The journey of bringing painting to ethnic minority students.
Mr. Le Van Dao (born in 1989), a member of the Thai ethnic group, was born into a poor family in Chau Hong commune, Nghe An province. Understanding the hardships and disadvantages faced by children in mountainous areas, after graduating from the Fine Arts department at the Central University of Arts Education ( Hanoi ), instead of staying in the city, he chose to return to his hometown to teach, carrying with him the aspiration to "plant the seeds" of art for ethnic minority children. With this dedication, in 2017, Mr. Le Van Dao founded and maintained the Fine Arts group at Chau Tien Primary School. This is a commendable effort in the context of the many material constraints of a school in a mountainous region.
Starting from a simple classroom with few art supplies or drawing paper, Mr. Dao persevered in nurturing the artistic spirit in his students. For him, art is not just a subject, but also a means for students in the highlands, mostly ethnic minorities, to express their emotions and thoughts. Their lives are full of hardships, but despite these circumstances, Mr. Dao never gave up. Many times, he used his own money to buy art supplies, organized extra classes on weekends, and focused on preserving the innocence and regional identity in the children's drawings.
The painting "Pounding Rice with Parents" and the voices of children.
That very spirit became the foundation for teachers and students of Chau Tien Primary School to participate in the "Listen to Your Child," an activity under Project 8 "Implementing Gender Equality and Addressing Urgent Issues for Women and Children," part of the National Target Program for Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions.
The painting "Pounding Rice with Parents" by Vi Min Chơn
In 2023, under the dedicated guidance of teacher Dao, Vi Min Chon, a third-grade student of the Thai ethnic group, painted "Pounding Rice with Parents" and won second prize in the "Listening to My Child Speak" competition. The painting depicts familiar scenes of labor in her family, a Thai family facing many difficulties in a remote village, yet always full of love and sharing. Vi Min Chon lives with her grandparents, in a difficult family situation, and is quiet and shy. Through painting, she has gained the confidence to express herself. "I want to send a message to my friends: Cherish your health and preserve your ethnic identity. I hope my family will always be healthy, loving, and close-knit," Chon shared.
Instead of imposing his own views on his students' paintings, Mr. Dao patiently guides them on how to visualize, arrange the composition, and choose colors so that the artwork is both simple and striking. "A beautiful painting doesn't need many characters, but a clear focal point. Most importantly, it needs to capture the emotions and innocence of the child," Mr. Dao emphasized.
According to Ms. Luong Thi Ha, Chairwoman of the Farmers' Association of Chau Hong commune and former Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Chau Tien commune (formerly), "Teacher Dao has created an innovative communication model, making painting not only an art form but also a means of conveying messages from children."
Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/giup-tre-em-dan-toc-thieu-so-ke-chuyen-bang-net-ve-20250813142415899.htm
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