Strong Seedling Grows from a Quality Seed
International Day of Families is celebrated on May 15th of each year. It is a day founded by the United Nations to raise awareness and understanding of the importance of families. Because a good society starts with a warm family, and family is also an important part of shaping children's thoughts and actions in different ways.
Education is also an important factor in determining the future of a child. The path a child chooses in life depends partly on the experiences he will encounter, and family and society play an important role in shaping the child to choose different paths in life.
Tuskeen Lemnoo (Keen) and Moona Sanron (Moona), Teach For Thailand alumni, 3rd and 5th cohort respectively, are the founders of the Islamic Parental Community – A place for Muslim parents to exchange and learn together, a community for mothers and children in Hat Yai District, Songkhla Province. They are also full-time mothers. In these roles, Keen and Moona value the family institution and recognize that family is a major factor that greatly affects children’s learning. Whether it is behavior in the classroom or the way children learn, they are all influenced by family and the surrounding society.
“Being a teacher goes beyond just imparting academic knowledge; it also encompasses teaching life skills,” Keen emphasized. “Life skills extend beyond the confines of the classroom, influencing a child’s daily experiences and interactions with parents, guardians, and the broader society. A child’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors at school are often rooted in their home environment. Recognizing this interconnectedness, we must step outside the classroom to understand their experiences and gain insights into their learning processes.”
Family, society, and role models all shape children’s choices. Moona, a leading teacher, observed this in remote areas where children prioritize role models who haven’t pursued higher education, leading them to undervalue their educational opportunities. This highlights the need for successful educational role models in such areas.
“When we saw this problem, we started calling the children to talk after class, asking about their home, family situation, and the problems they faced. We started collecting data and visiting the children’s homes, creating case files, and finding ways to support and inspire them to continue studying. Even though there are obstacles in the form of environmental factors, we give them advice, find scholarships, and help them as much as we can,” Moona said.
“This led to the creation of the Family Talk – Communicate with the Heart project, which brought together about 60 parents of middle school students to participate in activities that focus on communication between children and parents. It helps parents understand the nature of children in the early stages before they enter adolescence, and understand how to communicate with them to reduce the generation gap. It encourages children to have their thoughts, know themselves, and teaches them how to live their lives. Importantly, it also helps to adjust parents’ attitudes to see that education is important for their children and can change their children’s lives. The parents were excited about the activities we organized because they had never done anything like this before, and they thanked us for helping them learn and open up to new perspectives,” Moona said.
Seeing the direct impact of family, society, and the environment on children, Keen and Moona wanted to continue their work by setting up a Community Group for mothers and children in the Muslim community in Hat Yai, their hometown.
“This project started to take shape during the time I was a Fellow at Teach For Thailand. After completing the Fellowship Program, I became even closer to the children as I had the opportunity to work on designing a learning process for children at a juvenile detention center. When I talked to them, I felt that they were like the children we used to meet in school. Their families shaped their choices, even if those choices seemed reasonable at the time. Therefore, we must set aside our biases and listen attentively to understand their perspectives. Educational inequality also plays a role. If they had received different guidance and nurturing from their families, schools, or society, they might have thought and acted differently. Everything is interconnected and interrelated.” Keen said.
Moona’s Journey: Fostering a Supportive Community for Mothers
Moona’s experiences as a teacher and a mother highlighted the crucial role of family in shaping a child’s development. She recognized that access to quality education and supportive family environments could significantly impact a child’s future. Inspired by this belief, she founded the Mom for Kids community, a platform for mothers to share parenting experiences and exchange knowledge.
“After completing the Fellowship Program, I witnessed a significant amount of educational inequality,” Moona said, “and I believe that family is also an important part of shaping a child to grow up well. If there are supportive parents who listen and don’t judge, it can help a lot. Because a good seed is needed before the seedling can grow strong.”
“After finishing my studies, I became a teacher and then a mother. Feeling close to children, I sought a community to share parenting experiences. Thus, I initiated the ‘Mom for Kids’ community online, evolving it as my child grew, eventually becoming an onsite project. Through this, parents and children engage in activities promoting learning and bonding. Keen adds, ‘We want children to play and develop naturally, while parents have a space to share and alleviate stress.’
Our experiences underscore the importance of education within family and societal contexts, leading to various initiatives like Family Talk and engagement with incarcerated children. From Mom for Kids, we’ve now established the ‘Islamic Parental Community – Learning Together’, officially launched on May 12, 2024.
Though these initiatives may seem small, they aim to positively impact Thai education and children’s growth, gradually fostering meaningful change.”
Transforming Lives Through Home Visits and Parental Engagement
“When I was teaching with Teach For Thailand, I had the opportunity to visit students’ homes,” Keen recounted. “This experience helped parents understand us better and recognize our genuine desire to improve their children’s lives. It also allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of our students and their dreams for the future. Through open communication, we were able to guide parents in adopting a more positive mindset, which ultimately led to their children pursuing higher education and achieving their dreams. Seeing the positive impact of our efforts on these families was truly rewarding.” Keen mentioned.
“The parents involved in the Mom for Kids project were generally more prepared and engaged compared to those we encountered during our time with Teach For Thailand,” Moona explained. “Their willingness to participate and share their experiences created a dynamic learning environment for all. By discussing challenges and strategies, parents gained valuable insights and developed confidence in their parenting abilities. This, in turn, had a positive impact on their children’s development and well-being.”
“Education alone cannot determine a child’s learning trajectory,” Moona asserted. “Providing access to opportunities, equipping children with life skills, and fostering parental understanding of these skills, starting within the family unit, can significantly enhance a child’s learning potential. When schools and families collaborate effectively, creating a supportive ecosystem that nurtures a child’s overall development, the outcomes are truly transformative.”
“We hope that the positive impact of our community initiatives will gradually permeate children’s lives, fostering resilience and emotional well-being from an early age,” Keen concluded. “By instilling in them a strong foundation of resilience and adaptability, we empower them to navigate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, regardless of the direction society takes.”
Join the Movement for Educational Equity
Inspired by Keen and Moona’s journey, you too can make a difference in the lives of children and contribute to shaping a more equitable education system for all. Join the Teach For Thailand Fellowship Program and embark on a transformative journey as a leader in education.
Together, we can create a brighter future for every child.
Learn more about us at www.tft.vh-projects.com
Apply to the Fellowship Program at https://tft-fellowship.org/candidates until June 16, 2024
