CHILD PROTECTION AND EDUCATION

Education

12 classrooms were upgraded 03 newly-built libraries

30 Youth Development Clubs (YDC)

4,614 people joined the reading activities

766 education devices were supported

17,439 books were supported

445 devices were supported to YDC

815 students joined YDC

61,844 students accessed better quality education

GNI always tries to give children opportunities to access better education in Vietnam. In 2022, students in Vietnam was able to go back to school after a long period affected by Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, we adjusted our activities to adapt to new circumstances. GNI also improved educational facilities andcontinued maintaining and innovating student capacity development programs by establishing Hobby Clubs, Discovery Clubs, etc., attracting hundreds of students.

Developing the reading culture in schools and communities was also one of the focus programs implemented by GNI in 2022. Establishing friendly libraries, providing thousands of books, setting up reading clubs and organizing reading movements and school activities have become impressive highlights of GNI’s project at schools.

Inauguration and handover of friendly libraries at schools.

In 2022, GNI constructed and established 03 friendly libraries at Thai Thinh Ethnic Semiboarding High School (Hoa Binh City), Lo Son Primary and Secondary School (Tan Lac district), Tan Bac Primary School (Quang Binh district) with a total value of nearly 3 billion VND. This was one of the activities in the Reading Culture Development program implemented by GNI.

Since 2016, GNI has constructed/established 52 friendly libraries at schools to develop reading habits, interests, and self-study skills. These new libraries have attracted many students to read and study.

With an open design, green library space, and friendly arrangement, GNI hopes to help children have better access to a friendly library environment with all necessary equipment, various books for different age groups, and educational orientations.

In addition to supporting facilities and equipment, GNI also implements many activities, such as organizing reading festivals and monthly reading activities and establishing and operating book clubs to practice reading skills for students.

Through the above activities, GNI not only promotes the reading culture at schools but also improves the teaching quality of teachers and the learning quality of students at schools.

“Constructing a friendly library with educational equipment, and supporting thousands of books for the libraries at schools in Hoa Binh commune, GNI has provided students with a safe space to study and play, contributing to the reading culture development at the localty.”

YDC Ideas Day: Exhibition and Experience Day.

On December 18, 2022, GNI organized “YDC Idea Day: Exhibition and Experience” at Dai Phu Primary School, Son Duong District, Tuyen Quang province. More than 500 students from the primary schools and 10 YDC Clubs participated in the program. This has been one of the activities in the YDC program implemented by GNI since 2016.

During the event, students had a chance to join and experience exhibition booths such as Talking Trash Cans, Natural Phenomena: Wind-Storm, Water Research, Miracle Potted Plants, or other areas, such as Autumn Art, Recycle Engineer, Windmill or Magic Garden, etc.

I am delighted to join the program with my friends and teachers. We will continue to do garbage sorting with these bins. This is my first time going to Son Duong and participating in such an exciting experience program

- Bui Anh Duc, a student from the Discovery Club of Gia Mo Primary and Secondary School, Tan Lac district -

“The English Club at Dai Phu Primary School with 30 students was established and operated under the direction of GNI. Participating in YDC Idea Day for the first time, our students gain more knowledge about foreign languages and improve their creativity. We hope that more discovery clubs will be established in the coming years, helping children join experiential activities to develop capacity and increase children’s participation.”

- Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh Que, Principal of Dai Phu Primary School, Son Duong district -

With the YDC Idea Day, GNI hopes students had a fun and meaningful time to unleash their talents. Simultaneously, GNI also wishes to share the importance of education/skill training for students with schools, parents, and students, emphasizing four groups of core competencies - Communication, Cooperation, Creativity, and Critical Thinking.

“Donate books for children”: Giving 13,259 books to students in Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province.

In August 2022, GNI gave 13,259 textbooks, reference books, and story books to 05 Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools in 03 communes, including Ban Ria, Bang Lang, and Yen Thanh in Quang Binh district, Ha Giang province. This resulted from the campaign “Donate books for children” launched by GNI from July 6, 2022 to August 8, 2022.

Each book is a hope for children. Through the campaign, GNI and the donors wish to give children the doorway to knowledge to open up a brighter new world.

=“Ban Ria Ethnic Minority Primary and Secondary School have many underprivileged students. They do not receive enough attention from their families. Besides, the textbooks at the school library are mainly books from the outdated curriculum. Therefore, many students need more updated textbooks and supplies when the school year starts. That’s why we were extremely excited and happy when we received the books donated by GNI and donors. These books not only give them motivation and joy to go to school, but also prepare for the future.”

- Mrs. Hoang Thi Xuyen, Principal of Ban Ria Ethnic Minority Primary and Secondary School -

Financial management education for primary school students in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province.

550 students were trained in financial management skills

05 business ideas were supported with funds

150 teachers and parents were trained in financial management skills

3,000 people participated in the sales day

01 Skill Education Center was established

To provide fundamental knowledge and skills on financial management for primary school students and their parents, GNI carried out activities, such as training on financial management skills, organizing an initiative business contest and a sales day, etc. Thus, children would better understand the value of money, learn how to save and spend smartly, and help teachers and parents realize the necessity of financial management education for children from elementary school.

GNI set up a life skills education center for children in Vinh Long commune, Vinh Loc district. The Financial Management Education course was one of the first skills courses taught at the center.

Child Protection

2,446 children participated in Child Right Awareness (CRA)

9,181 children participated in Child Empowerment Service (CES)

333 teachers were trained in Child Rights and Child Protection

02 projects on mental health care for students

23,348 children participated in Good Puppet Show (GPS)

262 parents/caregivers have raised awareness of Parenting Skills

04 training sessions on Skills to prevent child marriage - “Children are not brides” project

GNI prioritizes child protection and we have usually carried out many related activities. In 2022, GNI continued to implement Child Right Education (CRE) programs for students, teachers, and parents. In addition, GNI initiated campaigns to promote children’s participation, starting with the Global Youth Network program with the participation of primary and secondary students. GNI also maintained the “Children are not brides” project to prevent child marriage through training courses for core students. Especially, GNI focuses on mental health care for students and teachers in the post-Covid-19 pandemic by implementing projects on mental health issues, establishing and operating counseling rooms at schools.

“Global Youth Network” Program

Global Youth Network program was funded by the Korean Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Environment, and National Institute of Policy for Youth. The program was designed to create a forum for exchange and cooperation for global development among young people from countries where Good Neighbors is operating.

Global Youth Network 2022 allowed youth from 16 countries to actively and openly discuss environmental issues and share actions to tackle this worldwide crisis. Different discussion topics, including sustainable development goals, global climate crisis, solutions, initiatives, and movements to protect the Earth as a young environmental activist were discussed in 06 sessions during the event.

“I am very happy to participate in this program. I write my activity diary for a month about the global development goals 5, 6, and 15. During the event, I saw that Korean students also like football as much as we do. It would be great if we have a chance to play soccer together in the future”.

- Bui Quang Sang, a student at Quy My Primary & Secondary school -

Improve mental health for secondary students in Hanoi by raising awareness of Gender Equality (Speakout 3).

GNI implemented the project in 2022 to raise awareness among secondary school students of mental health by approaching gender equality and providing mental health support services to students. School counseling rooms were set up and operated; prevention programs were developed and implemented; We also organized training sessions on mental health and gender equality for teachers and students and sharing sessions with Korean experts for teachers on student support skills.

GNI pays attention to both the students’ and teachers’ mental health. GNI believes the small changes teachers make in their thoughts, actions, and daily teaching process will create lasting effects on students’ perceptions, emotions, and behaviors, laying the foundation to build happy schools.

02 counseling rooms were established and operated

766 students/parents were counseled

61 students joined Be Friend Club

121 teachers were trained in gender equality

08 skill training courses

80 students were trained in gender equality

150 teachers took part in “Mental health support for teachers to create happy schools”

03 skill sharing sessions to support students

3,000 students joined the prevention program

Collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training to carry out the “Developing Social Work and Psychological Counseling in Schools in the period of 2022 - 2024” project.

To improve the effectiveness of social work and school psychology counseling in helping and protecting students at school, GNI and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) implemented the “Developing Social Work and Psychological Counseling in Schools in the period of 2022 - 2024” project in 6 provinces and cities, including Hanoi, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City.

In the project, GNI and the Ministry of Education and Training would conduct surveys, evaluate and organize seminars to review relevant documents on social work and psychological counseling at schools. In particular, the study stipulates the roles, tasks, and implementation process of officials, teachers, and staff implementing social work and psychological counseling in educational institutions; Research policies to encourage socialization, attract businesses, organizations, and individuals to invest in developing establishments providing social work services and psychological counseling in schools. The project has also strengthened coordination with other ministries, agencies, related units, and organizations to develop school social work and psychological counseling.

The project also developed a network of institutions providing social work and psychological counseling services in schools, setting up psychology counseling rooms, diversifying formats, and improving the quality of providing social work and psychological counseling services in schools suitable for social needs and contexts. Officials, staff, and collaborators in charge also have the chance to improve their professional skills. The project also promotes communication work to raise awareness of social work and school psychology counseling.

=GNI and the Ministry of Education and Training expect about 3,704 high schools with over six provinces/cities in the project areas benefiting from the project. GNI hopes that this project will improve policy implementation and provide better quality social work and psychological counseling services to students.

Improve mental health for children in Vinh Loc District.

To improve mental health for secondary school students, GNI implemented the project from April 2022 to March 2023 in Vinh Loc district, Thanh Hoa province.

Not only focusing on the mental health care system and improving the effectiveness of school counseling, but GNI also concentrates on groups of children at risk of dropping out, children who were victims of school violence, and vulnerable and abandoned ones in the Covid-19 pandemic. GNI also cares about the target group of parents and teachers - who directly influence the children’s emotions and psychological by organizing training programs and seminars on students’ mental health. 01 community consultation room was set up

114 individuals/groups were consulted 03

“Sharing journeys” activities were organized

06 schools joined the contest “Online, right or wrong?”

3,000 students participated in the “Sharing Journey” 02 training courses to improve students’ mental health

~3,000 participants in the “Children with information security on the Internet” Day