In this article for Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Nguyen Quang Thach, known for ‘Sach Hoa Nong Thon’ – an initiative to bring books to rural children in Vietnam, draws inspiration from a young, talented book translator.
Ho An Nhien, an 11-year-old from Hanoi with the pen name Lily, has garnered both admiration and skepticism for her impressive body of self-translated works.
Vietnamese readers were astounded in 2022 when they discovered Lily’s translation of ‘Unstoppable Us.’ By May 2024, she had completed her fifth translation, ‘The Silk Roads.’
A Love for Learning
Lily’s journey as a translator began at the young age of eight. Her first project was a trilogy of picture books titled ‘The Guardians of Childhood,’ published in 2021 by Book Hunter in Hanoi and Da Nang Publishing House.
Soon after, Omega Plus Books approached her to translate two popular historical works: ‘Unstoppable Us’ by Yuval Noah Harari and ‘The Silk Roads’ by Peter Frankopan.
Lily’s success is a testament to the influence of her family. Her mother’s love for reading, her father’s passion for literature, and the encouragement of her grandparents, who were academics, all contributed to her early interest in books.
Through their collective efforts, they instilled in Lily a passion for reading and learning, helping her build a bilingual vocabulary and fostering her creativity, expression, and critical thinking skills.
Her five translations not only showcase her dedication but also highlight the supportive role her parents played in her journey.
This emphasizes the impact of family education and the solid foundation it provides for a child’s future success.
A Passion for Books and Knowledge
Beyond her translations, Lily actively participates in initiatives to bring books to rural areas. These projects often involve using funds from book translations to build libraries in rural classrooms and fill them with books during Lunar New Year celebrations.
Lily and her family understand the importance of their privileged position and the role that professional knowledge plays in their ability to contribute. However, they also recognize that not all children have the same opportunities.
For decades, children in rural areas have faced limited access to books and educational resources. This deprivation continues through preschool, elementary, and middle school, impacting their spiritual and educational growth and their ability to acquire life skills and values.
Additionally, many parents show a concerning lack of interest in reading to their children, perpetuating a cycle of knowledge poverty. To break this cycle, it is essential for parents to recognize the long-term value of books and reading, which cannot be measured in mere currency.
Vietnam’s education system also has a role to play by incorporating parenting education as a core component, similar to developed countries. This will encourage more parents to read with their children, and schools and society will play a pivotal role in fostering this habit.
With the collective efforts of parents, teachers, and alumni, billions of Vietnamese dong can be raised to ensure that tens of millions of books reach children, both in schools and at home.
The educational revolution in Vietnam must strive to provide all children with equal access to books, mirroring the opportunities enjoyed by their peers in Western Europe, America, Japan, and other developed nations.
With continued efforts, we can hope to see more individuals like Lily, excelling in their fields and contributing to the country’s intellectual growth. This will lead to the creation of valuable intellectual property, propelling Vietnam forward alongside nations like Japan, South Korea, and Israel.
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