Community Music Program for Vietnamese Youth

In one week, 19 volunteers from the U.S. will be giving violin lessons, cello lessons and teaching art classes in Cam Duc, Vietnam at our little school. We have about 40 students now in the village who come 2-3 days a week to either play music or paint and draw. Our volunteers will also be helping us to run our summer programs in two ethnic minority villages where we hold music and art camps for 300-400 children. It’s an exciting time as we begin packing all of the new art supplies and instruments for the camps. Everyone is excited!

 In April, we had a special visitor at our schools to review our programs for Global Giving, and to provide story telling training to our staff. We wanted to share with you the report that she wrote to her Global Giving colleagues about our programs. Global Giving sends a representative to Vietnam every couple of years to vet our programs and see what we’ve been up to, and where and how your wonderful much needed, donations are being used. Here is the note from Caroline, the Global Giving representative that traveled to Vietnam this year:

 Notes from Caroline, Global Giving In-the-Field Traveler

 This was truly such a beautiful weekend. Giao (Rock-Paper-Scissor’s Program Manager) and her family went above and beyond any hospitality I have been shown, thus far. I was not only welcomed into the organization and into the community, but also into her family. From the time Giao and her brother picked me up from the bus stop in Nha Trang, to the moment she and her mother returned me there at the end of the weekend, I was treated with the utmost kindness.

 Furthermore, every encounter with local leaders, the local Red Cross and the families and children of Cam Duc, was educational and welcoming. I could not be more thankful for my weekend here.

 Quote from Caroline-Global Giving Representative

 These projects help children and young adults develop skills they would otherwise not have the means to develop skills that can often be powerful catalysts for future jobs. Even more than that, these projects help develop and instill an understanding of confidence and self-worth in children that often come from underserved communities and often, quite difficult backgrounds.

 This is of the utmost importance because programs that address self- development are often difficult to describe, and difficult to share how far the impact stretches. However, the importance of such programs in long term growth within a community should not be forgotten.

 These particular music and art classes are offered several days a week, and several of the teachers are former students. Both the teachers and the older students interact, play and teach the younger students, displaying not only what they have learned, but also the maturity and care they have developed within these programs. The children are incredible- it is so good to see an organization that is actively engaged in community development, by means of individual and familial development. The joy these children found in painting and playing music is hard to describe.

As a result of Caroline’s visit, Global Giving selected our music program to be their featured project in the Project of the Month Club for June. We are very excited to be part of this and receive the extra support! Thank you Global Giving supporters!

Sara (Rock-Paper-Scissors Children’s Fund Founder)

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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