Diverse cultural activities for ethnic minority children.

Ten-year-old Do Thanh Nha Byă from Akŏ Dhông village excitedly said: “I got to attend a free English class taught by university students. I found it very helpful. And this summer I learned many more things, especially I hope I can speak several languages ​​and learn how to communicate with people around me, including foreigners.”

For H Da Rin Ênuôl (15 years old) from Alê B hamlet, Ea Tam ward, Buon Ma Thuot city, the summer days are even more interesting as she gets to experience Ede culture through a Xoang dance class organized by the Buon Ma Thuot City Center for Communication, Culture and Sports . H Da Rin said: "Over the past month, my friends and I have learned about the traditional festivals of the Ede people, rituals, activities that use Xoang dance, and basic Xoang dance routines. This has helped me understand and love our ethnic culture even more."

H Da Rin Ênuôl said: “I have learned more about my ethnic culture. I know more dance moves and can combine the lessons from my teachers to choreograph many dances and also teach them to younger students. From there, we will be very confident performing in front of everyone at festivals or any events organized in the village or neighborhood.”

Another activity that attracts the participation of many ethnic minority children in Dak Lak every summer is the "Literary and Artistic Creation Training Camp" organized by the Dak Lak Literature and Arts Association. This year, nearly 40 students participated in this activity. These students were selected from student excellence competitions, international letter writing competitions (UPU), and talented students from 24 junior and senior high schools in the province.

In addition to receiving guidance from writers, poets, and artists in creating literary and artistic works, the children also had the opportunity to participate in field trips and interact with border guards; learn about forest and elephant culture at Yok Don National Park; interact with children in border areas; and gain practical experience at the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police Department of Dak Lak province… Through these experiences, the children nurtured their emotions and accumulated material for writing poetry and drawing. Be Thi Thu Uyen (13 years old, Tay ethnic group) from Ea Hding commune, Cu Mgar district, shared that the days spent at the training camp gave her new experiences, making her appreciate and be grateful for what she is receiving.

“We experienced many activities, such as exploring the World Coffee Museum, the Ama H'Mai Museum, visiting the Vietnam-Cambodia border, the Bo Heng Border Guard Post, and many other activities. The most impressive thing for me was visiting the Bo Heng Border Guard Post and touching the Vietnam-Cambodia border marker. This was my first time setting foot on the border, and touching the border marker gave me a very unique feeling,” Uyen said.

Ms. Niê Thanh Mai, President of the Dak Lak Literature and Arts Association, assessed that although the experience time was not very long, the children showed interest and enthusiasm in each activity. Each year, the program always changes and avoids repetition, ensuring that campers always find it engaging and fresh, even for those who have participated before.

Ms. Mai said: “We found that the children were extremely interested in listening to the instructors explain the cultural traditions of the ethnic groups and the history of the country. They all took notes attentively and were very focused. It started with the smallest things, like trips and encounters with soldiers and firefighters – people who are dedicating their lives and youth to serving and contributing to their homeland.”

Mr. Mai Van Chuyen, from Ea Mdroh commune, Cu Mgar district, whose child participated in the experience, said that the activities had brought positive results. After the activities, he noticed a significant change in his child, who became more confident, assertive, and proactive in communicating with those around him.

“During the program and after returning home, my child became more well-behaved, and their communication and daily routines showed many positive changes. Observing the interactions and exchanges with the organizers on the Zalo group, I saw that the organizers and teachers provided very detailed and specific guidance, which had a positive impact on the children. It was also a very beneficial experience for my child during the summer vacation,” Mr. Chuyen shared.

Summer is drawing to a close, but for ethnic minority children in Dak Lak, cultural experiences have opened up opportunities to learn more about the unique and fascinating aspects of their ethnic groups. This fosters a love for culture in them, nurtures their souls, and makes their summer vacation more interesting and enriching.