Truong Tuong Lai (TTL)
TTL is a Special Needs school for children ages 6-24, that serves children primarily diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Down Syndrome. They are located in CanTho City. MEET representatives have visited the school for the past few years, and are actively recruiting Volunteers to provide needed instruction to TTL’s faculty, and developing programs with them that will strengthen relationships with the families and community. The Director consistently strives to help others better understand children who have special needs for socialization and learning, and to accept them as part of the larger social network.
The teachers at TTL want to provide the best learning environment for their children, but many have not had the benefits of continuing education programs in their field. In 2014 one of our volunteers, Patty Steinfeld, spent a week in CanTho working with the staff and students in a concentrated fun exchange. The Director and her team have incorporated her recommendations into their daily work with the children. TTL’s Director would love to have more of these opportunities to learn with MEET Volunteers. They have students who are at all levels of learning and capabilities, and they wish to be able to critically evaluate their teaching methods and bring out the best in each child.
The Director, Phoung Anh helped establish the school and is passionate about the work and care of their students. Her leadership and efforts are inspiring. She is one of the few members of the faculty with a formal education in teaching and curriculum development for the population served at TTL, and her teachers are all gracious and eager to learn.
In 2015 Trung Hoang, MSW provided a unique experience for students, teachers and families by spending the day getting to know the student s and then assisting in coordinating the first ever Teacher/family meeting and social time. Trung facilitated the meeting, additionally attended by MEET volunteers, Helen Sikov, MSW,LNHA and Marsha Smith, one of our nursing team, as well as students interested in Volunteering at TTL from CanTho University. One family member provided a moving presentation of his journey in caring for a child with special needs. This opened up a sharing of personal stories by other family members, their love and learning from being a parent of a child with special needs, and their appreciation to the school, the only one of it’s kind in CanTho. The event was educational, emotional and very memorable.
Trung and Helen also co-taught a class specifically for the staff prior to the family meeting, joined by Phoung Tran, Psychologist from Saigon. MEET looks forward to bringing additional practitioners in 2017. There will be only brief meetings with the school in 2016 as the school is in a temporary location while a new school is being built. Everyone is most excited about a new and improved facility where their children will spend their day and learn together.
If donors would like to help support the purchase of needed supplies and equipment, especially for art and music therapy which will be new programs, funds can be sent to MEET designating specifically where the funds are to go, and for what purpose, and your gift will be an unexpected kindness and of tremendous support to the school. MEET wants to ensure a bright future for TTL, and hopes this will be one of our many successful partnerships.
