TOGETHER
March 2022
IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
STORY OF THE MONTH
THE JOURNEY TO SUCCESS OF A TAY ETHNIC WOMAN
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Born into a farming family with eight siblings in a remote district of Cao Bang province, Nguyen Thi Phuong had a tough childhood.
Growing up by meager meals of rice mixed with corn, she soon had to take care of the housework and look after her siblings to assist her parents. Even though she was beset by many difficulties, she never thought that she would give up her studies.
Friendly, enthusiastic, and persistent are just some of her virtues. Today, please join us to have a chat with Nguyen Thi Phuong – the Provincial Manager of ChildFund in Cao Bang to learn more about this energetic Tay woman!
Can you tell us a bit about your education and career so far?
I graduated from Vietnam National Forestry University. Things were not easy for me at the start.
When I first graduated in 1987, I found myself struggling with finding a decent job, and I was unemployed for more than a year.
I first worked as a commune cadastral officer. After that, I took part in poverty reduction activities before working at the District Department of Agriculture & Rural Development. In June 2010 when ChildFund started projects in Cao Bang, I decided to apply for the position of Agriculture Project Officer.
I am willing to learn new things everyday and luckily, I am always fully supported by the organisation to develop and sharpen my management skills. Thanks to that, I have been appointed to the position of Provincial Manager since July 2021.
Talking about your current job, which part do you consider the most enjoyable as well as the most challenging?
What I like most is the opportunity to work with children in the community.
And about the most challenging one, I think it is my limited capability in English that sometimes poses difficulties in my work.
After many working years, what are the most valuable lessons you have drawn so far?
There are 3 main lessons, which are:
– Always try your best to learn new things, listen to others, work responsibly and be ready to take on new challenges.
– Dedicate yourself to work, putting the wellbeing of the community and the quality of work in your priority.
– Adapt well to new changes of the organisation.
Can you please describe ChildFund in 3 words?
Solidarity – Kindness – Advance.
“Solidarity” means consensus, cooperation. “Kindness” means working with a kind heart. “Advance” depicts the determination to strive for development and improvement. Besides, ChildFund also cares about the development of children and the community.
Is there something interesting about you that not many people know?
I am really interested in playing video games and watching action movies!
If you had a superpower, what would it be?
I wish that I would speak English fluently. It’s a superpower for me 🙂
“Always try your best to learn new things, listen to others, work responsibly and be ready to take on new challenges.
Dedicate yourself to work, putting the wellbeing of the community and the quality of work in your priority.
Adapt well to new changes of the organisation.”
TIN TIN TICK & TALK
Safe and supportive semi-boarding schools for children
On 4 and 5 March, the project “Safe and Supportive Semi-boarding Schools...
On 4 and 5 March, the project “Safe and Supportive Semi-boarding Schools for students in Bac Kan and Cao Bang” has conducted three instruction/communication sessions for more than 60 students currently in temporary shelters of Quang Trong Primary & Secondary School, Thach An district, Cao Bang province.
Through this activity, students are equipped with knowledge to identify risks and be aware of their own responsibilities in self-management and maintaining a healthy lifestyle away from home. After the session, students were divided into groups to practice cleaning their living spaces, making toothbrush holders from plastic bottles, hang wires to dry clothes, etc.
Strategic planning consultation workshops
With the aim of developing ChildFund’s strategic plan for the period 2022-2025….
With the aim of developing ChildFund’s strategic plan for the period 2022-2025 in accordance with the development plans of each province and related sectors/individuals, ChildFund has conducted strategic planning consultation workshops in Cao Bang, Hoa Binh and Bac Kan province from 24 February 2022.
Attending this workshop were representatives of relevant departments, project managers/officers, along with many parents and local children and youths.
Online safety wall paintings
The students at Primary & Secondary School Doc Lap and Hong Dinh in Cao Bang…
The students at Primary & Secondary School Doc Lap and Hong Dinh, Hop Giang Secondary School and Be Van Dan High School in Cao Bang were both curious and excited as new colourful paintings with meaningful messages on online safety appear on their school walls.
Implemented in December 2021 and January 2022, the wall paintings are among a series of communication activities of the project “Swipe Safe phase 2”, helping to spread knowledge on using the Internet safely to more than 2,000 students and parents in Cao Bang province.
Clean water coming to village
On 2 March 2022, representatives from ChildFund program management board of Ngan Son district organised…
On 2 March 2022, representatives from ChildFund program management board of Ngan Son district organised the acceptance test and handover of the clean water construction in Khuoi Lay village, Thuan Mang commune, Bac Kan province. This activity is within the framework of the project “Clean water and sanitation for all”.
Implemented since February 2022 with an investment of nearly 300 million VND, this clean water construction will give 16 households and 100% of Khuoi Lay School students access to clean water for daily activities.
“Students with information security 2022” contest
On March 3, the contest “Students with Information Security 2022” was officially launched by…
On 3 March 2022, the nation-wide contest “Students with Information Security 2022” for middle school students was officially launched. The contest was organised for the first time by the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA) to to equip students and their parents with knowledge and skills to use the Internet safely, enabling them to identify and prevent online risks.
With profound experience of project implementation in the field of online safety, ChildFund Vietnam has the privilege to become the key collaborator of the contest this year.
Joy from the little canna
Since applying the canna growing model with support from the project “Improved resilience of ethnic minority communities….
Since applying the canna growing model with support from the project “Improved resilience of ethnic minority communities in Cao Bang, Vietnam”, Phu and Ich’s family income has greatly improved. With a lighter financial burden, they can now afford new books and school supplies for their children.
Up to now, there have been 268 participating households in the project’s livehood models, including 9 persons with disabilities.
Let’s hear from them and learn more about the positive changes brought by the project through the following video!
CULTURE CORNER
CHILDFUND MEMBERS TOGETHER OVERCOME THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Vietnam has been experiencing one of the most devastating COVID-19 outbreak. As a consequence, a great number of ChildFund members have been infected so far. Despite being sick, all members still feel warm when receiving the care and support from the organisation and colleagues 
All the greetings and sharing have really cheered sick members up and motivated them to overcome the pandemic. Let’s enjoy the following funny video clip to spread out the positivity during the context of the pandemic
HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
On the occasion of the International Women’s Day 8/3, ChildFund staff at all offices had a meeting to show their care and respect to female colleagues. This is also an opportunity for everyone to share their thoughts on the role of women, prejudices and barriers that women have to face in life, etc.
The event was further animated by interesting competitions between staff when everyone was challenged with questions related to the history of the International Women’s Day and other issues. 
TAY ETHINIC CUISINE: FIVE-COLOUR STICKY RICE
The Tay people believe five-colour sticky rice is the symbol of the five elements: Kim (the air) , Moc (the wood), Thuy (the water), Hoa (the fire) and Tho (the Earth). Five-colour sticky rice has beautiful colours, but the precious thing is that these colours are entirely made up of nature and plants. White is the original colour of the rice grain. The green colour is created by the ginger and galangal leaves. The red and purple colours are made from the leaves of the red and purple rice plant, which is abundant in the local area. And the yellow colour is made from the colour of the glutinous turmeric powder.
After being harvested, the leaves are brought home, washed and pounded to extract water before being soaked overnight to absorb the colours. The Tay people have their own five-colour sticky rice bowl, which consists of five parts with five colours. After soaking the rice, the Tay people just simply pure the five colours into the corresponding parts and put in on the stove.
PHOTO CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT
The photography contest has received participation from numerous ChildFund members with dozens of nice photos. Based on the number of “likes” for each photo and the evaluation from judges, winners have been chosen as below. Massive thanks to everyone who participated and congratulations to all the winners! Let’s have a look at the winning photos!
Individual Award:
1st prize: Hoang Van Hung
2nd prize: Nong Hong Hanh
3rd prize: Nguyen Thi Thom & Hoang Thanh Tam
Team Award:
1st prize: Bac Kan Office
2nd prize: Hoa Binh Office
3rd prize: Cao Bang Office
DID YOU KNOW?
QUILLBOT – AN EFFECTIVE ENGLISH WRITING TOOL
It is true that not everyone is fluent in English and is well-trained to use English effectively. Quillbot will hep you to gain more confidence and increase the accuracy of your English writing. Quillbot is a paraphrasing tool using AI to help you express your opinions and ideas in various ways. The main purpose of this tool is to re-write your sentences by changing the structure and replacing words with their synonyms while still ensuring the original meaning of your content.
To use this tool, just simply follow the link: https://quillbot.com/ and register your account. There is a free option for those who only need basic functions and a premium plan with more advanced ones.
(A tip from Hoang Hung – Project Coordinator of Bac Kan Office)
