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Educating The Poor: Tinh Thuong Community School
Every child deserves an education.
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Children of poorer families in Vietnam are often deprived of a decent avenue of obtaining a basic education which would provide them with a brighter future and the opportunity to gain employment and live gainful lives.
In Vietnam, children from poorer families are usually required, at a very early age, to seek menial work or beg in the streets to help support the family income depriving them of the ability to attend normal schools during daytime hours.
In Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) an after-hours Community School has been established to provide education for poor children after they had worked during the day. The school was established by Mr Hung Doan with support from his wife commencing with only five students and conducts classes on a daily basis between 5:30 and 7:30pm providing lessons and meals.
Since inception, the number of students has increased to 80 with several graduates gaining meaningful employment which include hairdressing and motor mechanic apprenticeships. Apart from the school founder (Mr Hung Doan), lessons are also conducted by student teachers from a local university and provides them with invaluable hands-on experience for their future careers.
Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA) has supported the school for several years with financial contributions assisting with the rental costs of the premises.
On a recent trip to Vietnam in August 2022, by a small group from AHHA, a visit to the school provided an insight into the school’s operations and conversations with the students and teachers indicated gratitude for the support provided by AHHA and its sponsors and supporters. AHHA appreciates the work carried out by the school and will continue its support ensuring poor and needy children in Vietnam can gain a basic education to enable a better future.
AHHA has been conducting an Education Sponsorship Program for several years, and apart from the Tinh Thuong School, has provided financial support to needy children for several years both in Vietnam and Cambodia and will continue to do so.
