Happiness in Ta Xua

Stopping our car on the winding road along the mountainside, we had to climb a steep slope to reach Chung Trinh school – a newly completed concrete courtyard nestled high in the air, amidst a sea of fluffy clouds, where children played in the colorful traditional clothing of their ethnic group, creating a fairytale scene. Among those faces was a four-year-old boy named Thao Hanh Phuc.

Thào Thị Pla, Thào Hạnh Phúc's mother, recounted: "Phúc has been asking to go to school since before the chickens were even born." wake up It was even more joyful than Tet (Vietnamese New Year). The mothers of Mua Chi Nen, Mua Thi Bay, Mua Thanh Cong... also spoke of their children's excitement in the same way.

Thào Hạnh Phúc held her friend's hand and ran and jumped around the playground. She stopped, looked up at the strangers who had just arrived at the school. Her eyes were a little hesitant, but sparkling with joy, innocent and peaceful. Perhaps, for her, happiness was simply being able to play and receive gifts. But for many people in the schoolyard today, "Hạnh Phúc" was more than just a child's name.

The courtyard of Chung Trinh school – part of Ta Xua Kindergarten – Ta Xua Commune, Son La Province – has a very simple name: "Childhood Schoolyard" . A name that is just enough to contain dreams, just enough to anchor memories.

A small courtyard, colorful toys… all are gifts from teachers, parents, and 11th-grade students of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School.

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Nga, the principal of Ta Xua Kindergarten, said: "Ta Xua school has six campuses. The Chung Trinh campus was established in 2005. Since then, Chung Trinh has always had only one classroom, with children of all ages in the kindergarten level. Ten years have passed, and generations of kindergarten children at the Chung Trinh campus have had no playground. Behind the porch of the classroom is a small, uneven, and rough patch of earth, making it very difficult for the teachers to keep a close watch to ensure the children are not in danger."

The playground of Chung Trinh school, then and now.

"With a playground like this, the children can freely run, jump, and play. They are very happy. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the teachers, parents, and students of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School - especially the homeroom teachers and parents of the 11th grade students," Ms. Nga expressed.

To create the "Children's Playground" for the children of Ta Xua today , a year ago, a small fair was held in the courtyard of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School ( Hanoi Pedagogical University), organized by teachers, parents, and 11th-grade students. Each class had a booth, all simple, sincere, but well-organized. The profits from the fair were pooled to carry out community projects, focusing on areas facing many difficulties.

Teachers Huong Lan, Hai Lien, Mai Linh, Thang, Thuy, Dung... and parents like Mrs. Phuc, Mrs. Dung, Mrs. Lan, Mr. Diep, Mrs. Ly, Mrs. Lien, Mrs. Thuan.... who had never been involved in business before, suddenly took on the role of "merchants." Some sourced goods, others promoted products, and calculated profits; ...

The combined efforts of the teachers and over 500 families of the 11th-grade students back then created a small, charming structure nestled amidst the clouds of Ta Xua today.

At the inauguration of the Children's Playground at Chung Trinh school, teachers and parents of students from Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School also brought many other practical gifts: jackets, hats, and socks to keep the children warm in the winter; 40 warm blankets as gifts from the homeroom teachers of the 11th grade; and 30 sets of traditional Vietnamese dresses and warm scarves from female teachers and staff members to their colleagues.

Gifts from teachers, parents, and students of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School.

Ms. Lien and Ms. Manh, parents of the students, also donated indoor and outdoor toys to the children; the group of 11th-grade students from class 11D2, participating in the Wood2life startup project with the art club, recycled waste wood into useful items and also bought more than 30 warm jackets for the children with the money from selling their products...

In particular, Dr. Nguyen Sy Cuong - Party Secretary and Principal of Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School - also sent gifts to the teachers of Ta Xua school, hoping that the school's management and teachers would continue to cultivate a better educational environment so that the children could be happier.

During the gift-giving ceremony, amidst the cold of the mountainous region, Ms. Ha Song Hai Lien, representing the homeroom teachers of the 11th grade, said something very touching: "The coldest place is not the North Pole, but the place lacking love. It's 7 degrees Celsius on the summit of Ta Xua today, but the atmosphere here is so warm because we are living in an atmosphere of love."

Teacher Ha Song Hai Lien gave a speech handing over the completed kindergarten playground project.

Ms. Hai Lien also stated: Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School – the practice school of Hanoi Pedagogical University – after 27 years of formation and development, is not only a reliable institution of education in the capital city, but also persistently pursues community activities, aiming for the comprehensive development of students. In this journey, the school pays special attention to schools in mountainous areas, where the learning and living conditions of young children are still lacking. Sustainable charity for the development of education is not just a slogan, but a goal concretized through practical actions of the teachers and students of the school.

She hopes that through the connection of the Tu Tam organization, the leaders of Ta Xua, and the teachers and students of Nguyen Tat Thanh school can visit more places like this, to "give love, receive love, and enrich each of our hearts with love," she expressed.

As the person honored with the responsibility of removing the plaque to inaugurate the schoolyard, Ms. Tran Thi Thuy, representing the school's Trade Union and homeroom teacher of class 11D2, was also deeply moved: " For our Nguyen Tat Thanh School, community service activities are not new, but a part of our history." Traditions are built up over many generations. – a place where every teacher sows seeds of love, every parent accompanies with responsibility, and every student learns to live kindly through the most concrete actions.

Teacher Tran Thi Thuy (third from the right in the photo), along with representatives of parents, local leaders, and the school board of Ta Xua Kindergarten, unveils the plaque to inaugurate the "Children's Playground".

Although not directly involved in the trip, Ms. Pham Thi Huong Lan , the head of the 11th grade homeroom group, closely followed the team's progress. Seeing the completed playground, she emotionally shared: "Looking at the images of Chung Trinh school before and seeing the images today, I can truly see the miracle. For so many years, the children lacked a playground. This beautiful playground allows them to play and run around when they come to school. I feel very warmhearted about this lasting gift in Ta Xua today."

Sharing similar sentiments, Ms. Nguyen Van Tung – Representative of the School's Parents' Association, Head of the Parents' Association for 11th grade students – shared: "I am also deeply moved when I think back to the day we organized the fair with the support of the teachers. A small cake that our children made themselves, a cup of soda they mixed themselves, an egg, a bunch of vegetables that parents gathered to sell, some parents even mobilized their whole family to fry shrimp crackers for their children to bring to the fair, and then donated both the principal and the profit… these seemingly small things, along with love and community responsibility, have become this small, lovely project for the children on the top of Ta Xua mountain."

We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the teachers and parents of all 11th graders for their unwavering support; thank you to the Tu Tam volunteer group – the organization that connected us, allowing our heartfelt sentiments from Hanoi to reach the beloved Ta Xua; and thank you to the teachers and children of Chung Trinh school for "lending" us a space to hold the heartfelt sentiments of those who came from afar .

Teacher Ha Song Hai Lien, teacher Pham Tien Dung, and Ms. Giang Thi Bich Lien with the children in Ta Xua.

Ms. Giang Thi Bich Lien, a parent of a student in class 11D3, shared: "Standing on the school grounds amidst this sea of fluffy clouds, my greatest emotion is gratitude! I am grateful to be a member of the Nguyen Tat Thanh family. Here, not only are our children educated and nurtured, but we ourselves have also gained many meaningful activities and experiences."

"After today's trip, we will bring these beautiful images back and send them to parents and students, not just those in grade 11. To tell you about the beautiful Ta Xua, a place with fairytale-like sea of clouds, the sunshine and wind of the vast forest, and the lovely teachers and children, " said Mr. Ngo Bao Diep, a parent of a student in class 11D5.

Happiness is more than just a name.

As evening fell, clouds drifted across the valley. Thao Hanh Phuc and her friends were still reluctant to leave. Ms. Nga recounted: "Since the schoolyard was built, the children don't want to go home; they just want to stay at school for as long as possible."

Perhaps after today, the children will no longer remember the names of those who brought them this gift of happiness. But the feeling of being loved, cared for, and growing up in the embrace of a community will remain, silently nurturing their souls.

Teachers and representatives of parents of 11th-grade students at Nguyen Tat Thanh Secondary and High School were delighted on the day of handover of the "Children's Playground" project.

Representatives of the parents of 11th-grade students also expressed their wishes. The teachers and parents of Chung Trinh school received the gift not with gratitude, but with the mindset of sharing and spreading happiness together. When we are all happy, everything around us will become better and better.

Happiness, therefore, is not just the name of a boy. It is the name of a place where love converges; it is selfless giving. Happiness is present in the eyes of children, in the tears of adults, in the tight embrace amidst the clouds and wind.

The group left Ta Xua carrying beautiful images of Hanoi. The "schoolyard of childhood" remained. On that courtyard, happiness will continue to grow, with each small step, with each passing season.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/hanh-phuc-o-ta-xua.html