When the teacher is the Youth Union Secretary
The Charity Class of Hamlet 4, Ward 7, Bac Lieu City is led by Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy - Secretary of the Youth Union of Ward 7, Bac Lieu City.
Ms. Thuy said that the class was established by the Ward Union in 2013, because she saw that this area had many disadvantaged children who could not go to school.
Ms. Thuy herself took over the class management and taught them since 2022. Although the current class has nearly 30 students, there are few classes that are crowded enough, because some students have to follow their parents to work for a living such as picking up scrap metal, selling lottery tickets... and cannot return home from school.
"I chose to teach from 6pm partly because my work at the office is now free, partly because it creates conditions for students to go to class in large numbers. Although there are regulations on school hours, in reality, students come early to study early, and late to study late. One day I had to run to each boarding house to call and encourage them to come to class," Ms. Thuy said.
Not only teaching letters, students in the charity class of the Ward 7 Youth Union are also taught life skills, human ethics... Because most of them are in difficult circumstances, they have had to stride in society since childhood, are often exposed to unhealthy environments, and easily learn bad habits.
At the same time, the Ward 7 grassroots delegation also regularly mobilizes benefactors to support school supplies and necessities for children and their families. Most of the childrens families are in difficult circumstances, many people do not want to send their children to school but are forced to work at home to earn money. Therefore, I have to try to mobilize and create maximum conditions for my children's families to go to class and learn to read and write," Ms. Tran Thanh Thuy shared.
To encourage students' learning spirit, at the end of each class, the teacher often gives each of them a small gift and cake. Especially on holidays such as Children's International and Mid-Autumn Festival, children are given gifts and organized entertainment activities.
Raising dreams from a charity class
This school year, the class has nearly 30 students from 6 to 16 years old. These are all disadvantaged children, their parents are lottery ticket sellers, helpors, waitresses, etc., so there are no conditions for them to go to school.
Every time it gets dark, students living in boarding houses in Ward 4 invite each other to class. Tuyen thoughtlessly: "I don't know how to watch the clock, after eating, I prepare to go to class when it's dark. I really look forward to school time to meet my teacher and friends. I want to know how to read and write soon, know how to watch the time so as not to be late for class".
Gia Hung said: "I am very happy to go to school, I will try to study to be literate, know how to write my name and the names of my father and mother. I also hope to be unable to go to school like you in the future. Tran Truc Van continued him: "I find going to school very fun, I hope to study and become a teacher in the future, teaching my friends in the neighborhood".
Mr. Tran Phong (Gia Hung and Truc Van's father) said that his family was very poor so he could not afford to send his two children to school. Seeing friends of the same age who are allowed to go to school, their children also ask to go to school, but their families are poor, living on the island tomorrow is not enough, so they should stay at home.
"I feel guilty for the children and children, causing losses to you, but what can I do if I'm not old enough to go to school? Currently, the children are given the opportunity to attend charity classes organized by the group. I just hope my children learn to read and write, said Mr. Phong.
Despite the difficulties, students here still steal books to go to school. Who knows, tomorrow, among the children sitting here, there will be someone who can fulfill their dream of becoming teachers, engineers, painters...
