A class at a charity class in Binh Trung Dong ward, Thu Duc city (HCMC). Photo: Minh Anh.

Consolidate knowledge

Entering the summer, from Monday to Saturday afternoons, the charity class in Binh Trung Dong ward, Thu Duc city (HCMC) led by Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy (69 years old) is crowded with children coming to study. The special class has been established for more than 10 years. Over the years, with the love and dedication of Ms. Thuy, volunteer teachers and benefactors have helped children who do not have the conditions to go to school to learn to read and write. In particular, many students studying at primary and secondary schools in the area have reviewed and consolidated their knowledge when studying here, so they progress faster in their studies. “On normal days, the class has only about 50 children attending, but during the summer, the number increases to about 80. Half of them are children studying at primary and secondary schools in Binh Trung Dong ward. Children studying at local schools who come to the charity class are mostly of average academic ability. Those who only attend the class often come from difficult circumstances. However, during the learning process, with the care and education of teachers and volunteers, many children have made rapid progress in their studies, learning letters and calculations. In particular, they are very obedient and polite to adults,” Ms. Thuy shared. In Bien Hoa City (Dong Nai), in mid-June 2024, the charity class led by Venerable Thich An Thuan (Phap Tuyen Buddhist Temple, Ward 4B, Trang Dai Ward) opened its doors to welcome children to study. Like every year, the time when students in Bien Hoa City are on summer vacation is also the time when preparations for opening classes are in the final stages. According to Venerable Thich An Thuan, the class currently has 30 students registered to study during the summer and 9 volunteers who are teachers in Dong Nai province have contacted to teach the children. “This summer of 2024 is the 4th year the class has been organized. The children in the class all have a common point of being from poor families, following their parents from the Central region to the area. The class teaches Math and English. In addition to reviewing knowledge for children from grades 1 to 9, the class also teaches children who do not have the conditions to study at school to read, write, do math, write and have necessary social knowledge. Like every year, on the opening day of the school year, the pagoda will give students notebooks and pens for them to study,” Venerable Thich An Thuan said.

Children's class at Phap Tuyen Buddhist Temple, Trang Dai Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai. Photo: Minh Anh

Officers of Long Hoa Border Guard Station (Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City) instruct children on first aid in case of drowning. Photo: Minh Anh

Skill training

In addition to helping poor children learn to read and write, the charity class at Phap Tuyen Buddhist Temple also equips them with many life skills. According to Venerable Thich An Thuan, along with teaching culture, teachers also integrate basic knowledge about skills and methods of handling situations so that children know how to protect themselves, the environment, and have responsibilities to their families and society. In Can Gio district (HCMC), to equip students with drowning prevention skills, the Long Hoa Border Guard Station Youth Union (HCMC Border Guard) continues to open a "swimming class, community drowning prevention" for children in Long Hoa commune (Can Gio district). This is the 4th year that the soldiers of Long Hoa Border Guard Station have coordinated with the Long Hoa Commune Youth Union to organize this model for primary school age children. The swimming class operates from June to mid-August 2024. The model not only helps children improve their health and practice drowning prevention skills, but is also a meaningful sports activity, a safe and useful playground. According to Lieutenant Le Tuan Anh - Deputy Captain of the Mass Mobilization Team of Long Hoa Border Guard Station, because Long Hoa commune has many ponds, lakes, rivers and canals, the families are mainly in difficult circumstances, working in fishing, and students on summer vacation lack a playground. Therefore, the unit mobilized the Phuong Nam Tourist Area Management Board to support a swimming pool; officers, soldiers, union members and teachers of schools in the area to participate in teaching swimming and drowning prevention skills for free, combined with propaganda and education on sovereignty over seas and islands, and protection of the marine environment for primary school students. “The class is held every Thursday and Saturday afternoon. Currently, there are over 30 children registered to attend this class. When participating, children will be equipped with basic knowledge so that if they are unfortunate enough to encounter an accident, they can save themselves; instructed on skills to ensure safety in water, first aid for drowning people; remind children to only swim in places with people and rescue equipment; comply with swimming pool regulations, warn of potential drowning risks in the area...”, Lieutenant Le Tuan Anh said. Colonel Nguyen Van Tien - Deputy Political Commissar of the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard informed that in addition to swimming classes, every summer, Long Hoa Border Guard Station also opens free English classes that attract many children to participate. Notably, not only this unit, for many years now, the program of opening cultural knowledge classes, vocational training and life skills training for children, students, and people in coastal border areas has been regularly organized by units in the Ho Chi Minh City Border Guard force and has brought positive results.