Stories: Children, Community, Future

Na Lom is a village in Don Phong commune. There are 62 households living there. All of the residents are Dao, a minority group living mostly in the northern part of Vietnam. Due to the mountainous area, it takes children hours to travel to the communal primary school. For this reason, it would be almost impossible for children to go to school if they have to travel all that long way every day. In July 2013, thanks to ChildFund’s support, a new satellite school was built in Na Lom. The newly built school holds three classes for about 30 primary school students, including one first grade and two combined of four other grades. Together with these three new classrooms for the primary school, ChildFund has supported the community to build one 100m2 classroom including a toilet block and a terrace for 20 preschool children. These classrooms are fully equipped with teaching and learning facilities. The school was also provided with a toilet block, a library and a kitchen, so children can attend full day classes and there is a room for teachers. “Our teachers will now also have better working and living conditions in Na Lom as we now have functional rooms for teachers and a library for children. We can avoid the hard back and forth travelling and stay here all week long to do the job and the children will also have a proper source of reference books and sport equipment to entertain them after school time” said Ms Ly, first grade teacher at Na Lom school. Along with providing fundamental infrastructure, ChildFund has also carried out many education support activities for the school including training the teachers and providing teaching and learning equipment. Since its construction, the new school was able to provide more and more children with a safe and stimulating learning environment. From 2013 to 2017, the number of children attending school in Na Lom has risen from 50 to 66 including 36 primary school students and 30 preschool children. Through the years, the school was still kept in good condition and is well functioning thanks to the great efforts of the students, teachers and parents. “With run-down temporary classrooms in the past, it was so difficult for both family and school to keep children at school. Now, the teaching and studying are made easier with our fully equipped school. We all need to maintain the school, for now for now and for the future,” shared Phan, the fourth and fifth grade teacher.