STORY OF THE MONTH

The memorable annual meeting

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TIN TIN TICK & TALK

Hot news in September

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CULTURE CORNER

Unique “Via” worshipping custom of Muong People

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DID YOU KNOW?

Staff wellbeing

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STORY OF THE MONTH

THE MEMORABLE ANNUAL MEETING

At the end of the recent September, all ChildFund staff had a memorable Annual Meeting at Xanh Villas. Everyone took part in lively discussions, a vibrant Gala night, and team-building activities that strengthened connections. Let’s take a look back at these meaningful moments through the short video below!

 Flycam: Tran Van Tu & Nguyen Manh Cuong – Project Officer

TIN TIN TICK & TALK

1

Raising Awareness on Child Protection and Disaster Response 

News by: Tran Van Tu – Project Officer

In September, the project “An Effective Child Protection System in Kim Boi and Tan Lac Districts” organised…

In September, the project “An Effective Child Protection System in Kim Boi and Tan Lac Districts” organised four commune-level and 94 village-level information sessions for children and local residents. The sessions focused on identifying signs of child abuse and how to report violations.

During this time, the project also coordinated with the local Disaster Prevention Committee to raise awareness about the risks of landslides and flash floods, as northern Vietnam was affected by Typhoon Yagi. Thanks to this collaboration, more than 5,000 children and nearly 3,000 adults have been made more aware of disaster prevention measures.

After the circulation of Typhoon Yagi (Typhoon No. 3), landslides occurred in some project communes but there were no human casualties.

2

Raising Awareness on Semi-boarding Student Care 

News by: Nguyen Thi Phuong — Region Manager

On the morning of 16 September 2024, Quang Trong Semi-boarding Primary and Secondary School for…

On the morning of 16 September 2024, Quang Trong Semi-boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Quang Trong Commune, Thach An District, Cao Bang Province) held a special information session for the parents of boarding students. The session focused on the topic of “Minimum Care Standards” and the support policies from the Ministry of Education and the province for boarding students.

The session attracted the participation of 172 parents, representatives from the school management team, and the head of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Everyone engaged in discussions about the care standards for their children, especially considering that certain criteria were not met in the 2023-2024 school year, along with plans for improvement in the new school year.

At the end of the session, representatives from both the parents and the school signed a commitment to support the boarding students, ensuring they receive the best possible care.

This activity is part of the “Safe and Supportive Semi-boarding School for Students” project. In the near future, the school plans to hold additional meetings with parents to develop regulations for managing students in the boarding areas, aimed at ensuring safety and high-quality learning conditions for the students.

3

Training on Digital Transformation Implementation and Planning

News by: Nguyen Manh Cuong – Project Officer

On 27-28 September, the Department of Education and Training (DoET) of Hoa Binh City, in collaboration with…

On 27-28 September, the Department of Education and Training (DoET) of Hoa Binh City, in collaboration with the city’s Management Board for Foreign NGO-funded Projects, organised a training session for education officials and managers from secondary schools across Hoa Binh City. The training focused on the “Guidelines for Implementing Digital Transformation and Developing a Digital Transformation Plan” for the 2024-2025 period.

Guest speakers, including experts from the Ministry of Education and Training and specialists in digital transformation, shared insights on implementing digital transformation according to sector regulations and guidelines. They also supported schools in developing digital transformation plans and evaluation tools to ensure compliance with digital transformation criteria in education

The event was attended by 92 officials from the DoET and 24 secondary schools in the city. The leadership of the DoET highly praised the quality of the program, noting that participants gained a clearer understanding of the guidelines for digital transformation, the evaluation criteria set by the Ministry of Education and Training, the necessary tasks to be carried out, and the appropriate tools for implementation.

4

Raising Awareness on School Violence with Integrated Online Safety

News by: Nguyen Manh Cuong – Project Officer

After training sessions on Internet Safety and guidance on developing communication…

After training sessions on Internet Safety and guidance on developing communication programs, Phu Cuong Secondary School in Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province, took the lead in integrating online safety content into its campaigns against school violence.

During the event, students participated in recreational activities, answered questions about school violence and cyberbullying, and performed skits addressing issues of school violence stemming from the online environment. These skits were created and performed by the students themselves, spreading messages about practicing civility online to help reduce school violence.

The event attracted 556 students and 42 teachers from Phu Cuong Secondary School.

5

Training on Mental Health Care Integrated with Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

News by: Dinh Thi Thu Ha – Project Officer

On 24 September 2024, a training session on mental health care, integrated with…

On 24 September 2024, a training session on mental health care, integrated with social-emotional learning (SEL), was held in Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province. The session was attended by over 50 parent representatives from preschools and primary schools. It was part of the “Ready for Primary School” project, aimed at raising parental awareness of the critical role families play in caring for children’s mental health.

The main content of the training included defining and emphasising the importance of mental health, understanding the causes and factors affecting mental health, identifying issues and warning signs related to mental health, and suggesting solutions for providing psychological support for children.

The session helped parents recognise the importance of mental health care for children, while also highlighting the family’s responsibility in supporting their children’s overall physical and mental development.

6

Training on Using Libraries to Promote Language Development for Ethnic Minority Children

News by: Dinh Thi Thu Ha – Project Officer

On 21-22 September 2024, a training session on using libraries to promote language development for…

On 21-22 September 2024, a training session on using libraries to promote language development for ethnic minority children took place in Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province, with more than 40 primary school teachers in attendance. The training was part of the “Ready for Primary School” project, aimed at helping teachers effectively use library activities to develop reading and writing skills for students.

The main content of the training included the connection between reading and writing skills in enhancing students’ abilities, activities to support the development of these skills, library condition standards, and how to create a child-friendly library. This included the design of materials, tools, and activity areas in the library, as well as practice organizing reading sessions in the library.

The training not only provided theoretical knowledge but also offered practical opportunities, enabling teachers to apply what they learned in their teaching. The ultimate goal is to foster comprehensive language development for ethnic minority students by making effective use of library resources.

CULTURE CORNER

UNIQUE "VIA" WORSHIPPING CUSTOM OF MUONG PEOPLE

Among the many customs of Muong people, the “via” worship ceremony is a meaningful tradition that helps people connect with their roots. They believe that if someone’s soul gets lost, the “Mo” master can use his powers to bring it back.

The “via” offering tray usually includes incense, a pig’s head, boiled chicken, white sticky rice, wine, ceremonial cakes, fruits, and other items, often placed on 4-5 trays. Once everything is set up, the “Mo” master represents the family to perform the ritual. He drops stones from his magic pouch into a bowl of water and sprinkles the water around the house to drive away bad luck. After the ritual, family members are given wrist strings as lucky charms, with the belief that they bring protection from the gods.

The “via” ceremony is a beautiful act of respect and gratitude to parents and grandparents. This custom is a strong part of Muong people’s culture and should be preserved and promoted, adding to the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam.

DID YOU KNOW?

In the recent annual meeting, the Country Director of ChildFund Vietnam shared practical and interesting insights on “Staff wellbeing” The session focused on the key factors that contribute to a happy work environment, while offering helpful advice on respecting dignity and resolving conflicts at work. The session helped everyone better understand how to balance work and life, motivating each ChildFunder not only to perform well but also to find joy and satisfaction in their daily work.

So, here’s a small question to remind ChildFunders of the important content from the session: Do ChildFunders remember how many key factors contribute to staff wellbeing in the workplace?

This isn’t the correct answer yet, let’s take a moment to remember!

This isn’t the correct answer, please try guessing again!

This is the completely correct answer! There are 7 key factors that impact staff wellbeing in the workplace, which are:

  1. Health
  2. Good work
  3. Values
  4. Social connections
  5. Personal development
  6. Healthy lifestyle choices
  7. Financial security

This answer isn’t correct yet, please try again!

Together

September 2024

CHILDFUNDERS – FOR CHILDREN’S WELLBEING

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