We began preparations as early as last December with help from Hemispheres Foundation, a private organisation that plans conservation and education programmes. We wanted to develop a trip that would help our students to develop a sense of compassion for other communities, as well as raise their awareness of environmental issues.

Before the trip, we taught our students communication skills and teamwork values to ensure that they were mentally prepared for what would be a totally new environment, particularly since they would be travelling without their parents. The students also made little gifts out of recycled paper and thought up games to play with the children in the shelter homes.

Though the living quarters at Bo De Pagoda Shelter Home are still under construction, orphans have already moved in on the ground level.

I was very encouraged when our students initiated a donation drive to collect old books and clothes, more so when they managed to collect 21 boxes of donated items! The teachers also made contributions for the water filter systems and bought milk powder, Ovaltine, biscuits, stationery and board games for the shelter homes. One Pri 5 student, Hidayah Bte Azahari, even wrote a letter, which was signed by all the participants, to Singapore Airlines requesting for excess baggage allowance for the team.

Vietnam, here we come!

When the big day finally arrived, the students were in such high spirits that nobody cried as they bade farewell to their families. Arriving in Hanoi, we spent the first day touring the capital. A city teeming with culture, the students encountered bustling streets with hundreds of zooming motorcycles. At the end of the day, we had a special treat in attending a water puppet show, a thousand-year-old art unique to Vietnam.

After that, we got down to serious work. At the Bo De Pagoda Shelter Home, the pupils lost no time in performing their tasks. One group sweated it out on the water filter, which involved carrying buckets of water to fill up a 250-litre tank. Other students organised activities for the orphans, such as drawing, colouring and reading sessions. For many of our pupils, the very basic living conditions at the Home were a totally new experience and many of them were taken aback by the sight.

After a 3-km hike through the jungle, we finally saw the thousand year-old tree.

Our next stop was the Vietnam Friendship Village, a settlement for war veterans affected by Agent Orange during the American War in Vietnam. Our pupils interacted with the residents and were impressed by the handicrafts, such as embroidery work and handmade flowers, which the residents produce for a living.

Finally, we set up a new water filter system at Thai Binh Social Welfare Centre. Home to 40 orphans, aged and disabled individuals affected by Agent Orange, the Centre also provides rehabilitation and training to about 600 handicapped children and adults. Besides the filtration system, our pupils worked together to draw and paint a mural on one of the Centre’s walls to add a cheerful splash of colour to the place.

Lasting lessons from Mother Nature

In between these community service stops, we visited Vietnam’s natural wonders. Students were awed by scenic Halong Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of a coast lined with thousands of limestone islets.

We also visited the oldest national park in Vietnam, Cuc Phuong National Park, which is home to some of the rarest flora and fauna species in Asia. Here, we embarked on a 3-km hike up a mountain to see a thousand-year-old tree in the deep jungle.

I’m glad the pupils did not just admire all this natural beauty, but learnt that unless they protect the environment, all these wonders could one day vanish. Many students also returned home with a deeper appreciation for what they have and enjoy in Singapore.

Our students were enthralled by the beauty of Halong Bay.

“I appreciate Singapore more now because we have clean water and a clean environment,” says Chan Kei Jeral, a Pri 4 student, “I’m happy to have helped the less fortunate in Vietnam.” Another Pri 4 student Benecia Voon learnt not to take good things for granted. “This trip is meaningful and I learnt about Vietnamese culture. I wish there are more such trips!” she enthused.

Echoing the pupils’ sentiments, one parent Mr Sulaiman remarked, “The trip helped my daughter Siti Nursyuhadah realise how fortunate she is, and she learnt to care for those in need.”

This expedition to Vietnam was our school’s very first community involvement project overseas, and we returned home with a newfound spirit of community service and a conviction that everyone has a part to play in saving Mother Earth. It was surely an experience with lessons that will last a lifetime.

Contributed by:
Mrs Grace Quek
HOD/Science
Yio Chu Kang Primary School