Supporting schools for children with disables in Mekong delta
The Lawrence S. Ting Foundation started implementing the project “supporting schools for children with disabilities in Mekong delta” so that schools can improve the quality of teaching and learning, facilities and raise caregiver’s awareness.
The project originated from the occasion of the Lawrence S. Ting Foundation donating a computer room to School for children with disabilities in Soc Trang Province. Through observations, the Fund found that the school still lacks equipment for teaching and learning; students with disabilities need more learning materials and intellectual development toys; digital educational materials, teaching methods that have a positive impact on children; most teachers have not been professionally trained in special education; parents do not fully understand the type of disability their children have and have not fully cooperated with the school in educating and caring for them. This situation is also recorded in some schools for children with disabilities in the provinces of Can Tho, An Giang, Ben Tre, and Dong Thap. Since then, the Lawrence S. Ting Foundation decided to build and develop a project called “Supporting schools for children with disabilities in Mekong Delta” with the desire to contribute to improving the quality of education for children with disabilities and help them to integrate into the community. With support from local authorities, this project will be implemented in 5 schools for children with disabilities in 5 provinces of Can Tho, An Giang, and Ben Tre, DongThap, SocTrang.The project is expected to be implemented for 3 consecutive years in order to create educational links between schools – students – parents; at the same time, orient towards the long-term goal of the special education program for children with disabilities, helping them be more confident in life and reducing the burden on their families. The project will follow a 3-year process with 3 main goals:
With support from local authorities, the project “Supporting schools for raising disabled children in the Mekong Delta” will be implemented in 5 schools raising children with disabilities in Can Tho, An Giang, and Ben Tre provinces. Dong Thap, Soc Trang. The project is expected to be implemented for 3 consecutive years in order to create educational links between schools – students – parents. At the same time, towards the long-term goal of a special education program for children with visual, hearing and developmental disabilities so that they can be more confident, integrate into the community and reduce the burden on their families family. The project will focus on improving the capacity and skills of teachers and administrators, supporting facilities to enhance the digital learning environment for children with disabilities; raising awareness and ability to care for children with disabilities for parents/carers.
In order to help teachers supplement knowledge, improve skills and teaching methods, the project will organize 3 courses lasting 300 hours on weekends. Accordingly, teachers need to pass the final exam to meet the requirements to receive a certificate from the Central College of Pedagogy of Ho Chi Minh City.
Mr. Huynh Minh Tuan - Principal of Raising Disabled Children in Soc Trang province shared: “Thanks to 12 sets of computers donated by Dinh Thien Ly Foundation, students with disabilities have the opportunity to have more access to information technology. . Teachers use computers to participate in training and improve information technology for professional work. Currently, the majority of teachers at the school have not been formally trained in special education, but only trained through seminars and self-study. With the training association of the Fund, it will help school teachers improve their professional qualifications, exchange experiences, improve teaching quality, and help students with disabilities integrate into the community better.
Enhancing digital learning environments for children with disabilities
The Foundation will assess the conditions of facilities at 5 schools to promptly support computers, textbooks, learning tools… for the children. At the same time, the Foundation will establish a network of links between schools for children with disabilities so that teachers can share experiences, professional issues or useful documents. Teachers will be supported with training courses related to IT to apply to their teaching. Thereby, teachers can build lectures with images and videos that have visual stimulation and attract students’ attention to make the teaching period more interesting.
Schools still lack learning tools and degraded facilities
Enhancing the awareness of caregivers
Caregivers for children with disabilities can be parents, grandparents, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc., who need knowledge of health and education to accompany the development of their children. Misinformation, family guilt or denial of the ability of children with disabilities will unintentionally create psychological wounds as well as inhibit the child’s development. In addition to education from the school, children with disabilities need to receive support and understanding from relatives and caregivers.
As part of the 3-year plan, the Foundation will coordinate with experts in the field of special education and schools to open classes specifically for caregivers of children with disabilities. Thereby, caregivers will better understand the child’s disability status and be guided on appropriate care; responsibility for the child’s development; the importance of working with schools in the education of children with disabilities. When participating in the workshop, caregivers will be guided on how to care for and psychology of each specific type of disability, access to courses on sign language… Positive stories about the change of children with disabilities, their families, and schools will bring a new perspective and motivate them to rise up.
The project is part of a series of community activities jointly implemented by the Lawrence S. Ting Foundation and Phu My Hung Corporation to continue spreading the spirit of sharing for the community in general and people with disabilities in particular. This is a project with long-term value, in which the support and contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals will be the care and encouragement for the less fortunate to have more strength to rise up in life, reducing the burden on the family and society Foundation and Phu My Hung Corporation to continue spreading the spirit of sharing for the community in general and people with disabilities in particular. This is a project with long-term value, in which the support and contributions from businesses, organizations and individuals will be the care and encouragement for the less fortunate to have more strength to rise up in life, reducing the burden on the family and society.
The Lawrence S. Ting Foundation hopes to receive the companionship and contribution from Phu My Hung residents to create more resources for the project “Supporting schools for children with disabilities in Mekong Delta”.
Please contact:
THE LAWRENCE S. TING FOUNDATION
Floor 4, Crescent Plaza 105 Ton Dat Tien St., Tan Phu Ward, Dist. 7, HCMC
Phone: 028 5411 3949
Email: info@lstf.org.vn
All contributions please send to:
THE LAWRENCE S. TING FOUNDATION
A/C no. 0181001527680 Vietcombank – Saigon South branch – Phu My Hung transaction office