Here, words become the key to opening the journey to rebuild life for those who have made mistakes.
The journey of white chalk...
On June 2, at the Lai Chau Province Drug Rehabilitation Center, a special literacy class officially opened with 31 students. They are not ordinary students, but former addicts who are trying to get treatment, recover and prepare for their journey of reintegration into society. This class was jointly organized by the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department of Lai Chau Province Police, the Drug Rehabilitation Center, local authorities and the Association of Former Teachers.
Ms. Do Thi Oanh - President of the Association of Former Teachers of San Thang Commune, Lai Chau City, who has been away from chalk and blackboard for more than 15 years, is one of the first teachers to accept to teach. "I consider this a good and humane thing. Even though I am retired, my knowledge may fade away, but I will try to convey it in the easiest way for students to understand and remember," Ms. Oanh shared.
In a space without the laughter of students, projectors or honor boards, there is only white chalk, blackboards and the sparkling eyes of the desire to learn of people who have lost their way. They come from all over the province, carrying dark pasts but sharing a simple wish: To learn to read and write to rebuild their lives.
One of them is Mrs. Vang Thi Ninh (63 years old, Huoi Cay village, Ta Gia commune, Than Uyen district). She never went to school because of her poor family background, her life drifted in addiction. "Having the teachers hold my hand and teach me, I feel like I am reborn, like I have a chance to start over", she emotionally expressed.
Similarly, Mr. Bui Van Phong (born in 1985, Son Duong district, Tuyen Quang ) confided: "Now that I can return to the blackboard and white chalk, receiving encouragement from teachers and staff, I feel like I have found light after a series of dark days."
The idea of opening this literacy class originated from Major Bui Van Tuong - Director of the Drug Rehabilitation Center. Mr. Tuong believes that "learning to read and write is learning to be a human being", which is a prerequisite for students to access social values. The class will last from 3 to 6 months, three sessions per week, with the goal of helping students improve their knowledge, improve their life skills and most importantly, regain the confidence and will to overcome themselves of those who have lost their way.
The one who sows letters, sows faith
Not only are there former teachers in the classroom, the class also has a special assistant, Mr. Tan Xoang Son. Originally a teacher in the mountainous area of Sin Ho district, Son was once imprisoned for the mistake of helping a friend buy heroin. After being released from prison, losing his job, feeling depressed, he fell back into the cycle of addiction. After three years of struggling to survive, Son voluntarily applied for drug rehabilitation. Now, when he is able to return to the podium in a special way, he sees this as an opportunity to redeem the past.
“Looking at the illiterate students, I realized that I needed to change, try harder and be determined to practice to do it again. Having taught a class before, I understand how important reading and writing are in a person’s life,” Son shared.
Learning about the class, many people also witnessed other stories about the journey to rebuild their lives. Such as the case of student Vang Mo Cho, a La Hu ethnic in Pa U commune, Muong Te district, a young man besieged by addictions, who had never known how to hold a pen to write. When first instructed to write, Mr. Cho fumbled, shifting the pen from his right hand to his left hand without knowing how to hold the pen to write. After a few lessons, from his left hand used to using a knife to clear the fields, he switched to his right hand and was able to write numbers from 1 to 9.
“I held Cho’s hand and guided each stroke. Seeing his progress was a great motivation for the whole class,” Ms. Oanh recalled.
As for Phung Van Dinh (37 years old, Muong Than commune, Than Uyen district), who has never been to school during more than 20 years of being lost in life, the classroom is the last hope for Dinh to approach civilized life. "Now I hope to be able to read and write to understand more and live better. After successfully quitting drugs, I want to become a useful citizen," Dinh said with determination.
Literacy - a bridge to escape poverty and reintegration
The journey of learning to read and write of people who were once forgotten is proving one thing: Knowledge does not discriminate against age, past or status. Each letter learned is a step forward to overcome inferiority complex, towards a new life.
Opening a class is not only an educational activity, but also has great social significance. It is a sharing, an extension of the community, from teachers who have been attached to the career of educating people, to police officers and soldiers devoted to drug rehabilitation work.
From that small classroom, each line has rewritten fates that seemed to be torn apart. Hands that once lost their way are now learning to write their own names, as a way to redefine their lives.
“We hope that this class will be maintained and expanded, so that the act of eliminating illiteracy does not stop at imparting knowledge, but also inspires confidence and gives strength to students on their journey back to their families and society. Through the seeds of letters, students will not only learn to read and write, but also gradually raise their awareness, confidently access social services and proactively escape the vicious cycle of poverty, backwardness and relapse,” Major Bui Van Tuong shared.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/lop-hoc-thap-sang-hy-vong-post737528.html
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