Teacher Nguyen Xuan Khang and the project to nurture 22 children and students of Lang Nu village after flash flood

Nu Village is located near the foot of Voi Mountain, with 167 households and 760 Tay people living there. The flash flood in the early morning of September 10 buried 33 households, affected 40 families, killed 55 people, 12 people went missing, and 14 people were injured. In the blink of an eye, many children in this village became orphans, homeless, and in difficult circumstances. They have received attention and support from the government as well as generous organizations and individuals, including teacher Nguyen Xuan Khang, Chairman of the Board and Principal of Marie Curie School ( Hanoi ), who is affectionately called "Grandpa" by many generations of students.

On September 15, after watching a report about Nguyen Van Hanh, a student at Bao Yen High School, who has no relatives, is being treated in the hospital, and is at risk of dropping out of school, Mr. Khang immediately contacted and provided Hanh with 3 million VND per month. Hanh's principal shared that children in the highlands need 2-3 million VND to live and go to school. He also contacted theeducation department of Bao Yen district to ask for support.

When reading the news about the children of Lang Nu who lost their parents and homes, Mr. Khang burst into tears and decided "what to do to ease the pain". Photo: Internet.

Ms. Dao Thi Thanh Thuy, Hanh’s homeroom teacher, said that many people had visited her before Mr. Khang, but he was the first to offer to provide for Hanh long-term. Hanh was also the first student to receive support from the Lang Nu Project, starting in September. He also bought her a phone for easy communication. The 75-year-old teacher decided that Marie Curie School would take in children aged 15 and under from Lang Nu village until they turned 18.

Sharing about Hanh's case, Mr. Khang said: "I watched the video clip of Nguyen Van Hanh being injured by the flash flood. As a teacher, when I heard that my student had to stop studying due to circumstances, I couldn't help but feel sad. I called Thanh Nien newspaper reporter and asked for Hanh's teacher's phone number to ask her to encourage him to continue studying." Thanks to the connection between Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, Vice Principal of Bao Yen 1 High School, and Thanh Nien newspaper reporter, Mr. Khang had a phone conversation with Hanh. Before the call, Hanh was an orphan with an uncertain future, but after that, Hanh had a "grandfather", who gave him a new path full of hope. Hanh became the first student of the "Project to raise children and students of Lang Nu after the flash flood" implemented by Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khang and Marie Curie School. In addition to the case of Nguyen Van Hanh, Mr. Khang also asked the government and the education department to make a list of children aged 15 and under who survived the flash flood to include in the Project. Accordingly, Mr. Khang and Marie Curie School will support the children until they are 18 years old, with a monthly allowance of 3 million VND/child, transferred directly to their parents or guardians: "My biggest wish right now is to have a specific list of children who are still alive so that we can take care of them, give them a prosperous life and a proper education."

Lang Nu village school. Photo source: VOV2

At present, more than 2 months since the flood, the surviving villagers are living in temporary houses while waiting for the construction of the new village. The locality and construction units are working hard to complete the new village before December 31 so that people can return to live before Tet. Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong, Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, hopes: "With the affection, love and mutual support of the people here as well as the noble acts of the people across the country, we will certainly have a better future. Nu Village was lost due to storms, floods and natural disasters, we are determined to rebuild a new Nu Village that is more beautiful, more livable, safer and more affectionate."

Teacher Nguyen Xuan Khang, Chairman of the Board and Principal of Marie Curie School (Hanoi). Photo source: Internet.

Lang Nu was once a small village nestled in the mountains of northern Vietnam. The peaceful village, surrounded by lush terraced fields, was wiped out by the brutality of nature. Now, buried under a thick layer of mud and rocks, are the villagers’ entire lives: their belongings, their many years of savings, and their family members.

However, with the joint efforts of the whole society, a new village is gradually taking shape not far from the old Nu Village. Hopefully, the survivors of the flood will soon find their peaceful lives again, and the pain and loss will soon be healed. And, the children of Nu Village will continue to go to school to continue their dreams of a bright life./.

Yanjiang