Vietnam Archives - Page 53 of 60 - ChildFund Australia

Last year, 18 passionate Australians embarked on a physical and fundraising challenge to support the construction of a much-needed new preschool in the remote village of Go Thau, Vietnam. In Go Thau, the community’s youngest children were attending preschool in the only space available – an old buffalo shed with a leaky roof, no running water or toilets and very limited teaching materials or toys.

Below we explain what the fundraising activities involved and how the children have benefitted from the new preschool.

How the Vietnam Trek For Toddlers program raised money to build a new preschool

ChildFund Australia’s Vietnam Trek for Toddlers invited participants to raise $6000 each (including travel costs and a donation towards the new preschool) and enjoy an incredible 12-day adventure in Vietnam – exploring the city of Hanoi, trekking in the beautiful Sapa mountains and even having the opportunity to visit Go Thau village to meet the kids and learn more about ChildFund’s development work.

The new preschool opens and enrolments double

Now the dream has become a reality. Less than a year after the Vietnam trekkers’ journey to Go Thau, the new preschool has opened and has been so well received by the community, enrolments have already doubled.

The new school is a five-classroom preschool with a fully functioning kitchen and toilet block. Outside there is a colourful playground and a fence all the way around that keeps the children protected and safe. All the teachers have been given early childhood development training and there are some new teachers in training to cope with the influx of enrolments.

“Just in a very short time, our school became a big school,” says four-year-old Quyen. “I really like to go to school and play toys with my friends.”

Giving children a safe and clean learning environment

Previously, Quyen had to sit on the concrete floor during her lessons. She had little protection from the wind and cold as the walls of the buffalo shed were low and there were no doors or windows. Now she has a desk and chair, and can enjoy a safe and clean classroom that keeps her warm when it is cold outside and dry when it’s wet and rainy.

“The new big school gives children better conditions to study and develop, as well as helps us to improve the local situation,” says Mr Tung, head of the district’s education department.

Every child has the right to an education

ChildFund Australia CEO Nigel Spence says: “To all of our Vietnam trekkers and everyone who donated to their fundraising initiatives, I cannot thank you enough for your support of the Go Thau community, especially the toddlers who are already benefiting from this fantastic new preschool. I am so impressed with the quality of the school and so pleased to hear that the children are enjoying the new facilities.

“Early childhood education is one of the most important factors in a child’s development and a crucial part of ChildFund’s work. Studies show children who attend preschool are better prepared for school and more likely to stay in school.”

See the before and after photos of Go Thau preschool here.

How you can help build safe and clean schools for young children in remote areas

There are many young children, living in remote areas, that still don’t have access to a safe and clean preschools. You can help.

Donating an educational charity gift from our range of Gifts for Good is a great way to help us help schools overseas. You can donate school supplies, library books and other essentials that will help children in Vietnam access education, learn and break the cycle of poverty.

You can take an exciting journey by becoming a community sponsor. One of the ways your sponsorship will help a developing or remote community is by building new schools for the local children. You’ll help the children access a safer, closer and higher quality education, and change the lives of everyone in the community.

Every child has the right to an education, and every child needs a childhood.

Flying into a chilly Hanoi last month, I was full of nerves and anticipation. I had lived there for six years — now a long time ago — but I hadn’t set foot in the country since 2005.

Hopping into a cab, the first thing I noticed was that everyone was wearing shoes. In the past, even on the nippiest of winter days, rubber sandals with socks was the standard footwear for young and old. Clothes had changed too – people were better dressed. In fact, as I peered through the cab window it struck me that the people themselves had changed. Young people were bigger: taller and more sturdily built.

As it turned out my initial stay in Hanoi was brief – one night in fact. But it was enough to establish that, despite huge changes, the charm of the city (the lakes, the cafes, the buzzing street life) was still very much intact.

The next morning I was picked up by Ngoc and Trang from ChildFund Vietnam and we drove north for about four hours to Bac Kan. Bac Kan is an attractive province of wooded hills and valleys with terraced paddy fields. Life is still largely a matter of subsistence – growing enough rice to feed your family.

But here too change is afoot – wooden stilt houses have been largely replaced by concrete ones and many people travel beyond the province for work in the burgeoning cities.

ChildFund has been active in Bac Thong district since 1999 and it shows: everywhere you look children proudly sport ChildFund jackets and school bags. Locals talk with genuine appreciation about the difference that concrete latrines, irrigation channels and livestock support has made to their lives.

But as a father of two young children I was most impressed to see the preschools that ChildFund supports. Bright, colourful and well-equipped, I would quite happily have sent my own children there. Most importantly, I gained a real sense of how training can transform teachers’ attitude towards their work – and therefore the outcomes for the children that they teach.

The energy and drive of the Vietnamese is as palpable as ever. Add committed, well-targeted support from ChildFund and you have a powerful combination.

I have come back feeling very inspired and lucky to have seen ChildFund’s work firsthand – particularly the schools and preschools. Wonderful facilities, happy children and proud, motivated teachers!

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