Receiving two sets of pure white ao dai from her teachers, Nguyen Thi Bao Ngoc (Hoang Van Thu High School, Quang Ngai City) was moved to tears.

“This gift gives me more motivation to try to study better. I am really grateful to Mr. Nghia. I will try to study hard, not let my teachers down, and later have a stable job to be able to take care of my grandparents,” Ngoc said.

Her father passed away and her mother left when she was only 6 months old. Ngoc currently lives with her elderly grandparents in a dilapidated house, lacking everything. For many years, Ngoc has been connected with philanthropists by Mr. Luong Thach Nghia (former teacher at Duc Thang Secondary School) who regularly supports and "sponsors" her studies.

Ngoc and 11 other female students were excited when Mr. Nghia gave them uniforms for the new school year.

Image 2.jpeg
Bao Ngoc was excited when Mr. Nghia gave her a new ao dai. Photo: Character provided

This is the 7th consecutive year the retired teacher has given ao dai to disadvantaged female students when they enter 10th grade.

Accompanying him were teacher Huynh Thi Thuy Diem (Duc Thang Primary School, Mo Duc district) and teacher Huynh Thi Thu Truong (Thu Xa High School, Tu Nghia district).

Looking at his students happily wearing new clothes, Mr. Nghia reminisced about old stories.

In 2018, when he stopped by a friend's tailor shop and saw a mother bringing her daughter who had just passed grade 10 to have an ao dai made for school, he suddenly felt sad when thinking about the circumstances of his two former students.

“Nhu Quynh’s father is seriously ill, her mother works far away from home, she has to live with her grandmother. As for Kim Chi, her father had a work accident, her mother has to support the whole family. At that time, I asked and found out that the first day of school was coming, neither of them had a set of ao dai,” said teacher Nghia.

Sharing this concern and receiving sympathy from Ms. Diem, the two teachers together took these two female students to have ao dai made and also gave them more school supplies.

After that time, Mr. Nghia and Ms. Diem determined to maintain the practice of giving Ao Dai to students every year by deducting their salaries and mobilizing benefactors to help. Knowing about this meaningful work, many former students of Mr. Nghia and Ms. Diem also regularly supported.

Image 5.jpeg
Teacher Truong tailors ao dai for students
Image 1.jpeg
Mr. Nghia, Ms. Diem and Ms. Truong check the ao dai before giving them to the students. Photo: Provided by the character

“We have a list of disadvantaged students across Quang Ngai province and have accompanied and supported them for many years. When they enter grade 10, I just need to filter the list and proceed to measure and tailor ao dai for them,” Mr. Nghia shared.

However, because many students live far away, taking each female student to the shop to have beautiful and suitable ao dai made is quite a difficult "problem".

While Mr. Nghia and Ms. Diem were discussing the plan, with her sewing skills, Ms. Truong texted to "ask" to participate and volunteered for this job.

Since then, no matter where the female students are, Ms. Truong and two colleagues travel to their place to measure and directly sew ao dai for them.

“Mr. Nghia and Ms. Diem pay for the fabric, and I pay for the sewing. I always choose the best fabric for the children,” Ms. Truong confided.

Image 3.jpeg
Female students were happy when their teachers gave them Ao Dai before entering 10th grade. Photo: Provided by the character

Just like that, over the past 7 years, more than 150 ao dai sets have been made by 3 teachers and given to poor but studious female students.

In particular, there was a student who was given an ao dai, even though he had just graduated and started working a few months ago, he still saved up and sent 300,000 VND to help his teachers buy fabric.

“This year we made 23 ao dai sets for 12 female students. Each student was given 2 sets, but because one student received a set of ao dai from her cousin, she only asked to receive 1,” said Mr. Nghia.

Not only do they give ao dai to female students, Mr. Nghia, Ms. Diem and Ms. Truong are also “famous” for their charity work. For many years, the three teachers have “sponsored” and awarded scholarships to dozens of poor students and connected with friends to help many people in difficult circumstances and with illnesses.

“I see my students as my own children! Seeing them grow up and study hard is our happiness and motivation to continue this volunteer work,” Ms. Diem confided.

Every afternoon in Ho Chi Minh City , the shop owner wears beautiful ao dai and stands on a stage set up behind the glass window to sing for passersby.