EP2: “Not an Expert... But I Do It from the Heart”

An auntie isn’t a social worker, psychologist, or teacher.

She’s a Village Health Volunteer (VHV), looks after 15 households in her community.

When the Subdistrict Administrative Organization (SAO) invited her to join the working group of the Child Protection Community, she accepted it (even though she had never done this kind of work before,)

“I’ve never done this before, and I’m not good at talking,” (she said with a smile.)

“But if I agree to do it, I’ll do my best.”

One day, a member of the working groups (a teacher) shared the story of a sixth-grade student who had been absent from school for almost a year. She had visited the child’s home many times, but the child refused to return to school. His parents didn’t know what to do.

The case was brought to meeting of Child Protection Community. Representatives from the local government, school, subdistrict health promotion hospital, VHVs, and community leaders came together to find a way to help.

The auntie raised her hand.

“I’ll try talking to the parents and the child myself.”

Since the child lived nearby, the next day, she went to his home. She greeted the family, talked with his mother, and asked to speak with the child. But he wouldn’t say a word.

She kept coming back.

For the first few days, the child simply sat quietly. The Auntie didn’t pressure him or ask difficult questions. She just sat with him and talked about ordinary things.

Then, one day, he finally opened up.

He was afraid of falling behind, afraid of being scolded by his teacher, afraid his friends would laugh at him. The Auntie realized that he wasn’t refusing school because he was lazy. He was afraid to face the classroom again. But she didn’t try to solve the problem alone. She talked with the teacher.

“Let bygones be bygones. Today, let’s start anew.”

The teacher then worked with the homeroom teacher and classmates to prepare for the child’s return and make the classroom a safe place for him. For the next two weeks, the Auntie woke him up every morning, prepared breakfast, and took him to school.

Then one morning, the child said:

“Tomorrow... you don’t have to wake me up anymore. I can go to school by myself.”

After being away from school for almost a year, the child returned, completed Grade 6, and was able to live and learn alongside his friends again.

“At first, I didn’t understand what I would gain from doing this.

But when I helped the child get back on his feet, my heart was filled with happiness.”

Some people might think this child returned to school because one kind aunt helped him.

But the truth is, it wasn’t just one person.

Behind one child’s return to school was the power of an entire community.