A small school located on Ung Van Khiem Road, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City provides a second chance for over 80 children.

Teacher Pham Thi Ngoc Doan

Pupils in this school have milk for break time

Pham Thi Ngoc Doan shared some of her memories from the school. Once, a little boy threw a huge brick at his mother and kept shouting at her because she forced him to go to school. His father had abandoned him when he was still young but with with patience, love and care, after one year, Doan made him understand that this school was his second home.

In normal schools, teachers cannot remember all the details on their pupils but here, Doan and other teachers know very well about the families of each one.

Some of them were abandoned by their parents, others live with their grandparents or uncles. They are sent to this school because they will be taken care of without paying any money.

Doan and her colleagues have worked hard for 9 years to help them change their destinies.

They are given nice clothes to wear and milk to drink. Doan helps a woman to look after her 12 year old son and helps 3 children whose mother has been put in jail.

In addition, Doan helped a girl named Huong Lan to have health insurance to cover her heart operation and now Lan has been recovering and is attending her class. Lan does not have a father.

Doan always received support from unknown compassionate donors who believe that this school could bring these disadvantaged pupils a better life. Everyday, she delivers donated rice, noodles and other essential food to needy families.

“It’s very painful for me when I find out that any pupil had been absent from my class,” said Doan.

The teaching staff in this school goes to work in the evening to earn money because they spend the whole day with their pupils.

With the help from these dedicated teachers, strong-minded pupils here may overcome their challenges to have a brighter future.