Planting the seeds of literacy in landslide-prone mountainous areas.

Amidst the devastated mountain slopes of Da Nang's highlands, where roads continue to collapse in large chunks after the floods, young female teachers continue their journey, carrying knowledge to the most remote villages.

" MOTHER THU" OF THE CHILDREN IN THE HIGHLANDS

Following the historic floods in late October and early November, the roads leading to the remote schools in Da Nang City are riddled with fresh wounds. Landslides have covered the trails, streams have been filled in, and raging floodwaters have swept through villages, leaving behind thick, reddish mud. Amidst the vast mountains and forests, young teachers still climb the slopes and trek through the woods to reach their classrooms. They come not only to teach but also to preserve a glimmer of hope for the children in these mountainous areas.

Ms. Tra Thi Thu assisted residents in relocating their belongings to safe places during the recent floods.

PHOTO: NGOC THOM

The road leading to Tak Po school (Tra Tap commune) is notoriously treacherous. Steep bends seem to swallow anyone's foot, and the muddy red soil makes it easy for anyone to slip and fall in a moment of inattention. Cell phone signal is completely lost, and no motorized vehicles can access the area. The only way to get to class is on foot.

In a small dormitory room next to the classroom, teacher Tra Thi Thu (31 years old), a petite woman, told me about her 11 years of teaching in the remote highlands. "The Tak Po school is about a two-hour walk from the commune center. The dirt road is very steep; I've slipped and fallen countless times. But I'm used to it now, it's become a habit," she said with a gentle smile.

"What kept me here was the look in their eyes. Seeing them covered in red dirt but smiling so brightly, I felt useful. In what seemed like the most challenging place, I found peace and meaning in teaching," Ms. Thu shared.

Ms. Thu's classroom is not just for learning to read and write, but also a second home for many young children. Some are as young as three years old, living several hours' walk from the school. Therefore, in addition to teaching, the teachers become second mothers, cooking, bathing, and taking care of each child's sleep. They teach regular classes in the morning and tutor in the afternoon. Whenever they have free time, the teachers and students go into the forest together to gather vegetables, catch snails, and dig for bamboo shoots to improve their meals. "Before electricity, the teachers and students studied by candlelight. Sometimes I feel like a mother to the children. It's so wonderful," Ms. Thu confided.

Beyond simply caring for her students, she also acts as a bridge of love. Thanks to her participation in the club founded by Mr. Nguyen Tran Vy, she continuously connects people to bring warm clothes, uniforms, and Tet gifts to the village. In 2023, she implemented a series of projects worth hundreds of millions of VND for poor students and villagers. From building toilets and concrete roads into Tu Nuong village, to providing seedlings and livestock, and essential gifts, everything stems from a heart that wants to share.

THE FIREKEEPER

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tan (28 years old), a teacher at Anh Dao Kindergarten, also carries similar memories. She vividly remembers the morning after a major flood, when the roads were slippery and rocks and soil could collapse at any moment. Yet, parents still brought their children to class, carrying bundles of wild vegetables and boiled bamboo shoots, saying, "We have a little bit of vegetables at home, teacher, please cook them. No one sells them here because of the rain and wind." "Hearing that, I was choked up. Kindness in the village is always abundant, even though life is still full of hardships," Ms. Tan confided.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kim Tan guides the students in writing.

PHOTO: NGOC THOM

Ms. Tan understands that to teach well in the highlands, flexibility is essential. Without a projector or modern equipment, she has to be creative, using real objects, visual aids, and interactive games to keep the children engaged. After the recent floods, what worries Ms. Tan most is the damaged roads. "Some sections of the road have collapsed in large chunks; it makes my heart race when the children go to school. Some school buildings are almost completely buried, and the books are soaked – it's heartbreaking to see," the young teacher confided.

Ms. Pham Thi My Hanh, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Tra Tap commune, said that teachers in the highlands still face many hardships; in some remote schools, teachers have to walk tens of kilometers. In Tra Tap, each school is a story of perseverance. "The young teachers here don't just teach literacy. They teach the children how to dream, how to look beyond the landslide-prone mountain slopes, how to believe that knowledge can open up new paths. In difficult times, these young teachers are the keepers of the flame. The commune always appreciates and supports them to the fullest extent so that they can teach with peace of mind," Ms. Hanh said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/gieo-chu-o-vung-nui-lo-185251119231113369.htm