For nearly a year, Thanh Khe District’s Thac Gian Ward Chapter of the Da Nang Women's Union has worked with volunteers to open free English and drawing classes for poor children. These classes have also provided the children with essential life skills through various engaging and meaningful extracurricular activities.

Poor children attending a free class. Photo: X.D

The free English and drawing classes open on Mondays, Fridays, Sundays in the late afternoon at a community facility located in the Trung Binh A3 residential area, Thac Gian Ward, Thanh Khe District. Initiated by the Party cell of Trung Binh A3 residential area, free English classes which were taught by volunteers open to children in difficult circumstances in order to help them improve their foreign language skills. From 2023, these classes were organized by the residential area’s women organization.

There are two free English classes for primary and junior high school students, and these classes open on Friday and Sunday evenings, while a drawing class opens on Friday afternoons.

Each class accommodates 12-15 students, the majority of whom are from local poor families. Thus, these free classes serve as support extension for poor families because of easing financial burden on these families.

Despite being free English classes, their taught curriculum meets international standards while free drawing class is taught by a teacher who specializes in the provision of architecture and art education. This ensures that the quality of teaching and learning in these classes is elevated, as evidenced by the remarkable improvement in the trainees' academic performance at school. One unique feature of these classes is that the teachers are not professional educators, but they show enthusiasm and love for poor children.

English teacher Nguyen Tuan Nam, 28, a resident of Quang Tri Province, highlighted the importance of engaging the children in learning English so that they can perceive it as a compulsory subject in school. Accordingly, English lessons invariably incorporate elements of fun and creativity. This approach has spurred students to be diligent in their studies, with many arriving at the classroom an hour early in anticipation of the session.

"We are committed to doing our utmost to ensure that these children can develop a strong foundation during their learning journey, helping them have a brighter future," Mr. Nam shared.

To further motivate poor children to achieve better academic results, the women organization of Thac Gian Ward has offered class uniforms, and given gifts to them on the occasion of the International Children's Day (June 1), as well as honoured outstanding students who had achieved good academic performance.

Furthermore, heed has been paid to engaging these children in singing and dancing performances in school and their local residential area.

Apart from attending these free classes, poor children have a chance to participate in outdoor painting sessions, and communicate with foreigners in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province to improve their English speaking skills. In addition, they are equipped with life and communication skills in a bid to boost confidence in them to encourage them to take on tasks they show interest in, then make sure they follow through to completion.

The Ward’s women organization aims to open more such a class in their local area in an attempt to support disadvantaged children to be useful and contribute to society in the future
 

Reporting by THIEN DUYEN - Translating by HOAI TRANG