Mr. Hung and students during a reading session at the zero-cost reading space – Photo: CHI CONG
This meaningful reading space belongs to Mr. Huynh Thanh Hung - owner of Doctor Farm in Long Thanh commune (Giong Rieng district, Kien Giang).
From the center of Rach Gia City, we drove along Highway 61 and it took us nearly an hour to reach Long Thanh Commune. The local people depend on farming for their living, so they still face difficulties.
Understanding the hardships and deprivation of the people here and also the desire to create a reading and playing space for the students, Mr. Hung spent billions of dong to "transform" his family's 6-hectare land into a Doctor Farm with many areas, such as the old house, rice fields, vineyards, fish ponds, cajuput gardens... And especially did not forget to reserve a part of the area as a free reading space for students.
“Seeing many children addicted to playing games, I came up with the idea of creating this reading space to help students in the countryside have more useful playgrounds to read books, draw pictures, and experience life,” Mr. Hung happily said.
And now, the reading space has become a meeting place for students every Saturday and Sunday.
“Reading books will broaden children’s minds, help them learn how to think, how to be a good person, how to behave and gain more knowledge. Just thinking about that makes me happy. I plan to build more swimming pools, hire swimming teachers and connect with schools so that children can learn to swim and prevent drowning,” Mr. Hung said.
As for students coming to this reading space, they also find a place to socialize and make friends besides reading books.
“On Saturdays and Sundays, I come here to play, read books and interact with friends. I learn a lot of useful knowledge, meet new friends and communicate more confidently,” said Chuong Le Nguyen Khoi, a student of class 5/1 at Long Thanh Primary and Secondary School.
“I often ask my parents to let me come here on weekends. I don’t understand the lessons in class, so I can ask the teacher and my friends for help,” said Tran Thi Thuy Trang, a student at Long Thanh Primary and Secondary School, sitting next to Khoi.
In addition to reading books, children can also ask questions because there are volunteers like Ms. Phan Thi Pho who act as both a manager and an "unprofessional" teacher to guide the children.
“Coming here, the children feel very comfortable. They read books, draw pictures, play together, tell each other stories about school and class, and socialize,” Ms. Pho shared.
Being a doctor, Mr. Hung only has time to bring his family here on Saturdays and Sundays. Every time he and his wife come, they bring a familiar “gift” of meals to invite the children. Today’s meal has shrimp, squid, fish cakes, and beef balls, so the children really like it.
“I consider the students here as my children. After reading, they will eat and have enough energy to freely experience and play…”, Mr. Hung said.
Experience and learn about Vietnamese culture from the reading space
Next to the study space is an old house that Mr. Hung built in the architectural and cultural style of the Southern people. In this old house, he collected many items such as: a scale, an iron, a set of tables and chairs, a sewing machine... The old house is where he preserves the cultural beauty of the Southern people with the hope that "When students come to visit and experience, they will have a perspective and knowledge that connects the past and present".
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