Community Music Program for Vietnamese Youth

(Interview with the parents of two Rock-Paper-Scissor's Students, 2016)

My name is Khanh and my wife is Linh. Our first child is Nhat, and our second child is Bao. I think music is popular worldwide, people from every country love music. This is thanks to Rock-Paper-Scissors staff who  introduced us to the teachers who help my son Nhat to learn the violin, and my Bao to learn art.  In my family, we really love the violin so we let our children learn it. When we heard about the program we really appreciated it and Nhat has joined the violin class for three years now.

At the beginning my children had difficulties because everything was new to them, especially to learn the violin and having the practicing. After a year or two my son got much better and now he sounds very good. In the early days, both children were shy going to the music and art programs, but with time they have gotten used to it and love it, and they have become more confident naturally.

It wasn’t until Nhat played the violin for the first time that people in this village heard the sound from the violin. They asked “Who is playing such a sweet melody”. Sometimes, when hearing the violin sound made by Nhat at night, they ask “Who is making that sound”, I said “It’s Nhat.” Although people in here are poor, they love music in general and especially the violin. The local people, who have different jobs like farmers, builders, feel excited and forget all tiredness after a long working day when they listen to the violin playing. When the people in here listen to Nhat playing the violin they support our children and hope everyone in Vietnam can play this instrument.  (Translated by RPS Program Manager, Vietnam)

Note to Our Donors,

As you can see, this family is very poor. The boy's mom runs a recycling business at their home in the village…It’s a very hard life, and their mom told us this summer that when it rains she is often unable to work because she has no roof to package the recyclables under. Nhat’s dad, who is often not at home, finds occasional work as a laborer.

Along with the tremendous support and mentoring the boys receive through our music and art classes supported by you our donors; you have also helped us to support the family by helping us to pay for tuition for the boy's regular school, along with their school supplies. All students in Vietnam, no matter their income level, must pay annual tuition fees, buy their own notebooks and school supplies, and uniforms; often at a great cost to their families. The family thanks you all for helping to bring this great support to their lives.

We wish you the best and happy holidays!

Sara and Giao

Please consider continuing to help us support family likes these through a monthly, recurring contribution; an anonymous donor is providing a 200% match for all recurring donations to our program throughout the month of December!

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Dear Friends,

I hope that you are all doing well on these sometimes hot, sometimes cool September days. I wanted to give you a quick update on the music program that you have helped fund and the difference it is making in Vietnamese kid’s lives! Thank you again.

During the month of July, we invited a videographer to travel with us to Vietnam along with our summer volunteer group, to work on creating some short films about our kids and programs.  Although the films won’t be ready to view for a few months, I wanted to share one of the translations of an interview that we conducted over the summer. We not only interviewed some of our students for the films, but also their parents. 

Three years ago we selected two young brothers to be in our program, Thien, who plays the cello, and his younger brother Chi, who plays the violin. This year we were happy to have their youngest brother Linh, start on the cello as well. This family is a wonderful, hardworking family. They live in a tiny house with very little  and both the parents work very hard to support their three boys. I wanted to share with you the interview that we conducted with the boy's parents so that you as donors can better understand the difference that you are making, and have made, in the lives of these kids and their families.

Parent Interview:

“Our kids have become friendlier with others and more hardworking ever since they joined the music class.  After class they often help us with the house chores; then they practice the violin (and cellos). Apart from that, they go to work to help make supplementary income for the family. Although Thien has to work, he manages to take some time off to go to the music class. On the days the class is held he is always afraid of being late for it and is always rushing between class and work. My kids are also so excited about the class. It has been so great ever since they joined the program; they have become more hardworking, confident and friendly.

Thien has kept helping us with our work and his brothers with their homework since he joined the program. His little brothers keep talking about the violin teachers. The teachers are so dedicated; they do their best to help the kids learn better. We are so moved because there is such a wonderful class that is free of charge, we are so happy. No matter how difficult our situation is, we try our best to help them follow the class so they can grow their love for each other. Every time we see the kids play the violin and cello, especially when Thien helps his brothers, and they have fun with each other, we are so glad and proud of them. We want to say thank you to the program for giving our children this opportunity.

We find this program very helpful because it teaches our children a lot about music so they can be more confident. When there are guests at the house, they often play the songs they learned at the music class. It is the joy and pride of the family when the kids can play music. We will not let any difficulties keep us from sending them to class.  Not many kids out there have such an opportunity.  Who knows, in the future they might get much better and have a chance to go abroad.  It’s our dream…We wish when they master the instrument, they could go to different countries to help others like the volunteers in Ms. Sara’s group.”

~~I hope that in reading this you are smiling-and recognizing like me, how something as simple as a music class can help to change the lives of kids and families.

To all of you receiving this project report, thank you again for your donation and support.

Best Wishes,

Sara

PS-Please email me at sara@rockpaperscissorschildrensfund.org if you would like to learn more about volunteering, or helping us in any way. Thank you.

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