Stories: Children, Community, Future

In celebration of International Women’s Day 08th March, let’s meet Hanh – an enthusiastic young woman from the core team of the Online Safety project in Bac Kan province.

Sharing about the time before joining the project, Hanh said: “I used to face many risks when using the Internet such as fraud and even bullying on social networks. At that time, my friends and I didn’t have the knowledge to protect ourselves online, so I really wanted to learn more!”

Understanding the difficulties and risks her peers often face online, Hanh did not hesitate to join the core group right after the first training session: “I was very interested and want my friends and myself to learn how to use the Internet safely, thus right after the first training, I volunteered to join the core group of children.”

Up to now, after more than a year as a core group member, with her enthusiasm and passion, Hanh has been trusted to be the leader of the group. Along with two other male members, Hanh has organised a series of communication sessions in schools and in village meetings on online safety knowledge. In addition to being the leader of the core team, Hanh is also the Youth Union Branch Secretary who, together with her friends, has integrated knowledge about online safety through games in summer activities for local children.

“Sometimes, I also have difficulty in answering questions from adults or students during training sessions since I did not have enough information. During those times, my friends and I actively looked up information online, verified them with the project, and then passed it on to people in the most concise and simple way. Thanks to this, I was also able to practice my ability to speak in front of a crowd, improve my skills in conveying messages and persuading listeners.” – Hanh said.

With a high sense of responsibility and dedication for social work, Hanh always performs her role well with the trust and support from her male group members, attracting enthusiastic participation from the community in all communication activities.

Hanh shared: “Participating in the project brought me a lot of joy as I have always loved doing social work to support the community. I look forward to taking part in more future projects, especially on child protection in the community!”

On this Women’s Day, Hanh serves as an excellent example of a woman who empowers herself and those around her to embrace technology safely and responsibly.