Meet Givorn (pseudonym). He is eight years old and has already faced many big challenges in his short life. Tragically, his mother passed away when he was just a baby, and he has no connection with his father, so he was raised by his grandparents. His grandfather is a fisherman who works very hard, but it is often a struggle just to put food on the table. With so many problems at home, Givorn didn’t want to go to school. He felt lost and alone.
When Givorn first came to the CFI learning center, he was very unhappy. He didn’t know how to tell people he was sad or scared, so he showed his feelings by being angry. He would shout during class and pick fights with the other children. It was hard for him to be calm because he didn’t know how to deal with his emotions. He felt like school was just another place where he didn’t belong.
Often, people react by being strict with a child like Givorn, but our teachers are trained to support students like Givorn. They didn’t give up on him. Instead of getting angry back, they showed him kindness and patience. They made the classroom a friendly place where Givorn felt safe and seen. They used fun games and toys to help him learn through play. For the first time, school didn’t feel like a scary place; it felt like a home.
Today, Givorn is a completely different child. He comes to class every single day with a big, bright smile. The fighting has stopped, and he now loves playing and laughing with his friends. He is even excited to learn more! Recently, he walked up to the learning center manager and asked if he could sign up for other classes.
Givorn said, “I like learning here because my teacher is kind to me and there are many toys to play with.” His story shows us something very important: when a child feels loved and safe, they can safely learn, grow, and succeed.