The Nghien Loan commune located in the Pac Nam district of Bac Kan province is located 230km from the center of Hanoi, taking more than 5 hours in a car journey. It is one of the disadvantaged communes of the Pac Nam district with 100% of the population belonging to ethnic minorities (primarily Dao and Mong) and most of them earning low to extremely low income. Further, their economy and income are largely dependent on breeding livestock and agriculture.
The Nghien Loan Kindergarten is located in the center of the Nghien Loan commune, and hosts a current population of 116 children in 5 auxiliary-kindergartens, the distance between the campuses approximate 2 – 7 km. Out of all the campuses, Coc Quan and Khuoi Vi auxiliary-kindergartens in particular still lack vast schooling supplies. Their lack of learning supplies has managed to catch the attention of local authorities, so the people here have access to good electricity and concrete roads. However, due to the terrain being made up of hills, the road to these two schools can be difficult, with many narrow, steep and curved sections for students to pass by. To access the other buildings, it is necessary to travel mostly by motorbike for 2 km from the main school, which can be tough.
The Coc Quan auxiliary-kindergartens is responsible for 14 children and the Khuoi Voi auxiliary-kindergartens has 11 (age ranging from 3 to 5 years old). Each campuses has 1 class and 1 teacher in charge. Despite the classrooms having been built by the government, there still remains to be many shortages of learning and entertainment supplies for the children, and the lack of learning tools cannot meet basic learning conditions that will ensure good quality growth for young pupils’ inquisitive minds.
With the goal of bringing joy and laughter to the school children on the occasion of the new school year, we at the SEN Charity have continued our mission of “Sharing Love – Connecting the Community” to the two aforementioned campuses. This was officiated on September the 4th, in which representatives from SEN Charity organized the gifting of 25 gift bags including necessary schooling supplies to the 2 classes at the Coc Quan campus.
Upon looking at the eyes of excitement and pure joy, as well as the radiant children’s’ faces when they received the gifts, it made us forget the fatigue felt when we traveled over 200 km to reach the school. Parents and teachers alike were very happy and touched to receive such meaningful gifts before the new school year, as the school children were gifted new toys and school supplies to help supplement their learning years. We at SEN wish the students of Nghien Loan Kindergarten a successful and meaningful new school year that is bountiful in joy.
Translator: Tricia
