The 80-year-old 'ferryman' and the class that lights up lives in the night

For the past 10 years, when the street lights come on, the charity class of teacher Nguyen Thi Anh (U80) begins to bustle. With the tolerance of a silent "ferryman", she has helped more than 1,000 poor and disabled children overcome illiteracy, find joy and the light of knowledge in the midst of a busy life.

Photo caption — The 80-year-old "ferryman" and his class light up lives in the night.

Special class at 6pm

Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 6pm, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh's literacy class lights up. Without chalk or a neat blackboard, without neat uniforms, the students in the class are children with special circumstances: some are slow to develop, some are autistic, some have to put aside their dream of going to school to help their families make a living...

Understanding the disadvantages of "unlucky" children who do not have access to a formal educational environment, Ms. Anh has devoted all her heart to maintaining this free class for the past 10 years.

Sharing her motivation for sticking with the class, Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh confided: “Seeing the children not as lucky as other children, having to attend night classes like this, I feel so sorry. Teaching them, seeing them work hard, trying to learn each letter, I feel extremely happy and joyful.”

Ms. Anh's classes are not divided by age, but by level of understanding. Some students have just started a few months ago, while others have been studying for 2-3 years; some are studying the first grade program, while others are studying the fourth grade. This difference makes teaching extremely difficult. Especially for students with slow development, teaching letters requires extraordinary patience.

Ms. Anh confided: “There are students who I teach today, but tomorrow they forget everything, so I have to teach them all over again. Sometimes I have to teach the entire first grade program for two years straight. But I always tell myself not to get angry, I have to indulge them, I’m afraid they will be sad and drop out of school, which would be a pity.”

It is this love and patience that has created miraculous changes. Duong Thanh Hue (15 years old), who has autism and delayed language development, was unable to integrate into many different schools. However, after 4 years of being attached to Ms. Anh's class, Hue has had a dramatic change.

Ms. Tran Thi Kim Phuong, Hue's mother, emotionally shared: "Her child has autism and a language disorder, so at first she had trouble going to school and couldn't sit still. But thanks to Ms. Anh, now she can sit and study, talk and write. Every time it's time to go to school, she is very happy and when she comes home she feels much more relaxed because she has her teacher and friends here."

From a withdrawn child, Hue learned to read, write and gradually integrated. This was not only the joy of the family but also a priceless gift in return for the old teacher's dedication.

More than just words, it's humanity

Ms. Anh's classes do not stop at eliminating illiteracy. With the motto "first learn manners, then learn literature", Ms. Anh incorporates into her lessons lessons on life skills and human ethics. The children who come here not only learn Math, Vietnamese, History, Geography, Civic Education but also learn how to love and share.

Ms. Anh is both a strict teacher on the podium and a gentle grandmother, mother, and confidant who listens to the confidences of her young students.

Nguyen Ngoc Minh Nhung (20 years old), an active student in the class, said: “Before 6 pm, I finished my housework to go to school. Ms. Anh is very kind and lovely, everyone loves her. Before, it took me 3 years to learn to read and write, now I know how to read, write and calculate.”

For children who have to work hard at an early age, the value of literacy is closely linked to the value of real life. Tran Ba Minh (15 years old) thinks more maturely than his age: “I am happy to go to school. The class is crowded and the teacher teaches in an easy-to-understand way. If I don’t know anything, the teacher explains it all and never scolds me. I think that when I know how to read and write, I will know how to make a living and earn money to take care of my family.”

Like Minh, Tran Anh Thu (14 years old) felt the teacher's silent sacrifice: "You are old but still try to teach us, we are happy and love you very much. You speak softly, never harshly, so I find it easier to understand."

More than 10 years, not a long journey in a person’s life but an extraordinary journey for a volunteer class. More than 1,000 children have passed through this class, carrying with them the knowledge and kindness to step into life. Some continue to study, some go to vocational training, but all carry with them the beautiful memories of the old teacher under the night light.

For the U80 teacher, the happiness of old age is very simple. It is the moment when she sees her students progress day by day, or just the innocent joy of a child running up to show off: "Teacher, today I saw the words "Pho Bo" on the street, I can read it now!".

The words "Pho Bo" to normal people are just an inanimate sign, but to the teachers and students of this charity class, it is a whole new world opening up. It is proof that the children have escaped the "darkness" of illiteracy and can confidently lift their heads to look at the life around them.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh’s class is not only a place to impart knowledge but also a second home, a place to foster love and compassion. The words sown in this special class will be a valuable asset, helping the children confidently step into life, opening doors of hope for the future.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/van-de-quan-tam/nguoi-lai-do-u80-va-lop-hoc-thap-sang-nhung-manh-doi-trong-dem-20251119222330960.htm