"Mother Hoa" of the charity class at the Buddhist temple.

Every Saturday and Sunday morning at 7 a.m., "Mother Hoa" is busy going to class with autistic and disabled children.

23 years of providing free education to underprivileged children.

During her 30 years as a primary school teacher, Ms. Le Thi Hoa (born in 1973, Dong Son commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi ) has spent 23 years teaching disadvantaged children for free. These are children who unfortunately suffer from autism, disabilities, or serious illnesses.

In 2001, Ms. Hoa transformed her small 10m2 kitchen into a charity classroom. After nearly seven years, the number of students grew, and feeling sorry for the children having to study in such a cramped space, Ms. Hoa asked to borrow a living room at Huong Lan Pagoda (Dong Cuu village, Dong Son commune, 2km from her house) to use as a classroom.

In 2007, the classroom at the temple gate officially "opened" with 42 students. Among them were 14 students with disabilities, while the rest were children who had not attended school or had cognitive developmental delays.

Managing a class with normal students is difficult, but managing a class with students with disabilities is a hundred times harder. Ms. Hoa recounted: "Some students come to class drooling so much that they wet several towels in a single morning, and occasionally they have seizures; some even bite the teacher's hand until it bleeds."

Love and patience helped Ms. Hoa overcome difficulties in teaching the children everything from greetings to spelling the alphabet. For children born deaf and mute, she sought out and obtained materials on sign language and lip movements to guide them in learning.

In the class, there were two deaf and mute students, Xuan and Mien, who had been studying with her since they were 11 years old. When they turned 18, Ms. Hoa helped them get jobs at a textile factory. Xuan and Mien now have jobs and income. They often text "Mother Hoa" to check on her.

"After enduring countless hardships and difficulties, these are the 'sweet rewards' I've received. Every time I receive a message from my children, I'm deeply moved," said Ms. Hoa.

The members of the charity class are of very different ages.

Good deeds spread

Ms. Hoa's class now has nearly 90 students, with ages ranging from five times (6 to 31 years old). Many parents, having heard about her, have brought their children from My Duc, Ha Dong, Dan Phuong, and even other inner districts of Hanoi to "Mother Hoa's" class.

"I never accept money from anyone when teaching the children. Even those who sponsor the charity class, if they want to help, they buy clothes, food, books for the children, and if they can afford it, they buy fans, tables, and chairs to help with their studies."

Ms. Le Thi Hoa, Dong Son commune, Chuong My district, Hanoi

Many teachers and student volunteers who learned about the class also volunteered to work alongside Ms. Hoa to maintain the charity class without receiving any remuneration.

Few people know that behind her cheerful, amiable face and her dedication to underprivileged children, Ms. Hoa once went through unimaginable hardships. In 2013, she gave birth to a child who developed a postpartum infection and had to stay in the hospital for 20 days.

After being discharged from the hospital, although her wounds hadn't healed yet, she was anxious about going to class because the children would be more disruptive without her. So she still carried her baby to class, teaching and looking after her child at the same time. Later, when her own children grew up, Ms. Hoa had less work to do and could focus more on teaching children with autism and disabilities.

Many people still call Ms. Hoa "the principal without a title." After decades of dedicated teaching to students with disabilities, dozens of them have "graduated" and are now able to find jobs to support themselves.

Nearly 10 teachers who have been working with the class have pledged to continue their work as long as they have the health to do so, without interruption, even during the most difficult times. Ms. Le Thi Hoa's good deed has quietly spread.

In 2019, she was honored by the City of Hanoi as an "Outstanding Citizen of the Capital" for her contributions to the community.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/me-hoa-cua-lop-hoc-tinh-thuong-noi-cua-phat-20240910143417265.htm