Stories: Children, Community, Future

Linh, a 10-year-old girl living in Tan Lac district, Hoa Binh province, is the eldest of two siblings. Linh’s family is not well-off; her father works as a driver, while her mother tends to farming and animal husbandry at home. Since she was little, Linh had shown signs of intellectual delay compared to her peers, which caused her family, especially her mother, Bui Thi Nhien, to worry greatly.

When Linh entered the first grade, Nhien felt extremely stressed and anxious. Her daughter could not keep up with her classmates, causing her both sadness and pressure. “I felt like I was falling into depression because I didn’t know how to help my child,” Nhien shared. The more she worried, the more she scolded Linh, wanting her to catch up quickly with her peers.

Things changed when Nhien learned about training sessions for parents of children with disabilities under the “Ready for Primary School” project. Initially, she did not expect much, thinking it was free, so she joined just to see. However, the knowledge and skills she acquired truly helped her shift her perspective on how to teach Linh.

Through the training sessions, Nhien realised that her daughter needed her patience and calm. “I learned that since my daughter is slower than others, I have to teach her gradually. I don’t push her like before. I’m truly happy seeing her progress little by little,” she shared with joy.

Nhien – Linh’s mother supporting her in her studies at home

Recently, Nhien has also learned how to support Linh’s learning at home and train her in life skills through visual video guides provided by the project. These videos helped her learn how to teach Linh self-care skills and cooperative play. She shared, “The videos are very easy to understand. I apply the knowledge from them to teach and play with my daughter at home. I also know how to encourage and praise her when she does something well.” Thanks to these changes, Linh can now read and perform simple arithmetic.

Nhien using gravel and colorful cards to teach Linh at home

Innocently, Linh shared, “I find it easier to understand when Mom teaches me, and I feel happier. I like doing housework with Mom. She praises me and rewards me with milk.”

From a place of worry and pressure, Nhien now finds joy in seeing her daughter make progress every day. With patience, love, and new knowledge, Nhien and Linh are moving forward together on a journey of hopeful change.

Nhien and her two daughters