the children to write each letter, taking advantage of the resources to help them with each notebook, book, pen, clean clothes and uniform when they go to class.

“I did not go to a teacher training school but I have many years of teaching catechism at a church in Long Xuyen City. When I followed in Uncle Thoi’s footsteps to maintain the class, I also learned more teaching methods to make it easier for the children to understand,” Ms. Thuy shared.

In addition to Ms. Thuy, there are also a few volunteers who are students from An Giang University and retired teachers who come to support the teaching. Thanks to that, they have added more determination and spirit for the children of the poor neighborhood to strive to study every day. The oldest in the class is Nguyen Hong Nhung, 24 years old. Ms. Nhung has a physical disability and has never been to school. Although she learns slower than her classmates, thanks to studying in Ms. Thuy's class for many years, Ms. Nhung has become bolder, happier, and knows how to read, write and calculate.

Nguyen Van Phong (16 years old, living in Long Xuyen City) said: “My family is poor, I did not have the conditions to go to school so I was illiterate. Thanks to Ms. Thuy, I now know how to read, write and calculate, and I am no longer as self-conscious as before. To me, Ms. Thuy is like a mother, teaching and encouraging me little by little. My classmates are also very friendly and help me a lot.”

The class operates from 7am to 10am every Monday to Friday. Currently, the class size is maintained at around 14 students, with ages ranging from 6 to 24. Most of the students in the class come from poor families or are disabled. Some of them are separated and live with their grandparents, while others live with only their father or mother and have to earn a living by selling lottery tickets or collecting scrap metal. Many of them do not even have birth certificates.

“Most of the students in my class have 4 no’s, meaning they have no birth certificate, no household registration, cannot go to school, and no home. For these students, I always want to be able to teach and support them in learning a trade to support themselves. Some students were very stubborn when they first started school, but now they are much more obedient. Some students are older than their classmates but are very obedient, so everyone loves them,” said Ms. Thuy.

Overcoming many difficulties and receiving support from sponsors and attention from My Binh ward management, up to now, the class taught by Ms. Thuy has eliminated illiteracy for hundreds of poor local children.

Article and photos: DUY HIEU

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/day-hoc-mien-phi-cho-tre-em-ngheo-a187182.html