In late September and early October, EVG welcomed students from the National Institute of Education (NIE) from Singapore to Phong Thanh Commune, Cau Ke District, Tra Vinh Province, to conduct lessons for local primary, secondary, and high school students.

Over four days, the students had the opportunity to learn from and interact with the NIE students. This experience boosted their confidence in communication and inspired them to continue their learning journey.

In addition to the lessons, the NIE students participated in various activities such as trying on traditional Vietnamese clothing, learning Vietnamese, visiting unfortunate families, enjoying dinner and sunset by the river. A highlight was the campfire night, where everyone danced, sang, and celebrated, transcending language barriers. The joyful smiles, energetic dancing, and warm camaraderie around the crackling fire created a truly unforgettable experience.

EVG would like to express our sincere gratitude to the students and faculty of NIE for their continued trust and partnership in our community service initiatives for the third consecutive year. We also extend our thanks to the Vietnamese volunteers who worked hard to provide translation services for the students. We look forward to seeing you all on future projects.

In October, the teachers and students from Outram Secondary School visited Phong Thanh Commune, Cau Ke District, Tra Vinh Province to collaborate with EVG in building and installing solar-powered lights, illuminating and greening the roads in the village. In addition, there were teaching activities and cultural exchanges with local students.

Everyone created beautiful memories and shared unforgettable moments together. Through this project, the young volunteers also had the opportunity to experience the service-learning model — learning through community service, which EVG has been promoting for many years!

EVG would like to express our gratitude to the teachers and students of Outram Secondary School for the dedicated efforts on this project. We also appreciate the invaluable support of the Vietnamese volunteers in assisting with translations for the group and local students. We look forward to collaborating with you all on future projects.

In December, ECO Vietnam Group welcomed teachers and students from The Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to Tra Vinh through the International Service-Learning project.

EVG, together with ITE, designed a training program in the hospitality industry for students in Tra Vinh. They had the chance to learn about the different departments in a hotel or restaurant, as well as practical skills such as towel folding, table setting, and beverage preparation for guests.

Additionally, the ITE participants worked with us to build a garden for the local children, creating a fun and dynamic environment for learning and play. The ITE students were also guided to install solar-powered lampposts to illuminate the rural roads, making the local community safer.

The group was also connected by EVG to visit the Macapuno Museum of Vicosap, where they learned about the story of how valuable agricultural products from Cau Ke, particularly the unique macapuno, have been transformed into internationally recognized products.. EVG would like to thank Vicosap for warmly welcoming us and providing the students with the opportunity to explore, experience, and discover the process of turning local agricultural products, especially the macapuno, into quality products.

The activity of visiting disadvantaged households, listening to and sharing their stories, helped participants of the ISL participants gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and efforts these families have gone through. To wrap up the experience, one of EVG’s special traditions – the campfire – took place. It was a time for everyone to reminisce about memorable moments spent together, engage in cultural exchange, and enjoy the warmth of the fire, holding hands and laughing together around the glowing campfire.

In Ho Chi Minh City, The ITE teachers and students also had a chance to visit Van Lang University and participated in a workshop on “Exploring Consumer Psychology in the Service Industry.” EVG sincerely thanks the Honors Program of Van Lang University for hosting and organizing this meaningful workshop. In addition, there were many other activities, such as visiting the War Remnants Museum, the Saigon Central Post Office and the High-Tech Agricultural Park.

EVG would like to express our gratitude to the Institute of Technical Education Singapore, the teachers of Phong Phu High School, and the local authorities for their support in making this project a success. We also thank the volunteers who accompanied EVG in this project. We look forward to collaborating on even more meaningful projects in the future.

RECAP ISL 2419 – COLORING LIFE WITH EVG x SMU

In December, EVG collaborated with a group of students from Singapore Management University (SMU) to carry out activities in Trà Vinh as part of the International Service Learning project. The project not only addressed community needs but also provided an opportunity for young people to develop personally, raise awareness about social responsibility, and create lasting memories.

The main activities of the project included painting and decorating the walls of Hoa Tan B Primary School, creating a vibrant learning environment for the students. In addition, the students took part in life skills and critical thinking lessons, expanding their knowledge and acquiring essential skills for the future.

During this journey, the SMU students also had the opportunity to exchange cultures with the Vietnamese volunteers of V-team, through activities such as food exchange and traditional dress try-on. This allowed the young participants to not only contribute to the community but also learn many valuable lessons about each other’s cultures and lifestyles. Another highlight of the project was the visit to Vicosap, a local brand specializing in products made from coconut, where the students got to experience the local specialty firsthand.

The program continued with a visit to Văn Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City, where the SMU students participated in a workshop on “Circular Economy.” They heard insights from Dòng Dòng, a brand known for recycling old tarps into accessories and bags. EVG would like to extend our gratitude to Dòng Dòng and Văn Lang University (VLU) for their collaboration in organizing this program.

At the end of the program, the group had the opportunity to visit a high-tech agricultural area, which focuses on applying research and advanced technology in the agriculture sector. Here, the students learned about the application of technology in sustainable agricultural development, helping to raise awareness about environmental protection and sustainability issues.

EVG would like to express sincere thanks to Singapore Management University, Hoa Tan B Primary School, local authorities, and the V-team volunteers for their support in making this project a success. We hope that these experiences not only helped the youth contribute to the community but also became a valuable part of their future journeys.

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RECAP ISL 2417 – ECO VIETNAM GROUP x VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE

The first International Service Learning project of ECO Vietnam Group in Sapa, Lao Cai, in particular, and in the northern region of Vietnam in general, conducted in collaboration with Victoria Junior College (VJC), has concluded with great success.

During the five days spent at the school with the children, the team had the opportunity to learn and immerse themselves in the warm, welcoming environment of the H’Mong ethnic people amidst the breathtaking landscape where the earth meets the sky.

Moreover, the team supported the local community by:

+ Teaching English for 5 days at the Hau Thao Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities

+ Installing 5 solar-powered lights

+ Creating a vegetable garden at the school

+ Organizing a cultural exchange night for over 300 H’Mong boarding students and Singaporean friends

The team also visited Lao Cai High School For The Gifted, engaged in cultural exchanges, and participated in traditional Vietnamese games such as sack races, capture the flags, and more. Additionally, they had the chance to visit and learn about the background and entrepreneurial journey of social enterprises like Sapa O’Chau and KOTO Van Mieu.

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to our partners: Victoria Junior College, Lao Cai High School For The Gifted, Hau Thao Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, the Department of Education and Training of Sapa Town, the Department of Education and Training of Lao Cai Province, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Lao Cai Province, and other other ministries, departments, and associations. A special thanks goes to the students, volunteers, La Beauté Sa Pa homestay, and the students who contributed to the success of these meaningful projects.

Today, let’s follow the journey of the students from ITE (Institute of Technical Education) as they participate in the International Service-Learning project in Trà Vinh province last December with EVG

Through this project, the ITE students not only taught English lessons and engaged in cultural exchange with the children at Hoa Tan B Primary School (Trà Vinh), but also had the chance to experience incredibly valuable activities: visiting a handicraft village and the macapuno processing enterprise named Vicosap, as well as learning about the lives of the local people e.g.

Additionally, the program organized a tour to historical and cultural sites in Ho Chi Minh City, including the War Remnants Museum, the Central Post Office, and Ben Thanh Market.

Thank you to Thái Tiểu Nhi – a member of EVG and also a volunteer for the ISL 2421 project – for sharing your fascinating journey with us

Project Overview

Project: Dynamic – Project code: 1811

Time: 4/6-18/6/2018

Place: Phong Thạnh commune, Cầu Kè district, Trà Vinh province

Participants: 25 volunteers from Nanyang Technological Singapore and 5 EVG volunteers (including 3 members).

Achievements:

• Built Sports hall in CVC
• Taught children at Phong Thanh B primary school
• Visited 4 needy families in Phong Thanh commune
• Organized outdoor activities for children
• Organized Culture Night and Campfire

Project 1811 is an extremely impressive and unforgettable memory. First of all, I sincerely thank Mr.Harry Pham Van Anh and Ms. Thuan Trang for organizing these OSL projects in Vietnam. Thanks to this, Vietnamese volunteers have the opportunity to experience the service learning model in Vietnam. No need to go abroad but right here we practice English 24/24, it is a wonderful thing.

Besides, I would like to send my thanks to Vteam: Ms. Ngoc, Ms. Thuy, Dung and Thu. Thank Ms Theu for your good meals and your managing the children – I really admire you. Thank you Ms. Ngoc, you are a dedicated leader who cares us, even small things you will remind us and even though you are busy, you also spend time with us. Thank Dung, your participation made the project more fun, indeed you fulfilled your tasks very well and you are very good bonding with others. And thank you baby Thu, this project without you might have a lack, it was your innocent questions that made the atmosphere better and less stressful.

Not forget to give a thank to STeam. You are very enthusiastic, fun and willing to help VTeam. Sam, Richie, Willie, Jem and Iggy are really cute and make the most laughter for everyone. David and Fan, though I didn’t talk to you much, you are really warm. Each of you is a color that brings the project more brilliant. Thank you very much.

What did I learn after the project?
I learned a lot. About housework, I learned how to fry eggs, astronauts, learning how to cut Hanoi plum beautifully … About teaching, I learned to be flexible with each group of children, not to apply one method to every child. About construction, I learned how to wall, know how hard my father does because he is a builder.

Well, one more thing I learned is sincerity. The children here are very sincere. When I was about to go, they cried, one of them said, “If you were my sister, I would only stay at home with you,” and other asked me, “When will you come back?” The children also gave the crane paper in which they wrote for me, they also gave me a teddy bear and soup … The day I went, the kids also told me to put the stone in my hand. It’s a wish of luck and a promise to meet again.

The project has closed but the pieces of memory are still here. Every project is always unforgettable. Thank you everyone for being a great piece in the 1811 picture in my youth.
Because we only have once a life to live so please enjoy the life, devote yourself and study all your best.

1. Project overview

Project : YouthSmile – Project code : 1805

Time : 18 March – 31 March (14 days)

Place : Phong Thanh Commune, Cau Ke District, Tra Vinh Province

Participants : 24 volunteers from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and 3 EVG volunteers

Achievements :

• Built a house for orphans
• Taught Physical Experiment in Phong Thanh Secondary School
• Upgraded the Physical Laboratory Phong Thanh Secondary School
• Visited 4 households in the commune
• Visited Pagoda
• Went fishing
• Organized Outdoor activities for children
• Organized Culture night and Camp fire.8

1. Working process

Pre-project:

Before the project happened, Vietnamese volunteer had had about 1 month to prepare. We were introduced about EVG, trained about First Aid.

These conical hats were decorated meticulously by V-team as a present for new friends from Singapore.

The first day:

On 18 March, EVG volunteers gathered at EVG Hub to prepare all logistic. We went to the air port with Mr Harry and Ms Trang to meet volunteers from Ngee Ann Poly. Although this was the first time EVG volunteers attend an OSL project, they were ardent and excited for the first meeting. After taking picture, the group got on the bus and started the journey. On the bus, Mr Harry had s short introduction about ECO Vietnam Group and then everyone introduced their names, hobbies. We had first meal together at Trung Luong Restaurant. We arrived to hotel at about 10 pm, so after check-in, V-team had a meeting with Mr Harry and Ms Trang to prepare for Welcome Ceremony.

In the next morning, a Welcome Ceremony was organized by Phong Thanh Commune helped volunteers have more enthusiasm and trust for the coming days.

Working Days at Phong Thanh:

The next days, despite hard-working and working under new environment, everybody tried to learn and help together to overcome miserably hard position and challenges. The whole trip was witnessed sweat, happiness, sadness as well as friendship that maybe experience only one time.

Construction

Every day, the whole team would be divided into 3 small groups, one group would be teaching, one was construction and the  last one was “house keeping”. The “house keeping” team had responsibility to cook, clean up the house and “keep” the house while the others were working at school.

On 24 March, the whole group had a meaning morning for House Hold Visit activities at Phong Thanh Commune. S-Team had chance to know more about the daily life of local people and their difficulty. In the afternoon, everybody went to library to organize Library Event for students. Despite tiredness, everyone had a memorable weekend.

From Vietnamese volunteer

Tran Kim Oanh

It was such an honor that we had a chance to be a part of OSL 1805, which is the first but probably the best project in our life. There is no regret that we were there and have done that, dedicating a part of our youth to the betterment of Phong Thanh locals. Until now, in my mind there is still the feeling of joy when receiving the announcement from EVG that we were accepted as official volunteers for this programme .

In addition to the excited mood, I was very anxious and confused whether there is interaction with some Singapore volunteer or Not, .. etc … Thinking about all the miscellaneous things on life !!!!

Until the first meeting is not the mood, remember the first time I introduced the name on the bus down Tra Vinh: ” Hi! I’m Orin! ”, Everyone greeted, ” Hello, Orin! ” It seems that every anxiety has gone away half! Now everyone has been friends!

Thanks ECO VIETNAM GROUP for creating the environment for us to try our best. All activities in the OSL are the first time in my life to do such things !!

From getting up early to go shopping, teaching physics, going to build houses, going to visit households, holding a cultural exchanges, one-on-one translation, MC, … etc. Everything is new and there is no shortage of lessons, the lessons I get more, my heart is filled with the most sincere love. The joy of helping others, giving them the smile of emotion in me can not use words to describe. It is a precious experience that I have.

Remembering the construction, sunshine, we still grinned with sweat drooling on the cheek. Love the conversation, share with Thanh, remember her affectionate eyes. I felt like my sister in family. i thought Steam volunteers felt that ,too. I felt that they had all sentimental feelings and hope for each brick, painting in Doreamon that she really liked it in the bedroom. We hoped you have a favorite house, protected the sun and rain, and motivated you to study progress in the bright future.

Remembering the warm smiles and the warm welcome from the locals, remember the woman near the building always brought out hats for us, worried if we got sick! Remember uncle cut coconut for us to drink in the middle of the sun!

Remember the hours taught in class, remember the gaze is considered the physical experiments. Because this was the first time they have been practicing physics in the lab. Remember the bright face of children playing with the Steam. Remember when We karaoke on the bus.

And as we hear the local people, there are many unfortunate circumstances surrounding us, and they need help from others to make their lives better.

14 days was not long enough for us to learn a lot of things that we could change our way of life, our way of thinking. If someone asks me if I want the project to last longer, I will answer “yes”. I wish we had more time to serve, learn, understand each other as well as to be closer together.

The project has ended but the echo as well as the beautiful memories and all the things we learn will surely be with us in the future.

Once again thank you EVG, thank you everyone.

Le Thi Nhu Y

14 days with 1805 project, especially 11 days live in Cau Ke District, taught me lot of valuable lessons that I could not find in other volunteer works.  The first lesson is how difficult it is when organizing a project, especially a project relating to foreigners. We have to take care of their safety, their eating habit, and sometimes their belongings. It is more difficult when sometimes they do not realize the important to keep themselves safe. Many volunteer did not wear hats, mask when they did construction work. I think they drink too much, but I could not do anything because that was Mr Andy permission. In my opinion, they should drink in weekend only because if they drink every day, their image with local people can be affected. Some people said to me that “Nothing happen” however it does not mean “Nothing WILL NOT happen”. The second lessons is about how to communicate with not only Singapore volunteer but also local people like teachers, students. If there is any misunderstanding, it is really hard to explain later. With students, I need to be more patient and calm because they are still vulnerable and innocent. This was the first time they had chance to do physical experiments, there were many new things so I regretted that I did not have more time to explain more clearly for them.

Be a volunteer for this project is one of the most meaningful decision in my student’s live.  In the begining, it was really hard for me to know what I have to do and how I can communicate with S-team. I had to learn many things and notice every single details. However, the most difficult obstacle I faced is the language barrier. After talking more with them, I learned many interesting things from them like their responsibility, talent, friendship. I realize when we open our heart with others, they can feel it without too much words to explain. About teaching activies, I can understand how difficult it is when students from a rural school learn physical experiments with forgeiners. However, they tried their best to concentrate, to follow S-team’s instruction and listen my explanation. I can feel they had strong desire to learn new things and sometimes their excitement when conducting experiments by themselves made me feel really happy. I also had chance to play with them. I love their smile very much. Sometimes, they were still shy with S-team but thanks for S-team’s friendliness, many students were more confident and there seems to be no gap between them. About construction activitied, I can feel S-team effort when they wanted to complete the house on time. Althought, they did not know anything about building the house before they came here, they leared and followed instructor seriously. I also like the way they enjoyed their work (listening to music, joking, smoking and eating ice-cream). However the most memorable imagine in my mind is the attitude of Thanh and her family members. They treated S-team with all their heart and frienliness. I can not forget Thanh’s smile and tear in the last day, she have suffered too much misfortune in her life already. She has the right to be happy like anyone else. Finally, I would like to express my deepest respect to Mr Harry Van Anh and Ms Thuan Trang. I really apprecitate their contribution for the development of voluntary service as well as sustainable community in our country. I hope they will keep up their meaningful work and be a bridge to introduce more organization coming to Vietnam in future.