OVER 1,800 WARM CLOTHING ITEMS GIFTED TO THE CHILDREN IN TRAM TAU DISTRICT, YEN BAI PROVINCE

Unlike urban children, who have already prepared their warm clothes for the winter, H’Mong kids in Tram Tau district, Yen Bai province just wish to be warm enough to go to school…

Following winding roads, we arrive at Tram Tau. The mountainous district appears in beautiful unspoiled nature and the harsh highland cold. In the winter, the temperature may drop to 5-8 degrees Celsius, with constant drizzles that make the dirt roads even wetter and the cold even more bitter.
 

For years, the H’Mong people in Tram Tau district, Yen Bai province have been living in extreme weather conditions and in a state of deprivation. The roofs made from thin wooden boards cannot block the gale-force winds. On the road, you can see children in grades 4 or 5 wearing shabby clothes and going barefoot. Many of them even have to walk more than 10km to get to school. No matter how hard it is, they are still trying to make their way to school, understanding that learning is the only way for a brighter future.
 

A house for five family members is reinforced by rudimentary materials, which does little to prevent drafts in the cold season.

A modest room in Lang Nhi Primary & Secondary School.

Besides the severe weather, the difficult terrain is a big obstacle, too. To transport aid and necessities from Hanoi to Tram Tau, we had to traverse bumpy and muddy roads. At times, the truck carrying the shipment had to stop to reinforce itself before continuing.

Prior to that, Apollo staff, parents, and students worked together to collect, categorize, and package the clothes and necessities. The used clothing was still in good conditions and is expected to be really useful for the children in need.

Overcoming all difficulties, more than 1,800 warm clothing items and other necessities were gifted by Apollo English to the students of four schools: Hoa Mai Kindergarten, Ban Mu Primary School, Phinh Ho Primary & Secondary School, and Lang Nhi Primary & Secondary School.

After more than six hours of travel, the gifts finally arrived.

The Apollo English team was warmly welcomed by the children.

All children in our country deserve the best learning conditions.

Such smiles were the precious gifts that dispelled the hardships during the volunteer trip.
 

Coming to Tram Tau, Yen Bai for the second time, we were still moved by the pure joy of the children. Believing that education can open up a better future for children, Apollo English, in collaboration with BeCause For Hope, conducted classes and inaugurated the first computer lab for students of Khau Ly Primary & Secondary School back in September 2022. During that trip, we promised to return to Tram Tau one day. That promise has now been fulfilled. We hope that the gifts will not only bring a sense of warmth to the children during the Tet season, but also support them on their journey to school, thus opening up bright and promising futures for them to fulfill their potential.