One such figure is Ngô Thụy Hạ Dung, a Literature teacher at Nguyen Du Secondary School in Pleiku’s Dien Hong Ward.
Since 2020, she has organized free Literature lessons for underprivileged students in Ó and Bồ villages and collaborated with donors to distribute 350 to 500 annual gifts, including books, clothing, and essential goods, through programs such as the “Zero-cost fair” and “Autumn to school.”
In January 2025, Ms. Dung founded the “Cỏ cây” (Grass and trees) group, which now has nearly 60 members, mostly students and local youth. The group conducts monthly activities including tree planting, waste collection, and environmental awareness campaigns.
Students and parents say her mentorship extends far beyond academics. “Ms. Dung not only teaches us knowledge but also teaches us love, kindness, and sharing,” said ninth-grade student Ngô Hồng Ngân. Her mother, Trương Thị Trang, credited Dung with helping her daughter grow from a shy child into a confident, independent young woman.
Another leading example is Đặng Thị Hiền, Vice Principal of Lo Pang Primary School No. 1. Since her first donation as a university student in 2006, Ms. Hiền has given blood 27 times and is an active member of the Gia Lai’s “warm blood” club. She often travels more than 30 kilometers to donate blood for patients in emergency care.
Her efforts have inspired over 20 teachers and staff in Lo Pang commune to join annual blood donation drives. In recognition, Ms. Hiền was honored in 2022 as one of Gia Lai’s outstanding individuals in voluntary blood donation, and in 2024 she received a provincial certificate of merit for her contributions.
Beyond blood donation, she actively participates in charity initiatives through the “August dreams” and “the compassionate bus” clubs. In 2023, she volunteered to teach a literacy class for 35 Bana students in Lo Pang commune, traveling nearly 17 kilometers daily to ensure adults in remote areas could learn to read and write.
Both teachers emphasize that education is not only about academic knowledge but also about nurturing compassion, resilience, and a sense of responsibility toward society. Their examples continue to inspire students, parents and the broader community in Gia Lai.