Seeds of knowledge sprout from Reading Camp

“It has been nearly 20 years since the beginning of summer vacation after grade 9, I still clearly remember the image of myself - a sad Nung girl carrying her school bag leaving school, knowing that it was her last day of school. After leaving school, I still wandered around the tea hills, banana hills and vast terraced fields. However, in 2014, a new door opened for me when I joined Save the Children to narrow the gap in education for ethnic minority children.”

That is the sharing of Ms. Lu Thi Hoa, a community collaborator implementing the Reading Camp activity under the Child-Centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai implemented by Save the Children. The Nung people in Lao Cai rarely know Kinh language, so Ms. Hoa is a bridge to help convey information in Nung language to the people.

Participating in the Reading Camp, she was guided by the Save the Children Organization on how to run activities for primary school children, helping them get acquainted with reading and writing early. She was also guided on how to conduct Club activities for parents so that they know how to learn to read, write, and do math at home with their children. At first, people were hesitant and confused, so she had to go to each house to encourage and convey to the people the importance of literacy, encourage their children to go to school, and expand their knowledge. Gradually, many parents began to understand, diligently practice, and realized that the whole family became closer and happier thanks to the new knowledge.

“At the Reading Camp, the children listened to me tell interactive stories, draw pictures, write diaries, play games, and were all excited. I was happy when, at the end of each activity, the children invited each other to borrow books from the Reading Camp to take home. The children told each other: I borrowed books to read to practice telling stories as well as Ms. Hoa," said Ms. Hoa.

A Reading Camp supported by Save the Children.

During her 10 years of working with the Project, Ms. Hoa has been repeatedly recognized by the Children's Aid Organization and awarded a certificate of merit by the People's Committee of Nam Lu Commune (Muong Khuong District, Lao Cai Province) for her contributions to the village. She said: "The tiny children who used to chatter at my Reading Camp have now grown up, are proficient in reading and writing Vietnamese, and are going to the district school. Their growth is the greatest motivation for me to continue contributing to the village, to the future of the children in this remote mountainous area."

10 years of creating a sustainable future

Ms. Lu Thi Hoa’s story is a vivid testament to the positive impacts that Save the Children brings, especially the “Child-Centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai”. Launched in 2013, the Program cooperates with the Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai province and partners to ensure that children grow up healthy, learn and develop comprehensively. At the same time, the program supports parents and teachers to improve their education and child care skills, creating a foundation for sustainable development.

On November 26 in Lao Cai province, Save the Children Vietnam in collaboration with the Lao Cai Provincial Project Management Board organized a conference to summarize the "Child-centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai" for the period 2019-2024. The conference was attended by representatives of the Lao Cai Provincial People's Committee, departments and branches in the province such as the Department of Education and Training, Department of Health, Department of Planning and Investment, Department of Foreign Affairs, along with managers and teachers from 182 schools under the project and representatives of Save the Children.

Summary conference of the "Child-centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai" for the period 2019-2024. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to the report at the Conference, by 2024, the project has supported more than 94,000 children in 5 districts of Lao Cai province including Bao Thang, Bao Yen, Bat Xat, Muong Khuong and Van Ban. The project has achieved many achievements, notably improving school readiness for preschool children from 29% to 63%; improving reading comprehension skills of primary school students from 26% to 50%; raising awareness of reproductive health from 6% to 66%.

In addition, the project has built 238 clean water and sanitation facilities, provided career guidance to 13,000 students. More than 6,000 teachers and 53,000 parents have been empowered, contributing to improving the quality of health care, education and community life.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Duong Thi Bich Nguyet, Director of the Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai province, Head of the Lao Cai Provincial Project Management Board, said that the conference aimed to evaluate the results and impacts of the project in the period 2019-2024, share successful models and lessons learned, and develop an implementation plan for the period 2025-2027. The event also aimed to ensure sustainability, continuing to bring practical benefits to children and the community in Lao Cai.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong, Chief Representative of Save the Children in Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong, Chief Representative of Save the Children in Vietnam, the Child-Centered Community Development Program in Lao Cai is a long-term project with the largest funding source of Save the Children in Vietnam. After more than 10 years of implementation, the program has expanded from 2 communes to 48 communes, bringing significant changes to thousands of children and communities. The intervention models of the program have been replicated and included in the general plan of the province, becoming part of regular activities.

“We are proud to believe that these interventions will continue to bring sustainable benefits to children and communities in Lao Cai. The event is an important milestone in the journey to improve the quality of education, health care, and child protection in Lao Cai, and affirms the role of close cooperation between parties to ensure a better future for all children,” said Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong.