The project “Ve giac mo cho em” (Drawing dreams for children) is aimed at raising awareness and responsibility of students of FPT University Ho Chi Minh City in particular and all students in Ho Chi Minh City in general in joining hands to help ethnic minority children continue to go to school. The target audience of this project is Khmer ethnic minority students in Duyen Hai District, Tra Vinh Province. By providing health insurance and necessary school supplies, the project hopes to help them have better learning conditions, create a favorable educational environment and encourage the comprehensive development of ethnic minority children – Khmer.
The project was carried out by a group of students majoring in Multimedia Communications at FPT University, Ho Chi Minh City, to provide 30 health insurance packages, 30 sets of notebooks, and 150 sets of school supplies to Khmer students at Don Chau B Primary School in Duyen Hai District.
Cooperation unit:
- People’s Committee of Duyen Hai district, Tra Vinh province
Beneficiary:
- Public sector: Departments of Education, Department of Education and Training of Tra Vinh province, People’s Committees at provincial and district levels, Young Pioneer Organization at school level, …
- Community: children, youth, officers, workers, teachers, men, women, LGBTQ+…
- Private sector: small, medium and micro enterprises.
Project activities
1. Media
The initiative aims to increase public awareness of children’s rights, particularly for ethnic minority children in education, learning, and development, through the hashtag challenge “Time Wheel.” This challenge invites everyone to share memorable memories from their school days by posting old photos on Facebook. For each hashtag used, two notebooks will be donated to students.
2. Fundraising
The “Dream Booth” activity is part of the fundraising efforts for the “Drawing Dreams for Children” project. This initiative generates funds by selling items like bracelets, crispy rice, clothing, clay models, and tote bags featuring drawings.
The “Diem nhat yeu thuong” (Love Picking Point) activity involves collecting and accepting donations of used clothing from students. These items are carefully sorted and resold at a fair to raise funds for supporting children’s education.
The initiative aims to enhance capacity and connect educational communication networks to promote awareness of children’s rights, particularly for ethnic minority children, through events like the “Drawing Dreams for Children” Fair and the “Été En Fête” music show. This summer-themed music night seeks to evoke cherished memories of bright summers, including feelings of first love and youthful experiences, while providing enjoyable and meaningful entertainment.
3. Giving
30 health insurance packages, 30 notebooks, 150 supplies for students.
Contact information
- Professional advisor: Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Hien; Dr. Le Thi My Danh
- Lecturer at FPT University – HCM campus
- Project manager: Nguyen Phan Mai Phuong
- Email: [email protected]
Project plan
Phase 1: Research and data collection
From May to June 2024, the project carried out an extensive study, including smaller research efforts focused on the Multimedia Communications field at FPT University Ho Chi Minh City, as well as public groups and the public sector. The findings revealed that most students feel neutral about community service projects due to limited opportunities for involvement. Additionally, over 80% of the surveyed students indicated that the Multimedia Communications Management program at FPT University consistently develops socially significant projects and activities that promote humanitarian messages (such as initiatives supporting education and children) and that they are eager to participate in projects that benefit the community.
Next, the project carried out research to assess the situation, behaviors, and awareness levels of students regarding children’s rights to education and talent development, with a particular focus on ethnic minority children
Primary school children from ethnic minority backgrounds often encounter significant challenges in accessing education. Living in remote areas, they face not only a lack of resources but also language barriers, which complicate their learning experience. Besides learning Vietnamese, the primary language of instruction, they must also adapt to an educational environment that differs from their native culture. Implementing support policies for children and students from very small ethnic minority groups is one of Vietnam’s strategies to ensure educational access for these communities. Such policies help bridge the gap in learning opportunities between ethnic minority groups and between these groups and the majority, promoting educational equality.
According to the report of the General Statistics Office and the Ethnic Minority Committee, provinces with a large Khmer population such as Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, and Kien Giang, have a notably high percentage of poor households among ethnic minorities, particularly in mountainous and remote areas. In some parts of the Southwest region, the poverty rate among Khmer people can be two to three times higher than the overall average. Furthermore, the Ethnic Minority Committee indicates that the dropout rate for Khmer students exceeds that of majority students, especially in primary and secondary schools. In certain provinces in the Southwest, the dropout rate for Khmer students can reach 7-10%, which is higher than that of Kinh students. Key factors contributing to this include economic hardships, the need to support their families, and language barriers in educational settings.
According to the report of the General Statistics Office and the Ethnic Minority Committee, provinces with a large Khmer population such as Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, and Kien Giang, have a notably high percentage of poor households among ethnic minorities, particularly in mountainous and remote areas. In some parts of the Southwest region, the poverty rate among Khmer people can be two to three times higher than the overall average. Furthermore, the Ethnic Minority Committee indicates that the dropout rate for Khmer students exceeds that of majority students, especially in primary and secondary schools. In certain provinces in the Southwest, the dropout rate for Khmer students can reach 7-10%, which is higher than that of Kinh students. Key factors contributing to this include economic hardships, the need to support their families, and language barriers in educational settings.
The project has simultaneously researched areas and schools for ethnic minority students in remote parts of Tra Vinh province to determine its focus location. On June 10, 2024, following this research and survey, the project selected Don Chau B Primary School in Duyen Hai District as its target site. Additionally, the Duyen Hai District Education Department reported that the participation rate of primary school students in health insurance (HI) remains low, which contradicts the goals set by the Department of Education and the Tra Vinh Provincial People’s Committee to increase HI coverage. This issue is particularly pronounced among the Khmer ethnic minority community, where children often encounter economic and cultural challenges that hinder their participation in health insurance programs. Consequently, there is a pressing need for increased outreach and support to enhance the participation rate of children in health insurance, ensuring their healthcare rights, especially for ethnic minority students.
Phase 2: Fundraising Communications
Following an analysis of students’ behavior and perceptions, the project created a plan and executed activities for the “Drawing Dreams for children” campaign, utilizing both social media and on-site engagement at FPT University in Ho Chi Minh City from June 13 to July 30, 2024.
Key activities include the hashtag challenge “Wheel of Time” on social media, the “Dream for children” fair series of fundraising sessions (Love Picking Point, Dream Booth) and the music show “Été En Fête”.
The “Drawing Dreams for Children” campaign attracted nearly 1,000 followers on Facebook, with over 5,000 visits and almost 15,000 interactions. Through various activities, 30 health insurance packages, 30 notebooks, and 150 supplies were donated to Khmer students in remote areas at Don Chau B Primary School in Duyen Hai District. The research findings were used to develop initiatives aimed at raising awareness and enhancing communication campaigns about Children’s Rights, specifically focusing on ethnic minority children, for the project’s target audiences.
Phase 3: Project fund handover and inspection
On August 27, 2024, the Fund Handover Ceremony for the “Drawing Dreams for Children” project was held at Don Chau B Primary School in Duyen Hai District, Tra Vinh Province. The event featured Ms. Le Thi My Danh, Head of the Multimedia Management Department at FPT University Ho Chi Minh City, and Mr. Thach Ngoc Quang, Principal of Don Chau B Primary School, along with FPT University teachers, students, and 150 Khmer students from the school. During the ceremony, 30 health insurance packages, 30 sets of notebooks, and 150 sets of school supplies were distributed to Khmer students in remote areas, aiming to support their continued education.
Phase 4: Upcoming project plan
In the next phase, the project will maintain its focus on educating studesnts about the rights to education and development for children, particularly those from ethnic minorities, across Ho Chi Minh City. This will involve organizing seminars, discussions, and various activities featuring experts in children’s rights, education, and talent development. Through these initiatives, students will have the chance to better understand the challenges and difficulties faced by ethnic minority children.
Simultaneously, the project will create a support fund aimed at offering scholarships, educational materials, and skills development assistance for students. This fund will be sustained through contributions from individuals and organizations, as well as involvement from the student community via fundraising initiatives like charity fairs, creative art competitions, and other events.
References:
- Report of the Ethnic Committee, General Statistics Office “Ethnic groups in Vietnam”,
- Internal report of the Department of Education and Training of Duyen Hai District
- Results from the survey research of the Project “Drawing Dreams for Children” (Students majoring in Communication – FPT University – HCM campus).