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| Rain or shine, the older and younger women consistently attend the evening class |
Determination
Mrs. Nguyen Thi Yem, 67 years old, who lives in Residential Area 5, Duong No Ward, is busy selling goods as customers bustle in and out to make purchases. After each item is sold, Mrs. Yem carefully records it in her notebook. Her calculations are sometimes still slow, but she carefully forms each letter, keeping her handwriting neat.
Her work selling goods is now much easier, as she can record the items customers buy and the money she receives herself. For Mrs. Yem, who once could not read nor write, those written records are a treasured achievement after a long journey of diligent learning. “Before, I could not read or write, which made things very inconvenient. Since attending classes and learning to read and write, selling goods has become much easier for me,” Mrs. Yem shared.
Three years ago, when the Women’s Union branch in Residential Area 5 encouraged her to join a literacy class, Mrs. Yem hesitated. At that time, she was already 64 and could not help worrying that she was too old, would forget what she had just learned, and would be unable to keep up.
But then, she decided to overcome her hesitation and attend the class. Starting with the first letters of the alphabet, she persevered in learning to read and write and practicing simple calculations. The unfamiliar letters gradually became familiar. After three years of effort, Mrs. Yem can now read fluently, write proficiently, and perform basic calculations.
After feeding her 10-month-old baby and asking the grandmother to look after the child, Duong Thi Thu Kien, born in 1999, who works as a seamstress, hurries to class. Although household responsibilities and earning a living keep her busy, she still makes an effort to set aside time for learning. Having attended the class for just one week, Kien can already read and write many letters. For her, these are valuable steps forward.
For this young mother, learning to read and write is not only about gaining literacy but also about building confidence and being able to support her child’s learning. “Before, at home, when we had free time, my husband would teach me a few letters. But since joining the class, I have been learning more systematically. There is still a long future ahead, so I will try to study very diligently to become literate like my peers. Once I can read and write, my world will open up more,” Kien shared.
The two literacy classes in Residential Area 5 - one at Grade 3 level, whose learners have been studying for three years, and another that began just one week ago - currently have 18 learners, most of whom are women who are homemakers, vendors, or casual workers. Some are elderly, while others are raising young children. Some are starting with the very first letters of the alphabet, while others can already read fluently and write proficiently. But what they share is their determination.
Ms. Vo Thi Thu Phuc, a teacher at the Area 1 Center for Vocational and Continuing Education, said: “The women, both older and younger, are very diligent. Rain or shine, they come to class without missing a day. In the Grade 3 class, the learners can generally read fluently, write proficiently, and perform basic calculations. The Grade 1 class only started a week ago, but the learners are also making a great effort.”
Support Along the Way
Keeping the literacy classes running regularly requires not only the efforts of learners and teachers but also the involvement and support of local authorities and the Women’s Union.
Ms. Le Thi Thuy, head of the Women’s Union branch in Residential Area 5, said that to encourage learners to attend, union staff spent considerable time visiting each household to explain the classes and persuade people to join. “Many people come forward on their own to ask to study, but many older people are hesitant. Some women cannot arrange the time because of household responsibilities. Union staff have to persist in encouraging them so they feel confident enough to attend,” Mrs. Thuy recounted.
In addition to encouraging learners to attend, the Women’s Union works with local authorities to provide the attention and necessary support to keep the classes running. Learners receive books, notebooks, pens, and other learning supplies. Support is also provided for classroom expenses, including electricity bills. This support helps ease some of the difficulties the women face in attending class, especially those who must also worry about earning a living.
Some learners in the Grade 3 class have even gained the confidence to register for the driving test and have obtained motorcycle licenses. With the ability to read and write, many of the women are gradually becoming more confident in their daily lives.