Thoong and other women in the commune arduously learn to read after dinner on every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. “I find it challenging but still try my best, as it will make my life better,” she said.

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An officer of Ba Tang Border Guard Station is teaching students.

Born and raised in Hong Tun village of Sa Mouay district, Saravane province in Laos, Thoong married a Vietnamese husband in A Doi Do village and became a Vietnamese citizen 6 years ago. At the age of 25, she suffers a lot due to year-round strenuous housework and illiteracy. The literacy class has helped her and other women in the village realize their dream of knowing how to read and write.

According to Captain Ho Van Huu, Chief of the Mass Mobility Team at Ba Tang Border Guard Station, many Van Kieu ethnic women and Laotians marrying Vietnamese husbands in A Doi commune are illiterate. Since 2021, the station has coordinated with the Women’s Union organization of A Doi commune to organize literacy classes for more than 60 women. With border guards as teachers, students could read, write, and do some simple calculations after six months.

“Thanks to the class, the women’s life skills have improved. Knowing how to read and write, they easily grasp the guidelines and policies of the Party and the State. The military-people solidarity has been consolidated,” said Ho Thi Thieng, Vice President of the Women’s Union organization of A Doi commune.

The students’ hard work and devotion of the soldier-teachers are really impressive. There will be more literacy classes in the future, which shows the responsibility and the sharing spirit of border troops as well as efforts to overcome difficulties of ethnic minorities in border areas.

Translated by Minh Hieu - Chi Cuong - Thu Ha - Khanh Linh