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| Buddhist nun Thich Nu Hue Dac and children learn foreign languages at a community class in Cam My commune. |
This is a place of study for 140 children of many ethnic and religious backgrounds. Thanks to this class, many rural children, including those who no longer go to school, have a place to learn foreign languages, practice writing and reading Vietnamese, and practice life skills, especially during the summer.
One class - many hands
Classes are held at Hoang Mai Pagoda and An Nhien religious activity site, along with several houses with large grounds in Song Ray commune. During the summer, classes take place in the mornings on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays. During the rest of the year, the children attend classes on the weekends. In addition to the two nuns Thich Nu Hue Dac, there are also two teachers living in Cam My commune participating in the classes.
Nun Thich Nu Hue Dac said: Each child studying in these two classes comes from many different family circumstances, but most of them are children of rubber workers, parents who work on the farm, and some who are self-employed. Both locations of the classes are located in the middle of large fields or rubber gardens and neighbors' houses are quite far apart. Here, on almost every day that they don't go to school, the children play at home. The slightly older children help their parents with the fields and gardens. Some children work part-time in mushroom gardens, pick fruit for hire, etc. Because this area has many streams and lakes, it is easy for the children to invite each other to go swimming in streams, lakes, or fishing without the supervision of their parents. Based on that reality, the two nuns organized this class so that the children have a place to study and play healthily.
Ms. Bui Thi My Dung, a teacher at Xuan My Primary School (Cam My Commune), said: The two classes are about 20km apart. She and another colleague take turns going to each class to teach the children. Because of the devotion of the two nuns, even though there is no budget to teach children in the class, she and her colleagues enthusiastically participate. Because organizing classes like this is very meaningful to be able to tutor local students during the summer, among them are some children in difficult circumstances who are and have been her students.
In addition to studying and participating in activities, children attending these two classes are also provided with breakfast and lunch three times a month. Buddhist nun Thich Nu Hue Dac shared more: Many parents, when seeing the classes being held, occasionally register to provide breakfast for the children. Some breakfast stalls also cook for the children a couple of times. Many families grow squash, pumpkin, and fruit, instead of using it all, they save some together and bring it to make a meal for the children. In addition, local youth also come to guide the children on escape skills, drowning prevention, first aid for insect bites, accident prevention, and first aid related to electricity...
Talking about the two classes that are being maintained, Buddhist nun Thich Nu Hue Dac said: At first, I did not think that the class would have so much support. The class is now no longer just for the founders, but has become a shared class when everyone in the community contributes to take care of the children. This is a great joy for the teachers, because this volunteer work has spread into life.
Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Cam My Commune, Tran Anh Kiet, said: During the classes, the local authorities regularly visited, encouraged and grasped the situation. Through that, it can be seen that in recent years, the community classes conducted by monks and volunteers at 2 locations have been very positive, highly appreciated by parents for helping students have a place to hang out after school hours, practice morality and a healthy lifestyle.
Cultural activities place for rural children
Thanks to the community's cooperation, over the years, children attending the two classes have received much attention and love.
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| Children work in groups at a community class in Song Ray commune. |
Phan Thanh Trong (living in Song Ray commune) is the oldest of five siblings. Every day, Thanh Trong and his three younger siblings go to class to study and play.
Thanh Trong said: I just finished 9th grade. My mother left home. My father went to work far away so he left my 5 siblings to my grandparents to take care of. My grandparents' family is too poor and cannot take care of all 5 siblings. So, I will quit school to go to work and help my grandparents take care of my younger siblings. When I heard this news, the nun Thich Nu Hue Dac advised me to continue going to school because I am still too young, if I go to work I will not earn much money and will ruin my future. But I only asked the nun to let my 3 siblings continue going to class to study, play and help with schoolwork. I will work for local garden owners because my family needs someone to help. In my free time, I will continue going to class to participate in activities.
Nguyen Ngoc Truc My (living in Cam My commune) shared: The two sisters have been attending this class for 4 years. Her family is Catholic, but when they learned about the class organized by nun Thich Nu Hue Dac, her parents brought her and her to apply to join the class. Here, she learned many good things, especially nurturing patriotism, loving family, doing good deeds, and staying away from evil.
For Nong Tuong Vy (residing in Xuan Dong commune) - one of the ethnic minority students in the class, going to class is a great joy. Because her house is located in the middle of vast corn fields, it is very far to find a neighbor's house. And there is no one in the neighbor's house of the same age to play with, so after finishing her homework and housework, she goes to class to study.
The good news of the community class spread far and wide. Many parents in remote communes such as Xuan Dong, Xuan Loc, Xuan Que, and families in neighboring communes in Lam Dong province and Ho Chi Minh City, dozens of kilometers away from the class, still take their children to class every day.
Literature
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202508/lop-hoc-cong-dong-ven-vuon-cao-su-b370e7e/
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