Truong Khiem Thi - the School for the Blind in Hai Phong

Today I had the opportunity to visit the Blind School, Truong Khiem Thi in Hai Phong. I had heard of the Blind School before as KidsWithout Borders has supported them in the past.  Kids Without Borders is a non-profit based in Sammamish, Washington that both my husband and I have been involved with for several years. 

I will warn you - at the end of this post there is an ask. Ignore that for now and enjoy the photos - pictures tell a thousand words so I thought I would let the pictures tell most of the story.

This young lady is in Art Class - she is "feeling" the wax from the crayon on the paper so she can draw her picture.

 These students are reading. Not all of the students at this school are blind.  Many can see but are at the school because of other disabilities such as Down Syndrome. 

The children learn many things at school, including how to dress themselves.  This young man was getting help learning how to put on a pair shorts.  I don't know how many times I put my pants on backwards, and I can see the label.  There are many things for these youngsters to learn.

Another art class for students who can see - I have so many pictures of this young lady, she is such a ham. A ham with a beautiful smile.

The beds for the live-in students.  I had a hard time adjusting to my Vietnamese bed, but it is far softer by comparison to what most Vietnamese are used to.  The rooms were simple but very, very clean and neat.

 Another important life skill, especially in Vietnam - washing your feet and your sandals.  

Our visit to the kitchen.  Today's lunch was thit lon (pork) and lots of rice and vegies.  It smelled so good. I don't know why I am always so hungry here, but I am.  No wonder I haven't lost 10 pounds like John has.

Back at the computer lab.  The students listen to what they have typed to hear if they have done it correctly.  One of the items that the headmaster was asking for was better software for the students.  I am hoping one of our techie friends can help me with some suggestions.

One of the teachers is a former student - here he is helping this young lady with the game she is playing.  The screen doesn't matter to them, it is the sounds.  We were surprised that they didn't have any headphones - but then I noticed the very worn ones on the computer in the photo below.  I don't know if you can see the frayed wires taped back together.

As always, the "official" photo. Us ladies are in the back and then left to right on the bottom row is the headmaster from the Blind School Mr. Nguyen Van Chuyen, the headmaster from QSI International School in Haiphong, Dr. Maynard Yutzy (from Kansas) and Ms. Cuc from the Blind School 

The Blind School of Hai Phong was established in 1991.  They currently have 136 children.  Of the 136, 17 are younger children who the teachers visit at their homes for a home study and 22 are being supported as they move onto secondary school. Which leaves 97 who are currently attending classes at the school. Of the 97 students 39 live at the school full time. For the live in students it costs about $1,000,000 VND or $50 to house them.  The government covers almost 50% of the monthly fees.  The rest is paid by the families, or the teachers who go to businesses asking for supplies and funding for the students whose parents can't afford to pay for the tuition. 

One of the things that really bothered me was only the brightest students go on to secondary school.  They go to a "normal" high school. The others are left to go home after primary without much to look forward to.

One of the programs of Kids Without Borders is the Teach Me Fish Program.  This program helps to provide training so that disadvantage youth don't have to depend on others for help for the rest of their lives.  This works well with what the ask is for the Blind School.  We are hoping to raise $4000 to pay for speakers. It turns out that many of these students are musically gifted.  With the speakers the students are able to offer more recitals, which allow for the school to share their work and often results in extra funding. Also, by encouraging the children to learn music, they are learning a skill which they can use to support themselves with after graduating from school.  

There are not many opportunities yet in Vietnam for anyone with disabilities, but that continues to change. Vietnam is slowing moving from a developing country into a developed country, although it still has a long way to go.  The gift of education and the opportunity to learn a valuable skill makes such a difference here, and it is usually quite affordable to change someone's life.  

Kids Without Borders has offered to help with the fundraising.  If you are able to donate any amount towards the speakers please go to http://kidswithnoborders.org/donate0.aspx for a tax dedicutable donation. Put Blind School Project in the designation section.   The drive ends in just a couple of weeks, so please don't wait too long.  Also - if you know of any organization that has developed software for blind students, please send me the link.  

We will also have a fundraiser here, probably at our house.  Let me know if you are going to be in the area and I will be sure to get you an invitation.