Ho Chi Minh City deputy chairman visits retired teacher’s charity classroom

At 78, Nguyen Thi Ba still sells lottery tickets during the day and teaches children at night. On Sept. 7, her small charity classroom in Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Dau Mot Ward received an unexpected visitor, Deputy Chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong.

Cuong came with education officials and local leaders to meet Ba and the students. The classroom serves children from difficult circumstances, many of them from families who moved away from their hometowns for work. Some cannot attend school and sell lottery tickets during the day to help make a living.

Ba, known affectionately as “Aunt Ba,” is a retired teacher. She taught at Tuong Binh Hiep Primary School before retiring in 2003. She has maintained the charity classroom for 10 years. She lives alone in a small rented room, relying on her pension and daily lottery sales.

Officials praised her dedication and asked local authorities to help the children complete the documents they need. The city’s Department of Education and Training was also asked to consider suitable support, including ways to certify the children’s study history and protect their access to education.

The delegation gave the students textbooks, gifts and Mid-Autumn Festival cakes. Cuong presented Ba with a laptop for teaching. Two days earlier, Ba had held a modest opening ceremony attended by several students and parents after their work and lottery-selling shifts. There were no flags or elaborate decorations, but the classroom was filled with warmth and laughter.