So far this year, due to the impact of the COVID pandemic, many of the families we work with in Vietnam have lost their jobs because of restrictions on movement, travel, and trade and lost their harvest season due to weather disasters, all of which have pushed them further into poverty.
In Vay Nua commune, Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, Grade 3 student Quynh helps her parents with farm work every day after school. Her parents are both farmers earn approximately €150 per month to support their family. Farm work coupled with the responsibility of looking after her little sister means that Quynh often doesn’t have much time to study and as a result her grades her fell.
“She is a good child and studies all by herself but her grades are not good, especially in English, as she does not have much time to practice,” explains her mother. However, thanks to your support, we’ve been able to establish Children’s Clubs in schools for students like Quynh to improve their grades. Since Quynh joined the English Club at her school, she’s taken to inviting friends over to her house after school so they can do English exercises together and sing along to English songs.
The English Club is one of many new clubs in Quynh’s school and others such as the Reading Club, Soccer Club, Badminton Club and Performing Club are all focused on getting students to actively participate in lessons and learning and to work together to foster teamwork and friendship as well as better learning outcomes. “I love participating in the English Club as I can make friends with students from other classes”, says Quynh. “I feel much more confident and my vocabulary is expanded.”
Aide et Action introduced the clubs in 2020 in an attempt to introduce new ways of learning that may bridge some of the learning gaps emerging during Covid-19. Ms. Huong, an English teacher, and the woman behind the English Club in Quynh’s school says the club is attracting the attention of students of all ages and classes and through its focus on learning through doing (instead of rote learning) is leading the children to develop important life skills. “All of the students have good communications and teamwork skills now, especially Quynh, she’s one of the outstanding students, » she says.
Through a holistic approach to education, we’re pleased to share stories of marginalised students who are enjoying their schooldays and their childhood despite demanding home lives and challenges during Covid-19.
