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 often felt inferior to 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 female student about 9 years old, skinny and dark, with worn-out clothes but a bright and energetic face, playing with her friends in the school yard. Upon asking, he learned that it was Dang Thi Phu (from Ngoc Son commune), the daughter of teacher Thanh's elementary school friend - who had passed away a few days before.

Knowing that his family’s circumstances were extremely difficult, Mr. Thanh directly met with Phu’s homeroom teacher and offered to pay for his contributions throughout the school year; at the same time, he also provided 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 came to encourage and support all tuition fees and extra classes. From grades 8 to 12, Mr. Thanh called on another friend to join in supporting Phu's tuition fees. Since he started university, he has continued to receive 1 million VND per month in support.

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 south to work

Once when visiting the 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 suggested that he 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 the 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 and learn the 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. 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 grader 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, schoolbags... He is always close to me and always encourages me in my studies as well as in life. No matter what difficulties I have, he always asks, shares and cares for me a lot. I really appreciate him!”

In 2020, teacher Tran Nam Thanh was appointed as Principal of Quynh Lam B Primary School. Wherever he goes, whatever the circumstances, Mr. Thanh always lives in harmony, is friendly with friends and colleagues and has many activities for the community. “Within my ability, I am willing to support and accompany the lives of poor students, sponsor disadvantaged and orphaned students. The same goes for the poor, whatever I can do for them, I will do. I do charity work with all my heart and only do it within my ability. Fortunately, I have the support of relatives and friends in my charity work,” Mr. Thanh confided.

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

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong - teacher at Quynh Lam B Primary School said: “I used to be very sick, my family's circumstances 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. This amount of money helped me have money 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, antiseptic water... to support people and at epidemic control checkpoints, concentrated quarantine areas of 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... Mr. Thanh volunteered to join the relief team to deliver necessities to households isolated by deep flood water. 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.

Mr. 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 have 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) when it has completed its tasks excellently; the unions have achieved strong results.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Dung - Chairman of Quynh Lam Commune People's Committee (Quynh Luu) shared that teacher Tran Nam Thanh has done many meaningful things for the community, especially for 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 Mr. 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./.