"Carrying" the burden of literacy, "sowing" dreams for children.

"If I had the choice again, I would still choose to be a teacher and would still be willing to go to difficult schools like the one in Lung Cung village." The heartfelt words of young teacher Hoang Thi Duyen, a teacher at Hoa Hong Kindergarten in Nam Co commune, deeply moved us. Despite the hardships, Duyen and the other teachers in this remote village will remain there, "carrying" the burden of teaching and "nurturing" the dreams of building a bright future for the children of this highland region.

The three-hour journey of nearly 25 kilometers from the center of Nam Co commune to Lung Cung village was truly a challenging one. Hidden amidst the thick fog was a rough, rocky dirt road, dotted with muddy puddles as slippery as grease, and steep, winding slopes.

Despite being warned beforehand that the road would be difficult, Mr. Ho A Nha, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nam Co commune and our companion, still couldn't hide his concern: "Hopefully, the road will be better the next time the journalists come."

Struggling with steep slopes, rocks, and muddy terrain, as weak rays of sunlight began to pierce through the mist, we arrived at Lung Cung. The feeling of accomplishment came not only from overcoming the difficult route, but also from the emotion of seeing the simple school appear and, above all, the radiant smiles of the children waiting.

The kindergarten in Lung Cung village is under construction, so three teachers and over 60 children are currently studying in a villager's house. The wooden house, though bare, is the most spacious in the village. The villagers and teachers here are giving their children the best they can.

“To maintain the school's location, the school regularly assigns 2 to 3 teachers so they can help each other. Understanding the difficulties and disadvantages faced by the teachers, during village meetings, commune officials also take the opportunity to promote and encourage villagers to help and support the teachers who come here to ‘plant the seeds of knowledge’ for their children. The main focus is on providing moral support, hoping that the teachers will have more confidence in staying in the village.”

Comrade Hờ A Nhà - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Nậm Có Commune

At 24 years old, teacher Hoang Thi Duyen left her Thai village to "plant the seeds of literacy" in the Mong village of Lung Cung. As the youngest teacher, she didn't know the Mong language and didn't understand the local culture, but her anxieties about being alone in the village quickly vanished after a year. Colleagues, students, and villagers all became like family to teacher Duyen.

Duyen confided: "I volunteered to teach at the Lung Cung school. Despite the many difficulties, seeing my students, even though they were dirty, never miss a single lesson, I didn't allow myself to lose heart."

But life in this remote, desolate village, surrounded by clouds, still has moments that can make one feel vulnerable. “For me, the hardest thing isn’t the road. It’s the lack of everything here: no electricity, no phone signal. We’re all young teachers here, far from family and friends, and we can’t contact or connect with each other every day,” teacher Duyen confided. Seeing the teachers climbing tall trees to get a phone signal to contact the main school, they all smiled, but tears welled up in their eyes.

Three young teachers are stationed at the Lung Cung school, not only teaching literacy but also learning about the local culture and the ethnic minority language to communicate and connect with the community. Teacher Thao Thi Denh, a Mong ethnic minority, shared her advantages over her colleagues: “Initially, when we first arrived here, many people didn’t understand the importance of literacy. Students often dropped out. The teachers had to go to their homes to talk to them, find out the reasons, and then persuade parents to send their children to class.” Over time, the teachers realized that teaching isn’t just about teaching children to sing, dance, and recognize letters… but also about the children receiving the care and love of their teachers.

Here, there are no computers, no phones; children's dreams are largely nurtured by lessons, stories, and pictures during class time. It's that simple, but it's enough for them to understand the outside world . It's also the foundation for their future aspirations.

The Lung Cung school is nestled in a valley, shrouded in white mist year-round. During break time, the teachers and students in this remote village dance rhythmically to the soothing sound of the bamboo flute, creating a harmonious symphony amidst the mountains and forests.

"The dance performed during break time, though simple, reflects the dedication of the teachers in this remote village, a simple joy amidst this misty valley. The music, the singing, the laughter fill the air; here, there are no longer boundaries or distances, only a spirit of unity, love, and sharing, enabling everyone to overcome difficulties and strive for success."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong - Deputy Principal of Hoa Hong Kindergarten

The next day we descended the mountain, and after just a bend in the small road, this tiny school disappeared into the fog. The difficulties of today would now be just an experience. But the young teachers would remain dedicated to this place, diligently teaching. Because of their love for their students, they have devoted their youth and enthusiasm, ready to commit themselves to making Lung Cung more beautiful and prosperous. One day, when the road is completed and the national power grid reaches the village, life here will improve day by day.

At the edge of the village, the peach orchards have already shown off their early buds. Amidst the mist, somewhere the vast forest can be heard stirring.

Presented by: Huu Huynh

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/ganh-con-chu-gieo-uoc-mo-cho-tre-post886663.html