This story is shared by a volunteer tutor who supports D., a child in SCDI's Breaking the Cycle project in Hanoi.

When I first met D., I felt the same way as his family, Ms. Hoa (project collaborator), and the other project’s volunteers: he is a good kid, gentle and well-behaved.  

D. grew up without his father's love. The entire family's well-being depends on the meagre and shaky income from his mother's small hair salon. When the Covid pandemic hit a few years back, the already precarious business became even more challenging. D.'s mother, unable to bear the expensive rent for her small hair salon on the street, had to inconveniently pull her business back into the alley to continue making a living. Perhaps because D. understood his mother's hardships in raising him, he loved his mother very much and always tried his best to study so that his mother's effort would not be in vain. However, for D., studying in class is more challenging than other students. 

The homeroom teacher commented that although D. is diligent in studying, he is not as good at learning. He is very studious and attentive in class, but his grades in all subjects are only average. When I took on the job of tutoring D., the previous volunteer shared that his academic performance was only at grade 6 or 7, while at that time he was in grade 9, which is very close to the threshold of entering high school. However, as his English tutor, I could see D.'s potential after a period of tutoring. Although he is a bit slow, he learns the lessons quite well. His grades are still unsatisfactory because he has not found a suitable learning method.  

Photo: The Volunteering Tutor and D. during a lesson.

Whether it was diligently taking up to ten pages of notes in 40-degree searing afternoons, taking mock exams on chilling winter nights, or even in the final stage of studying 4 consecutive sessions with an average duration of 5 hours each day a week, D. never once complained as both teachers and students encouraged each other to try their best.

While participating in activities organized by SCDI, even though he was a timid child, he still tried his best to participate in all the activities and games organized by the volunteers, even if they were group activities or activities that required long-distance travel. 

Photo: D. participating in the Mid-Autumn Festival program organized by the Breaking the Cycle project

Gradually, all of D.'s efforts bore fruit. In the past, his English test score did not exceed 3 points, but in the first semester exam of grade 9, D. achieved 5.5 points for the first time. Although D. did not take the high school entrance exam like his classmates, he managed to pass the entrance exam of the private high school he dreamed of with 7 points in English. This is one of the things that D. told me he is most proud of. Furthermore, D. decided that he would study in block D when he reached grade 10, even though before he was so afraid of English. This has made not only me but also the other volunteers extremely happy for D.'s daily improvements.

The opportunity of going to school represents a new chapter of life filled with hope and possibilities. However, many less fortunate families require a lot of effort to support their children's education.

Many children struggle to keep up with their lessons, leading to fear, frustration, and low self-esteem. To help, the Breaking the Cycle project provides scholarships, school supplies, nutrition, and ID documents. In addition, the project also finds volunteers to tutor children at home.

The volunteer tutors help children revise class material and answer questions or explain lessons they do not understand. With great enthusiasm and openness toward tutoring, children are more confident when learning in class, gradually reducing their nervousness or boredom. Our volunteer tutors have found suitable approaches to studying, and thanks to that, the children were able to understand and keep up with the curriculum.

The Breaking the Cycle project volunteers are mostly young, so communicating with children becomes easier and more comfortable. Although there were difficulties when they first started tutoring children who were quite shy, gradually the tutors and the children in the project developed a close bond. Children freely share stories about their school, friends, and life. The children have gained a new companion.

The Breaking the Cycle project continues its effort to see the gradual change in children regarding learning capacity and confidence. Giving opportunities and placing faith in them will bring forward a brighter and happier future for less fortunate children.