Going to school with Vietnam's tiniest student

By Quynh Trang   March 30, 2018 | 11:05 pm PT
The 10-year-old who looks and acts like a baby receives a lot of love from his teachers and schoolmates.
Dinh Van KRe has been studying at Son Ba boarding school in Quang Ngai Province for three years. Now at the age of 10, the ethnic boy weighs only 3.9 kilograms and is still a 1st grader.

Dinh Van K’Re has been studying at Son Ba boarding school in Quang Ngai Province for three years. Now at the age of 10, the ethnic boy weighs only 3.9 kilograms (8.6 pounds) and is still a 1st grader.

KRe has Seckel syndrome, a rare disorder that prevents him from growing physically and mentally. Principal Dang Van Cuong was the one that brought the tiny boy from his remote village in the central province to the school, taking care of the boy like his own son and helping him adapt to boarding school life. Now KRe calls him by papa in his ethnic language and usually spend the weekend at his house, playing with his two children.

K’Re has Seckel syndrome, a rare disorder that prevents him from growing physically and mentally. Principal Dang Van Cuong was the one that brought the tiny boy from his remote village in the central province to the school, taking care of the boy like his own son and helping him adapt to boarding school life. Now K’Re calls him by “papa” in his ethnic language and usually spends the weekend at his house, playing with his two children.

Given the boys health condition that makes him a late talker with poor memories, Cuong and other teachers do not force him to study hard but focusing on helping him build his basic life skills.

Given the boy’s health condition that makes him a late talker with poor memories, Cuong and other teachers do not force him to study hard but focus on helping him build basic life skills.

From a boy that could not do anything by himself, KRe can now use the rest room himself, sit down with other kids in the kitchen and feed himself, take off his shoes, walk to his classroom and climb into his seat.

From a boy that could not do anything by himself, K’Re can now use the rest room, feed himself, take off his shoes, walk to his classroom and climb into his seat.

His teachers at Son Ba said teaching him do all those things by himself is the way to help him get along with his friends, erase the gap between him and others and change the way people think about him and even the way he has always thought about himself.

K'Re's teachers said teaching him to do all those things is the way to help him get along with his friends, reduce the gap between him and others and change the way people think of him and even the way he has thought about himself.

Like any other children, KRe now knows how to greet older people in an appropriate manner, extend his hand to ask for something he wants or ask for help, use signed language with others and understand most of what others talk to him.

Like any other children, K’Re now knows how to greet older people in an appropriate manner, extend his hand to ask for something he wants or ask for help, use sign language and understand most of what others talk to him.

In the o eyes of both teachers and friends, KRe is a playful and lovely boy.

In the eyes of both teachers and friends, K’Re is a playful and lovely baby.

Most children at the school adore the tiny boy and try to help him in different ways.

Most children at the school adore the tiny boy and try to help him in different ways.

A girl helps KRe fix his clothes.

A girl helps K’Re fix his clothes.

Dinh Van Sinh, 11, said his younger brother is very happy at school. KRe said he has many friends to play with, especially when they play football or play with cars. Three years ago when he first came to the school, KRe was a shy and scared boy.

K’Re said he has many friends to play with, especially when they play with balls or cars. Three years ago when he first came to the school, K’Re was a shy and scared boy.

KRe is seen in the bedroom of the boarding school. At his village, neighbors call him a monkey and look at him as if he were some kind of animal and do not care about him. Now he is treated like any other kids at Son Ba school.

K’Re is seen in the bedroom of the boarding school. At his village, neighbors call him a monkey. Now he is treated like any other kids at Son Ba school.

 
 
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