Village school teacher enthusiastic about charity

Teacher Tran Nam Thanh always cares and shares with students in difficult circumstances. Photo: NVCC

Graduated from the Faculty of Primary Education - Vinh University, in 2004, teacher Tran Nam Thanh taught at Ngoc Son Primary School (Quynh Luu). At that time, he received a small salary but saw many students in very difficult circumstances, they came to class without school supplies, clothes, books and notebooks so they were often self-conscious in front of their friends, teacher Thanh did not hesitate to take out a small amount to buy clothes, bags, books for those in need. There were students who lacked tuition and contributions, he was also willing to help.

In 2014, the teacher saw a skinny, dark-skinned 9-year-old female student with faded clothes but a bright, energetic face playing with her friends in the school yard. Upon asking, she learned that it was Dang Thi Phu (from Ngoc Son commune), the daughter of Mr. Thanh's elementary school friend - who had passed away a few days before.

Knowing that his family was in dire straits, Mr. Thanh met directly with Phu’s homeroom teacher and offered to pay for his contributions throughout the school year; and also to provide guidance and tutoring for him. As expected, at the end of the school year, Phu had the best academic performance in grade 5 at Ngoc Son Primary School.

During primary school as well as when Phu was in grades 6 and 7, Mr. Thanh often visited, encouraged and supported all tuition and extra classes. From grades 8 to 12, Mr. Thanh called on another friend to join in supporting Phu's tuition. Since he started university, he has continued to receive 1 million VND per month.

In 2017, teacher Thanh was transferred to teach at Quynh Giang Primary School. Working far from home, he is still dedicated to volunteer work, always sharing with the unfortunate.

The thing that Mr. Thanh remembers most deeply until now is that he helped a student who dropped out of school to decide to go to vocational school to start a business and now he has succeeded. That is the story of an 8th grade student who dropped out of school because his parents divorced. Due to circumstances, he was forced togo to the south to work

During a visit to his house, the teacher advised the student to choose a path for himself to have a stable future, instead of having to struggle everywhere. The teacher directed him to learn to be a chef or a barber to have more opportunities to find a job and be able to open his own business. After much persuasion, the student went to learn a trade. To help him have a place to eat and live, the teacher contacted a friend in Vinh city to let him stay and take care of the children and do housework. In his free time, he could go to a barber shop or a hair salon to help out and learn a trade.

“After 5 years, she has overcome difficulties and now she has opened a famous hair salon in Vinh city, with 2-3 skilled workers to help her. Her monthly income is from 20-40 million VND. Seeing her success, I am very happy and pleased” - Mr. Thanh happily shared.

A volunteer activity of teacher Tran Nam Thanh. Photo: NVCC

Le Van Thien, a 6th grade student at Quynh Giang Secondary School, said: “I am an orphan. From grade 1 to grade 6, every year I received help from Mr. Thanh with the tuition fee for 2 sessions/day, personal insurance, clothes, school bag... He was always close to me and always encouraged me in my studies as well as in life. No matter what difficulties he had, he always asked, shared and cared for me a lot. I really appreciate him!”

In 2020, teacher Tran Nam Thanh was appointed as Principal of Quynh Lam B Primary School. No matter where he goes or what his circumstances are, Mr. Thanh always lives in harmony and is friendly with friends and colleagues and participates in many community activities. “Within my ability, I am willing to support and accompany the lives of poor students, sponsoring disadvantaged and orphaned students. The same goes for the poor, I do whatever I can for them. I do volunteer work with all my heart and only do what I can. Fortunately, I have the support of relatives and friends in my volunteer work,” Mr. Thanh confided.

Teacher Thanh visited flooded houses to give out necessities. Photo: NVCC

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong - a teacher at Quynh Lam B Primary School said: “I used to be very sick, my family's conditions were difficult, there were times when I thought about quitting my job. But fortunately, Mr. Thanh encouraged and helped me overcome it. He wrote an article on social media about my situation, and many readers sympathized and shared, and supported me with 30 million VND. With this amount of money, I have the funds to pay for treatment and daily medicine. My family is very grateful to Mr. Thanh.”

During the peak of the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control period, Mr. Thanh and his friends spent money to buy food, medical masks, disinfectants, etc. to support people and at epidemic control checkpoints and concentrated quarantine areas in some communes in Quynh Luu district. Most recently, in 2 years (2021 and 2022), heavy rains lasting for many days caused flooding in some communes such as Quynh Lam, Quynh Dien, Quynh Giang, Quynh Hong, etc. Mr. Thanh volunteered to join the relief team to deliver necessities to households isolated by deep floodwaters. He went to each flooded house in the spirit of promptly delivering boxes of instant noodles and drinking water to help people overcome difficulties and floods soon.

Teacher Thanh participates in cooking meals for people in quarantine to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: NVCC

In addition, under the leadership and direction of Mr. Tran Nam Thanh - Principal of the school, the quality of education at Quynh Lam B Primary School has increasingly achieved many outstanding results; the percentage of good and excellent students accounts for more than 53% (increased compared to many previous years). Many students won high prizes in provincial and district level competitions. The school's Party cell has been continuously recognized for completing its tasks well, especially for 2 consecutive years (2021 and 2022) it has completed its tasks excellently; the unions have achieved strong results.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung - Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Lam Commune (Quynh Luu) shared that teacher Tran Nam Thanh has many meaningful works for the community, especially those in difficult circumstances. In particular, he actively participates in the work of encouraging learning, supporting and helping poor students overcome difficulties in the locality. Since teacher Thanh came to work at Quynh Lam B Primary School, the movement as well as the quality of education of the school has been increasingly improved. The school's Party Cell has successfully completed its tasks for many years./.