An official in Danang City has been running a free literacy class for local women who make a living by gathering metal scraps for over two years.
An’s class for disadvantaged women
Nguyen Thi An, Chairwoman of Khanh Hoa Ward’s Women Union, set up the class in Lien Chieu District. Most of the learners are in their 30s and 40s.
An said, “Working in this field, I have the opportunity to meet with a wide range of women from different classes. Many of them are illiterate due to economic difficulties. They have a hard time understanding and signing documents when it is required. That's why I decided to open this class.”
She got approval from local authorities to set up the class and received some funding to buy teaching and learning materials. Surprisingly, however, it has not been easy to persuade women to attend class.
“Most of them make a living by gathering metal scraps. At the end of the day they are tired and many would prefer to rest rather than go to a class. Also, a lot of them don't want others to know that they cannot read,” she shared.
In order to persuade them to come, An had to make a number of house visits. Even though most of the husbands were not supportive, in the end her patience won the women over.
The class has been going for two and a half years now. The women are now studying at a third grade level. An intends to finish the first class before starting a new one.
Lessons are combined with examples of people improving their lives to keep the women motivated to attend class regularly.
Apart from sharing in both the milestones and disappointments in these women's lives, An has made efforts to get funding to organise picnics on special occasions like International Women’s Day or Vietnamese Women’s Day, plus some gifts for Tet.
All of the women attending the class have gained basic reading and writing skills. They are also taught some simple math.
One member, Nguyen Thi Phuong, said she is very happy with the results, as now she can help her children with homework.
“I found it a bit difficult to even hold a pen in the first day. But I gradually made progress thanks to An’s guidance. Now I can read just about anything I see. It gives me great confidence,” Nguyen Thi Kim Yen, another learner shared.
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