Friday, November 20, 2009

If you can read this, thank a teacher …….

When writing the blog entry yesterday, I was unaware that it was teacher appreciation day in Vietnam. I simply couldn't let that go by.


The teachers and teachers aides we are so fortunate to have on staff at ACCV are wonderful indeed. Birgit and Jennifer, along with Khanh & Trang travel quite a way out of Hanoi at least twice weekly to the blind association. They freely give their time, patience and dedication to our students, who are in turn genuinely fond of their teachers.

They also spend the necessary time to carefully document all facets of this course, and they contribute invaluable feedback and insight to the future development of this programme. Their contribution to the quality of life of not only our current blind students, but to the lives of those who will follow, is without measure.
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We also have another special teacher on staff. Mr Brian is not only a wonderful teacher, but he's also an invaluable member of the ACCV team. Without his full support and commitment, the smooth running of ACCV would simpy not be possible.


A very sincere thank you

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Education is the movement from darkness to light....

Our review programme of the English language course for blind people is now more than half way through, and it is coming along beautifully. The students are progressing very well and they are really enjoying the classes.

Our teachers, Birgit and Jennifer, along with teaching assistants Khanh and Trang are doing such a wonderful job. Without their contribution this course would simply not be coming together. We owe them a very big thank you!

It is wonderful to see that the Braille materials we made up for the students are being fully incorporated into the classroom to create a fun and enjoyable educational environment for the students.


The students have just completed their first lot of assessments, for the first time in their lives for many of them, and they did very well! This brings a real sense of pride and accomplishment to the students, (as it should), well done to them!!


Each week the teachers send me lesson plans and student progress reports. It is such a joy to read each and every one of them. I can't help but think back to the very first time I met these people and the sad, limited existence they were leading.
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The Allan Bloom quote is so very true for these people... Education is the movement from darkness to light...


Kind regards

Alison & Rose

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" Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much" Helen Keller