For five years, Mrs. Dao Thi Nhung, residing in Binh Hien Ward, Hai Chau District, Da Nang, has operated a charity class in an effort to make literary dreams come true for many underprivileged children in the city.  

Mrs. Dao Thi Nhung is checking homework for her pupils at the ‘Class of Happiness’

Mrs. Nhung worked as a teacher for 35 years. After retirement, she got actively involved in local social activities. While doing social work in her home ward, she realized that many children in difficult circumstances were eager to study, so she decided to open a free class for them.

Called ‘Class of Happiness’, Mrs. Nhung’s class not only is a place to teach and improve knowledge to help children progress in their studies, but also creates an environment for them to exchange and share knowledge to each other.

On the afternoons of weekends, the ‘Class of Happiness’ right in Ms. Nhung's small house is filled with laughs of nearly 20 pupils of many age groups.

"Because there is only one classroom, I divide pupils into groups from grade 1 to grade 9. Each group will have its own lesson plan and teaching method. I personally guide the pupils according to their level in each lesson," said Mrs.Nhung.

Participating in Mrs. Nhung's class from the first days of establishment, Vu Trong Khang has now had 5 years of studying here without missing any sessions.

Khang confided "Thanks to teacher Nhung’s dedicated guidance and easy-to-understand lectures, I completed all my school assignments well and all my semester exams got high scores".

With 35 years of experience in teaching, the 58-year-old woman seems to understand very well what knowledge her pupils lack and what they need to supplement. At the same time, she also grasps the strengths of each pupil to help them explore, develop, and create initiative in learning and self-development.

Mrs. Nhung always sees her pupils as her children. Not only imparting knowledge, she also takes the time to teach life skills to the children. Therefore, before the lesson starts, the children are all self-aware to come early to clean up the class room and set up tables and chairs.

At the beginning of the new academic year, she often deducts her own meagre income and allowances from social work to buy new books, notebooks, and uniforms for her pupils.

“Many families in difficult circumstances do not have enough money to send their children to private tutoring. Therefore, I want to tutor poor pupils for free so that they are less disadvantaged than their peers” said Mrs. Nhung.

Before each exam, not only does she guide pupils to review their lessons at school, the retired teacher also prepares more questions and exercises to help them improve their knowledge. Thanks to her great dedication and effective teaching methods, pupils can remember the lessons well and make great progress in their studies.

Mrs. Nhung feels happy to see the children progress day by day, know how to love and become useful people for society. "That is the motivation for me to maintain the class until I am no longer healthy enough" Mrs. Nhung added.

Reporting by MAI LY - Translating by M.DUNG, T.TUNG