Implementing the 2008 Education Innovation Fund Project

The 2008 Education Initiative Fund Project was implemented by the Center for Psychological Counseling Support of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities from November 2008 to May 2009. The project targeted Hmong children of primary and lower secondary school age in Sang Ma Sao commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province.

[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2009/01/06/dscf1262.jpg" border="0" alt="The road to school for students in Sang Ma Sao commune" title="The road to school for students in Sang Ma Sao commune" width="180" height="270" align="right" ]

The project aims to reduce the dropout rate among children by improving their bilingual skills in Vietnamese and Hmong in teaching and extracurricular activities. The project's activities are being implemented at Sang Ma Sao Primary and Secondary School, Sang Ma Sao Commune, Bat Xat District, Lao Cai Province.

The main activities of the Project include:

- Training to improve Hmong language communication skills for teachers at Sang Ma Sao school, with the goal of having 70% of teachers able to use Hmong in communication;

- Organize a teaching competition using a combination of Vietnamese and Hmong languages ​​for primary and secondary school teachers;

- Organize the "Talented Students" competition for primary and secondary school students in Sang Ma Sao;

- Build a child-friendly library with a wide selection of books suitable for the psychology of middle school students;

- Establishing a "Botanical Garden" at Sang Ma Sao School, which will provide food and vegetables to improve meals for teachers and boarding students, and increase income for the school's general operating fund.

[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2009/01/06/dscf1220.jpg" border="0" alt="Mealtime at school, the meal consists of only 3 dried fish." title="Mealtime at school, the meal consists of only 3 dried fish." width="240" height="180" align="right" ]

The project is expected to significantly improve the quality of teaching and learning for Hmong teachers and students, particularly through enhancing language communication between teachers and students in both Vietnamese and Hmong; organizing vibrant and effective extracurricular activities to stimulate students' interest in learning; and initially helping them access a wide range of information to broaden their knowledge and stimulate their passion for learning.

To carry out the above activities, the Center for Psychological Support and Counseling also calls on students, teachers, and anyone interested in the project to donate books, notebooks, stories, newspapers, school supplies, etc., to build a library for Hmong students.

All donated items can be sent to the Center on weekdays. Center address: Room 209, Building D, 336 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, phone: (04) 3 5571238, email: cacp@vnu.edu.vn.