Internal Newsletter March 2025

STORY OF THE MONTH

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WITH THE GORGEOUS LADIES AT CHILDFUND VIETNAM

On International Women’s Day, the amazing ladies of ChildFund across all our offices were showered with heartfelt wishes , meaningful gifts , and enjoyed cozy, relaxing moments with their colleagues .

Let’s rewind and take a look back at the lovely moments shared by our beautiful ChildFund women!

TIN TIN TICK & TALK

Training Workshop on Building Safe Schools in Cao Bang

News by: Do Duong Hien – Child Protection and Child Participation Specialist

“A safe school is a happy school.” – shared Ms. Do Thi Tam, Principal…

“A safe school is a happy school.” – shared Ms. Do Thi Tam, Principal of Yen Lac Semi-boarding Primary & Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities. Her school once suffered a great loss when Typhoon Yagi caused a landslide, taking the lives of two students.

Over the past six months, efforts to recover from the disaster have been ongoing, with strong support from the government, local authorities, organisations, and the community. Contributing to this collective effort, ChildFund Vietnam recently organised a training workshop on “Building Safe Schools for Disaster Prevention and Climate Change Adaptation” for 30 teachers and school managers from Nguyen Binh and Ha Quang districts.

During the workshop, participants shared real-life experiences, learned how to build safe schools and how to use assessment tools to identify existing challenges and set priorities for improvement. Ms. Hoang Thi Mai, Deputy Head of the Nguyen Binh District Department of Education, emphasised: “This training has once again reminded us of the importance of disaster preparedness—not only at the institutional and community levels but also for each individual. As soon as we return to our local areas, we will apply the knowledge gained to improve the disaster prevention plans of our schools.”

This workshop is part of the project “Post-Yagi Recovery Support”, implemented by ChildFund Vietnam. Beyond providing material assistance, the project also equips teachers and students with essential knowledge and skills to proactively respond to natural disasters, fostering a safer and more resilient learning environment.

Following the success of this event, similar activities will be organised by ChildFund Vietnam offices in Bac Kan and Cao Bang provinces in the future.

Project management training for local partners in Hoa Binh province

News by: Ung Thi Hien – Project Officer

On 12-13 March 2025, ChildFund Vietnam organised a Project Management Training for local partners…

On 12-13 March 2025, ChildFund Vietnam organised a Project Management Training for local partners. The event brought together 81 participants from district and commune-level People’s Committees and schools across 27 communes/wards in Kim Boi, Tan Lac, and Hoa Binh City. This is an important step towards ChildFund Vietnam’s localisation goals.

The training aimed to update knowledge for local partners while strengthening project management and implementation skills to ensure effectiveness and quality.

Joining hands to help Cao Bang recover from typhoon Yagi

News by: Do Duong Hien – Child Protection and Child Participation Specialist

From 21 to 23 March, ChildFund Vietnam continued the journey to being love and support to schools affected…

From 21 to 23 March, ChildFund Vietnam continued the journey to being love and support to schools affected by typhoon Yagi in Nguyen Binh, Thach An, and Ha Quang districts (Cao Bang province). This initiative is part of the “Post-Yagi Recovery Support” project, implemented by ChildFund with funding from the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade through ChildFund New Zealand.

At Quang Trong Semi-boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities and Kim Dong Secondary School, ChildFund supported:

50 scholarships

489 sets of school supplies

240 hygiene kits for female students

03 water filtration systems for the schools

02 sets of school sanitation equipment

The event welcomed more than 400 students, 65 parents, 90 teachers, and representatives from local authorities.

D., a student from Quang Trong School, shared: “I am very grateful for these gifts from the project. These small contributions will help us a lot in our daily lives and studies at the boarding school, especially when many of my friends are still living in temporary shelters outside the school.”

Mr. Nong Van Huu, Principal of Kim Dong School, expressed: “ChildFund’s support has played a crucial role in helping our community overcome the difficulties caused by the typhoon. It also contributes to the collective efforts of teachers and students to persist in teaching and learning despite the challenges.”

Bac Kan students transform into “Online Safety Warriors”

News by: Nguyen Thi Phuong – Project Coordinator

On 25 March, 355 students and teachers at Coc Dan Semi-Boarding Primary & Secondary School (Ngan Son District, Bac Kan Province) joined ChildFund in an…

On 25 March, 355 students and teachers at Coc Dan Semi-Boarding Primary & Secondary School (Ngan Son District, Bac Kan Province) joined ChildFund in an exciting and creative event to learn about online safety!

Event Highlights:

Students performed engaging role-play skits, reenacting dangerous situations when using the Internet.

Children created drawings with meaningful messages on how to protect themselves online.

A rapid-fire quiz challenged students’ knowledge of online safety.

More than just a lesson, this event was an opportunity for students to become smart and responsible Internet users. The activity was part of the project “Empowering Digital Learning for All”, equipping children with essential skills to confidently and safely explore the online world!

Colours of Muong Culture – A memorable festival for primary school students

News by: Dinh Thi Thu Ha – Project Coordinator

On 26 March at Quyet Chien Primary and Secondary School (Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province)…

On 26 March at Quyet Chien Primary and Secondary School (Tan Lac District, Hoa Binh Province), more than 860 students, along with their parents, teachers, and local authorities, gathered for a vibrant Primary Student Festival under the theme “Conserving and Promoting the Cultural Identity of the Muong Ethnic Group.”

As part of the “Ready for Primary School” project, the event featured exciting activities such as knowledge competitions, traditional folk games, sports, musical performances, ethnic fashion shows, creative education exhibits, and market stalls showcasing Muong cuisine, farming tools, and traditional products. The festival was an opportunity to:

Help children better understand gender equality and disability inclusion

Build life skills, teamwork, and creative thinking for students

Encourage students to explore, appreciate and take pride in Muong cultural heritage

Strengthen the connection between families, schools, and communities in supporting children’s readiness for primary school.

Meaningful Cyber Safety Experience for Students in Hoa Binh

News by: Tran Van Tu – Project Coordinator

In today’s digital age, online safety skills have become essential for every student…

In today’s digital age, online safety skills have become essential for every student. At the end of March, with the support of ChildFund Vietnam, Huu Nghi Secondary School (Hoa Binh City) organised an experiential activity titled “Online Safety”, aiming to raise students’ awareness on using social media in a safe, positive, and effective way.

The event featured a range of engaging and educational competitions, including:

The Introduction Round, where teams showcased their creativity and unique personalities through vibrant presentations, reflecting strong teamwork and confidence.

The Quiz Round, which presented real-life online situations, helping students identify potential risks and develop skills to protect themselves on digital platforms.

The Skit Performance Round, where meaningful messages are brought to life through short plays about avoiding scams, protecting personal information, and promoting respectful behaviour on social media.

ChildFund Vietnam is proud to support schools in equipping young people with the digital skills they need to thrive – not just to navigate technology, but to grow into responsible, respectful and thoughtful members of the online community.

CULTURE CONER

THE RAIN PRAYING FESTIVAL OF THE MUONG PEOPLE

Every year, around March and April, the Muong ethnic community in Hoa Binh eagerly prepares for the Rain Praying Festival – a sacred ritual expressing hopes for favorable weather and abundant harvests.

The ceremony usually takes place in village communal yards, open fields, or near the headwaters of streams. The Mo shaman, acting as the spiritual bridge between humans and deities, leads the offerings – which often include sticky rice, pork, wine, betel leaves, and areca nuts. Every offering is prepared with great care, embodying the sincerity of the community toward heaven and earth.

The ritual is followed by a festive celebration filled with traditional dances and Mo chants, echoing through the mountains like heartfelt prayers for rain. Graceful dance movements resemble falling raindrops, nourishing the land below.

Beyond its spiritual meaning, the Rain Praying Festival is a major communal event. Folk games such as tug-of-war, swing contests, and “ném còn” (a traditional throwing game) attract participants of all ages, creating a vibrant and joyful atmosphere that strengthens village bonds.

For Muong people, the Rain Praying Festival is more than a plea for crops. It is a powerful symbol of harmony between humans and nature, where every raindrop carries with it life, faith, and the promise of a prosperous year.

DID YOU KNOW?

Spending hours in front of a screen can easily lead to eye strain, dryness, headaches, and even dizziness. In this issue of Together, we’re sharing a simple yet effective tip to help you ease the strain – The 20-20-20 rule.

The rule is very simple:

Every 20 minutes, look at something at 20 feet (about 6 meters) away for 20 seconds.

Why should we rest our eyes for 20 seconds?

The 20-second break has been studied and proven by experts to be sufficient for temporarily relaxing the eye muscles. You can also combine this break with a cup of tea – not only does it help refresh your mind, but it also gives your eyes the support it needs. Green tea contains antioxidant catechins, which help to reduce the common issue of watery eyes caused by prolonged eye strain.

What happens if your eyes don’t get regular rest?

Prolonged computer use can lead to Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a condition with common symptoms such as discomfort, eye strain, blurred vision, and even uncontrollable tearing. Many people also experience red or dry eyes, headaches, and noticeably reduced vision. In more severe cases, double vision may occur, causing distorted and overlapping images. Beyond affecting the eyes, CVS can also result in neck, shoulder, and back pain due to improper posture while working in front of a screen for extended periods.

How else can you protect your eyes?

In addition to the 20-20-20 rule, building a few small habits can go a long way in protecting your eyes:

Blink more often to keep your eyes moist – especially while focusing on screens.
Use eye drops if your eyes feel dry, particularly in air-conditioned spaces.
Adjust your screen settings like brightness and contrast to a comfortable level. Use a screen filter or reposition your monitor to reduce glare.
Mind your posture – sit up straight, keep your eyes about an arm’s length from the screen, and avoid bending your neck for too long.

Together

March 2025

CHILDFUNDERS – FOR CHILDREN’S WELLBEING