More than ten years of cultivating knowledge to help disadvantaged children

“The children are so thirsty for knowledge that they cannot give up,” said Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh (born in 1993), his gentle smile revealing the faith of a teacher who has never faltered. For the past 11 years, the free classes of the Vietnamese Fire Club (Tan Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City) founded by him in June 2014 have become a support for disadvantaged and poor children who have missed the opportunity to go to school.

The flame of knowledge lights up the lives of the unfortunate

No drums, no class name boards, no neatly ironed white shirts and blue pants, the free class of the Lua Viet Club founded by Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh only has the sound of spelling words resounding throughout the room. Nearly a hundred children from difficult circumstances, some orphaned, some collecting scrap metal, selling lottery tickets to make a living,... are seeing hope for a brighter future when they have the opportunity to access knowledge. When seeing letters and numbers, the children's eyes light up as if a new door has been opened.

Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh (in blue shirt) is teaching children in class.

Visiting the classroom, we could not help but be moved by the determination of the children here. Two sisters, Nguyen Tran Bich Ngoc (born in 2018) and Nguyen Tran Ngoc Chau (born in 2017), unfortunately lost their parents in 2024. In those young eyes, there was still a deep sadness. Even though they had lost the arms that protected and guided them, Ngoc and Chau still voluntarily and proactively went to school. In a childish voice, Nguyen Tran Bich Ngoc shared: "I have a dream of becoming a doctor. I really like going to school because here I can learn letters and numbers and everyone loves and takes care of me."

Or the case of Nguyen My Ngoc Han (born in 2012) also moved us. With a congenital heart disease, her fragile health made her family struggle between the cost of treatment and the worry of sending her to school. At times, her education became too far away because of the economic burden. However, thanks to the free classes of the Lua Viet Club, the door to knowledge opened again, helping her complete primary school like many other friends. Nguyen My Ngoc Han expressed: "Because of my illness, I love my parents and teachers who have always been there for me even more. I will try to become a good person so as not to let everyone down."

In a small room, nearly 100 children found a "home of knowledge". The class was founded by Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh. Eleven years ago, when he was a first-year student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, one afternoon sitting in the park reviewing his lessons, Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh saw a few children selling lottery tickets working hard but their eyes were watching other children going to school. The desire to study in those children's eyes urged him to take action. Thanks to the support of Ms. Huynh To Linh, former Secretary of the Hoa Thanh Ward Youth Union, the free class was formed, starting from a small corner in the neighborhood headquarters that he was given the opportunity to borrow. Then the good news spread far and wide, homeless children, children who were homeless, children who were late in life, children who had to work early... just kept coming to the class, looking for letters.

The class organized a chess competition.

From the initial 30 students, the class increased day by day. To have enough space, Mr. Dinh rented a 15m2 room ^so that the children would have more space to study. The class is divided into morning and evening shifts. The class is currently divided by level: From grade 1 to grade 2, students study Math, Vietnamese, Ethics; from grade 3 to grade 5, students have History, Geography, Science . Not only that, the class also organizes for the children to participate in activities such as: Shuttlecock, rope jumping, swimming, chess, etc. Since 2018, the class has recognized the Lua Viet Club as an affiliated unit, thereby bringing many learning opportunities to children who have never been to school.

“The past 11 years have been 11 journeys of memories. Each child has a story, a wound. One is malnourished, one is mentally handicapped, one is afraid of being laughed at by friends because of his age. Therefore, the classroom is not only a place to teach, but also a place to heal,” Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh shared. For him, the joy of a teacher is simply the moment when he sees a child write his name after years of being pushed away from writing.

Perseverance on the journey of cultivating people

After 11 years of operation, the free class of the Lua Viet Club has received and taught many children in difficult circumstances. In 2024, the class received 170 applications and in 2025, the class received 85 students, of which 61 had never received formal education. The class received help and support from benefactors and residents around neighborhood 18, Tan Phu ward, Ho Chi Minh City. Everyone joined hands to give the class more textbooks, notebooks, and milk cakes so that the children could go to class with peace of mind.

Accompanying Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh are nearly 20 students and young volunteers. The students and volunteers persistently tutor and review knowledge for the children, and at the same time help eliminate illiteracy for children who have never been to school. What is even more precious is when the students themselves, after growing up, choose to return to their first class to continue teaching. Like Dang Truc Anh (fourth year Law student, Trung Vuong University), who used to study in this class, has now become an older sister, an aunt guiding the younger ones. Truc Anh emotionally shared: "After eight years of being attached to this place, I am very happy to see the children who were still confused with the alphabet, now in middle school and high school. The class has given us knowledge to step into the future, and is also a second home for me to return to, continuing to help children in the same situation as me."

Students and volunteers participate in teaching in the classroom.

With persistent efforts over the past 11 years on the journey of educating people, the free class of the Lua Viet Club received the 2024 National Volunteer Award. Comrade Tran Minh Tan, Head of Ward 18, Tan Phu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, shared: “The class has helped many children overcome their inferiority complex and regain their confidence. This is a very humane and meaningful model. Although young, the young people have noble hearts and are responsible for the community. I think this work needs to be replicated and spread so that many children in special circumstances can study and develop like other children.”

Entering its 12th year, the flame of knowledge in this class still quietly lights up the children's future. "My biggest wish is to provide health insurance and stable accommodation for the students. They lack so much. I'm just afraid that one day I'm no longer healthy enough, and they won't know where to turn. As long as this class is still standing, with lights on every night, no matter what happens, the students will have a place to return to," said Mr. Huynh Ngoc Dinh.

Article and photos: BAO NGAN

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Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/van-hoa/doi-song/hon-muoi-nam-vung-goc-tri-thuc-nang-buoc-tre-kho-khan-1012937