Classes for poor children in the heart of the city

Green Light is a free class of the Youth Union of Ward 6, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City. The class was established to create opportunities for children in difficult circumstances to study.

The classrooms are small and the facilities are lacking, but the children never complain, because for them, going to class is the most anticipated time of the day.

Simple classroom but full of laughter

While cleaning the bookshelves in the classroom, Nguyen Hoang Bao Long confided that he has lived with his grandmother since he was little. Thanks to his grandmother's spring roll cart, Long was able to go to school, and this year he is entering 4th grade.

"I'm happy to be able to go to school. My family is poor so I don't dare ask my grandmother to let me take extra classes like other children. In my free time, I help my grandmother sell goods, and at night I take advantage of the opportunity to study extra by myself," Long said.

When she heard about the free class, her grandmother signed Long up. For over 3 months, the boy has not missed a day of school, always arriving early to clean up and review his lessons.

Long smiled and said: "Since studying here, my math and Vietnamese have improved a lot. I also have many new friends. It's so much fun!"

Every day when he comes to class, Bao Long takes out the newspaper to read with his friends.

As a main teacher, Mr. Le Tan Phat, a teacher at the Practice High School - Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, said that it is very difficult to motivate students to go to school, and it is even more difficult to keep them going to school regularly. Most of them come from difficult circumstances, even having to follow their parents to earn a living. When daily meals are still lacking, studying is a luxury.

"Currently, the class has about 15 elementary students. For convenience, I divide the class into 2 separate groups. During the summer, the class maintains 2-3 sessions every evening. During the school year, I will be flexible with teaching hours on weekends" - Mr. Phat said.

Holding the bag of candy that the students had just given him, Mr. Phat continued: "The children in this class are innocent but also have a lot of experience with life. Instead of playing with dolls and superheroes, they have to work hard outside to make a living. Sometimes, just reading a story in Nhi Dong newspaper can make them laugh all day."

After teaching at the Practical High School - Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, Mr. Phat quickly ate and caught a bus to be on time for his class at the Green Light class.

Students participate in many experiential activities.

Mr. Phat confided that he had to learn to listen more, learn to become a friend to understand his special students. He spent 1/3 of the class time organizing games, cultivating life skills or simply listening to students confide about their daily lives.

"This is a very sensitive age. Not only do children have economic difficulties and shortages, but their mental life also needs a lot of care. Adults must have appropriate teaching methods for them to develop well," Mr. Phat pointed out.

Rewarding students with outstanding achievements in the summer semester 2024

Mr. Nguyen Dang Tri Nghia, Secretary of the Youth Union of Ward 6, said that the locality still has many difficult circumstances, including disabled children, ethnic minorities, and some children who have to follow their parents to earn a living and have to leave school unfinished.

"The establishment of the class is necessary. In addition to helping children learn to read, write and do basic calculations, the class also teaches them skills to protect themselves, distinguish between right and wrong, and avoid being lured and taken advantage of by bad people to do illegal things," Mr. Nghia emphasized.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/lop-hoc-cho-tre-em-ngheo-giua-long-thanh-pho-196240830144637451.htm