“Good books about villages, study desks for children” bring information to ethnic minority children

The Club “Good books about the village, study desks for children” is a humane initiative of the Women's Union of Chu Se town (Chu Se district, Gia Lai province), established in April 2023. The Club has brought information and knowledge to children in ethnic minority areas, helping many dreams fly high.

The "Good books about the village, study desks for children" club was initiated from the concerns of the Association's staff, Ms. Dao Anh Hong, President of the Women's Union of Chu Se town. During 10 years of working for the Association in the town and regularly visiting villages to campaign and propagate, Ms. Hong realized the reality of Jrai ethnic students lacking learning conditions, especially in Hang Ring village, where up to 70% of children do not have study desks, many families only have a single light bulb in the house. Especially in the summer, children often lack many useful activities to enrich their knowledge. Therefore, the "Good books about the village, study desks for children" model was formed with the desire for change.

Ms. Dao Anh Hong (3rd from right), President of the Women's Union of Chu Se town (Chu Se, Gia Lai ) visited the families of children in the area.

"After the survey, we reported to the Party Committee and coordinated with the District Women's Union to mobilize benefactors. In 2023, with more than 30 million VND received, we ordered 51 sets of desks and lamps, giving them to 51 students in difficult circumstances. This summer, the Town Women's Union just met and coordinated with the Youth Union, we will launch a summer program, organize activities such as reading books and giving gifts to the children", Ms. Dao Anh Hong, President of the Chu Se Town Women's Union, shared.

During the summer, Jrai ethnic children often lack many useful and educational activities.

The club "Good books about the village - study desks for children" was established with 50 members, who are children who love books in the area. The small library was set up right at the Hang Ring Village Cultural House - a warm and intimate learning space in the middle of the village.

The special feature of the model is that Jrai children not only read books, but are also encouraged to record their favorite pages in their mother tongue. Those recordings are sent to the club’s Zalo group, becoming Jrai language audiobooks – helping children who are not yet fluent in Mandarin and adults in the village to access the content more easily.

The club meets once a month. During the summer, when students are absent from school more, the activity is held weekly, on Sunday evenings. At each meeting, students are given notebooks to write down their feelings after reading. Each student reads at what time, and whether their parents are sitting with them, are all recorded. The immature but emotional lines will be graded and commented on by Ms. Hong and a branch president - a retired teacher.

Ms. Dao Anh Hong, President of the Women's Union of Chu Se town, checks the notebooks where the children have recorded the content they have read. Photo: Women's Union of Chu Se town

It is not simply an evaluation, but a way to light a fire. Because each good article, each sincere effort comes with small rewards: half a kilo of sugar, a packet of MSG, hair ties, a bottle of soapberry shampoo… gifts that seem simple but are meaningful to the people here. Once, Ms. Hong herself cut the children’s hair – thoughtful actions, full of love like a second mother.

In a land where early school dropout, early marriage and lack of information are still concerns, the model "Good books for the village, study desks for children" is like a new light. The light of knowledge, of sharing and love.

Ralan Thanh Xuan from Hang Ring village (Chu Se town, Chu Se district, Gia Lai) shared: "Before, my house was very dark, there was only one light bulb, I often had to lie on the floor to study. Now that I have my own desk and lamp, I am very happy. Although the desk has been used for a long time, it is very old, I really appreciate it, I will take good care of it and try to read a lot of books."

Children who used to run around on the hills and fields now know how to sit together and read books, share their feelings, listen to their friends, and learn to write down their own thoughts. One child wrote: "I read stories about my mother, and I see that my mother also has a hard life. I love her more." Another child read books about doctors and teachers and began to dream of becoming useful people, returning to help the village.

The children were excited to receive desks and books. Photo: Chu Se Town Women's Union

Ms. Hong confided: "No need for big things, just a small table, a bright light bulb and a good book, dreams have begun to blossom. We not only give good books or desks but also send our faith in the future of the children. Hopefully from today's small books, many big dreams will take flight tomorrow."

From the remote village of Hang Ring, a journey called "Good books for the village, a study desk for children" is still quietly continuing. It is like a journey to sow seeds of knowledge, so that they will bloom in the sunny and windy highland.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/sach-hay-ve-lang-ban-hoc-tang-em-mang-thong-tin-den-voi-tre-em-dan-toc-thieu-so-20250610173823628.htm