Community Service

Students from 11 communes in Muong Nhe District, Dien Bien Province, have to travel between 20 and 50km every day to reach their high school. However, the school’s dormitory area is unable to accommodate all local students. Challenges related to geography, difficult economic conditions, and the lack of infrastructure have posed significant barriers for these students on their journey to access education.

The project aims to build a complex of dorm rooms, classrooms, a kitchen, and supporting facilities on a 156m² site in Muong Nhe Village. The dormitory will provide stable accommodation for 50 - 60 H’Mong students, making it more convenient for them to get to school every day.

In Huoi Thung 1 Village, Na Co Sa Commune, Nam Po District, Dien Bien Province, children aged 3 to 5 face a long and challenging journey to reach the nearest preschool, located at the commune’s center. Some have to walk between 2 to 4km each day. The rugged terrain and distance pose significant obstacles for such young children, making their path to education all the more difficult.

To address this, the project aims to build a multi-age classroom for preschoolers right within the village. The facility will include a 40m² classroom and a 24m² playground, providing a safe and engaging learning environment for 30 to 35 children. With better access to a well-equipped and welcoming space, these young learners will not only have a safer journey to school but also a stronger foundation for their development and love for learning.

Nacosa 1 Commune is one of the most remote villages in Nam Po District, Dien Bien Province, located over 70 kilometers from the district center. Although the main road in this border area has been paved to serve national defense and security purposes, the connecting paths from the village to the main route remain dirt roads. In particular, the sloped sections leading to the main road become extremely slippery and severely eroded during the rainy season, making travel dangerous and, in many cases, impossible. Landslides occur annually, significantly impacting the daily travel and activities of the local people.

The road construction project connecting Nacosa 1 Commune to the main road is initiated to support over 400 residents, including students from Primary to High School, by providing them with a safer, more accessible path, especially during the flood season.

Chieng An Primary and Secondary School is located in Nong Hoi Duoi Village, Chieng An Commune, Muong La District, Sơn La Province - a commune in region 3, which is in a particularly difficult area. This is the place where 839 students study, of which 244 are boarding students. The students are arranged to stay in 5 boarding rooms, each room has 14 beds for 140 students. Currently, the school needs to equip more beds so that the students can rest more comfortably and safely.

The project will contribute 50 bunk beds to the boarding area with the desire to bring a full night's sleep and a better living space for children in the highlands. The addition of these beds will contribute to ensuring the health, quality of sleep, and a healthy living environment for students in the highlands.

At Hua Trai Primary and Secondary School - the main educational institution in Ban O, Hua Trai Commune, Muong La District, Son La Province - there are currently 38 classes with a total of 1,011 students, including 397 semi-boarding students. However, with only 16 dormitory rooms available, many students have to share beds in overcrowded and deteriorating conditions, which negatively impacts their health, sleep quality, and ability to concentrate in class. In this mountainous region where travel is challenging, the weather is harsh, and local livelihoods remain difficult, the lack of adequate facilities has become a significant barrier to the students’ educational journey.

This project aims to provide 50 double-deck metal beds with integrated study desks, helping to improve the students’ living conditions and create a safer, more comfortable space for learning, resting, and growing.

One of the most significant challenges that students from the Highlands face is a need for accommodation, which makes it difficult for them to attend school. The majority of H'mong students currently attend schools in Son Thinh Commune, Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province, where 96 out of 654 students attend Son Thinh High School and 74 out of 665 students attend Son Thinh Secondary School. However, due to geographic constraints, poor economic situations, and a lack of transportation, some students require secure housing in order to attend class without disruption. The project aims to build and expand a housing system near the school for approximately 40 - 50 local H'Mong students.

A total of 118,56 m² of land will be designated as priority space for classrooms and bedrooms. The project is divided into 2 phases: Academic Year 2023 - 2024 and Academic Year 2024 - 2025.

In accordance with the 2018 MoET Program, implemented during the 2020 academic year, Information Technology has been added as an elective subject in grades 1 through 2 and a compulsory subject in grades 3 and above. However, most schools in the mountainous areas of Yen Bai Province have not yet been equipped with computers. It creates inadequacies and difficulties for local students to access this subject.

As part of the "Access the Knowledge Network" project, 4 schools in the area will be supported with a system of 20 PCs will be installed at each school to assist the school's IT department in meeting the demands of learning and gaining access to technology, while also providing students with an appropriate environment for technological learning.

One of the most significant challenges that students from the Highlands face is a lack of accommodation, which makes it difficult for them to attend school. The majority of H'mong students currently attend schools in Son Thinh Commune, Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province, where 96 out of 654 students attend Son Thinh High School and 74 out of 665 students attend Son Thinh Secondary School. However, due to geographic constraints, poor economic situations, and a lack of transportation, some students require secure housing in order to attend class without disruption.

The goal of this project is to develop housing for 40 to 50 H'Mong students close to the school. A total of 134.4 m² of land will be used for the project, 118.56 m² of which will be designated as priority space for classrooms and bedrooms. The remaining space will be used to build a community living area. In the academic year 2023 - 2024, the project is expected to complete phase 1 with about 30 - 40m².

The preservation, maintenance, and promotion of traditional cultural beauty is critical for children from ethnic minority communities, including the H'Mong in particular. This is especially important for students at Son Thinh Secondary School and Son Thinh High School because they are the H'Mong people's future.

The School is running the "Community House" project alongside the "Strengthen the Present – Create the Future" project, both of which aim to build homes for H'Mong students in Son Thinh Commune, Van Chan District, Yen Bai Province. Using a total of 71.28 m² of land (over 134.4 m² for the entire housing project and community living space), the project will include a cafeteria for children and a community living area. After school, students can relax and unwind while also practicing their native songs, dances, and activities.

In accordance with the 2018 MoET Program, implemented during the 2020 academic year, Information Technology has been added as an elective subject in grades 1 through 2 and a compulsory subject in grades 3 and above. However, computers have not yet been provided for students at Tuc Dan Primary & Secondary Ethnic Boarding High School (in Pate Village). The school currently has 989 students, including 431 middle schoolers who require computers in order to pursue information technology. Students are still expected to use the local school's computer lab, which frequently experiences IT issues.

As part of the "Conquer the Future – Connect the Knowledge" project, a system of 20 PCs will be installed to assist the school's IT department in meeting the demands of learning and gaining access to technology, while also providing students with an appropriate environment for technological learning.

The lives of ethnic minorities are rendered even more challenging by inadequate transportation infrastructure and hazardous roadways. The ethnic group faces risks in their daily lives in Ta Chu Village, Phinh Ho Commune, Tram Tau District, Yen Bai Province, due to insufficient transportation and steep, hazardous, slippery, and dangerous roads. Thus, it is exceptionally challenging to get to places such as schools and hospitals when floods trigger landslides.

For more than 645 students, the daily task of going to school to study comes with several challenges. One could argue that the dangers they face on their way to school contribute to any difficulties in learning. Therefore, the “Way to School – Way to Dreams” project will assist in funding the construction of around 1 km of concrete road on the most dangerous rocky slope in Ta Chu Village. This initiative will make it easier for local residents and students to get around and reduce traffic hazards as a result.