PV: "DUh“Duoc Hoc” is a project for ethnic minority students studying at universities and I am the project manager. Can you share about the project that you and your friends have done?
Nguyen Huong Giang Floor:Until now, I am still very surprised because we are one of 100 clubs, teams, and groups that received a Certificate of Merit from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Youth Union for their achievements in volunteer work. At the time of receiving the Certificate of Merit, our project had only been operating for more than 1 year.
The project was established in October 2022 by a brother who has many years of experience in the volunteer field. Luckily, when the project first started, I knew about it and volunteered, and just 1 month later I was entrusted with the management task. As soon as I joined, I thought I was very suitable for this project because the project is 100% for ethnic minority students, focusing on improving educational conditions. That is, calling for support for old computers that are still in good condition to give back to students in difficult circumstances, studying in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The special thing about the program is that the old computers will be repaired and have their components replaced before they reach the students. Students who receive computers will also be guaranteed until they finish university. If damaged, they can bring them to the project centers for free repair support.
Another highlight that makes me confident when coming to this project is transparency. In this project, the person donating the computer, the person “sponsoring” the repair, and the recipient all know each other’s information, have the opportunity to contact each other, and can support and accompany each other throughout the process.
The second activity of the project is that we also call for courses such as: English courses, skills courses, personal development courses... Online courses can minimize costs, help students study for free and let them make the most of the laptops they have received.
Currently, in addition to the two initial cities, the project has been expanded to Thai Nguyen city and Vinh city. After more than 1 year of implementation, by the end of 2023 we had donated 218 computers to 218 students. In January 2024 alone, we donated 32 more.
PV: The project was launched in October 2022, when I was a freshman. When I took on this project, did you anticipate any difficulties?
Nguyen Huong Giang Floor:I took on the role of manager very naturally. From the beginning until today, difficulties are inevitable. But we do not spend time thinking about worries, but as soon as we start, we only determine to act and do. When we encounter difficulties, we will find ways to handle them. In unavoidable situations, we will receive support from the founders. Among them, Mr. Hoang Hoa Trung - Team Leader, has received the national volunteer award and he is willing to accompany young people in social projects.
During the project implementation, we focused on communication work and from there connected with the community at home and abroad to donate computers to poor students.
Of the more than 300 computers given, each computer has its own story. I remember the person who gave it, the person who received it, and the person who sponsored the expenses. A very touching story is that of a female student, a Thai ethnic in Son La. She is older than me and in the National High School Graduation Exam, she achieved a very high score with 10 points in History and 9.75 points in Geography. However, due to difficult circumstances, she did not continue her journey to university and had to stop for a year to work as a factory worker. During that process, she realized that if she worked as a factory worker, she would not be able to develop and would not be able to gain knowledge. In the letter sent to the project, she expressed her determination to retake the university entrance exam and now she is a student at the University of Education - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
PV: Accompanying the project, what did you receive after each time you gave computers to many other students?
Nguyen Huong Giang Floor:Actually, my working time is not long, but after 2 years of working with the project, as the direct project manager, I and the team with 100% of members being ethnic minorities, we all find these to be memorable experiences, and our efforts are well-rewarded. Many of the current volunteers are those who have received computers and then continued to accompany us.
In the process of receiving and accepting your stories directly, I feel that my journey is very lucky because I have received the attention of many people. Maybe, our work helps you even if it is just a little, but it is a small action to help the community of ethnic minority students, helping you have more tools to study, to develop yourself, to be challenged, to experience. Like in the past, when I studied at the provincial ethnic boarding school, we had many opportunities to participate in competitions and that has awakened in us potentials that we ourselves never knew.
PV: On your personal page, you once shared a story about the need to break out of your shell. It seems that this is also the journey that Lau Nguyen Huong Giang has gone through, right?
Nguyen Huong Giang Floor:I think that the journey to get out of your shell and out of your limits requires real action. When you act diligently and consciously in your decisions, then naturally at some point, you will realize that you have gone beyond your limits.
Perhaps nowadays, many young people often focus on reading too much, on inspiring too much, forgetting the time to act, to create a specific value. Action does not mean rushing into doing, but needing to save time, needing to save time to perceive the problem right or wrong. Moreover, we must always think, be creative, ask questions about optimization and bring value.
Actually, when I was in grade 12, I was a pretty normal student and not outstanding. When I got the results of the High School Graduation Exam and received a Certificate of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee, I thought that was my best achievement. However, after the joy and emotional uplift, when I went to Hanoi to study at university, I found the environment to be really different. There were many talented friends here and there was a lot of competition, and at that time I thought about myself a lot. Sometimes I was confused and didn't know if I had enough ability or not, if I could do it or not? In the process of comparing myself with other friends, if I couldn't find a way out, I might fall into depression.
Later, I read many positive things, learned about social work activities and projects. From there, I thought that I could start from small things to create value for myself and later be able to support other students.
I really appreciate this and the more I experience it, the more I see my limits. For example, currently, in addition to the project “Getting to Study”, I also manage the fundraising project “This Book is for Building a School”. Last year, we raised 106 million VND and this amount was transferred directly to the National Volunteer Center by benefactors.
The limits get harder and harder and it takes more focus to overcome them and I'm still on my journey.
PV: Since high school, I have won first prize in the provincial Science and Technology Innovation Competition for high school students. I am an ethnic minority student who achieved high scores and was recognized. However, there are not many ethnic minority students, especially Mong students. What do you think about this and how can you make a breakthrough?
Nguyen Huong Giang Floor:I think that to overcome obstacles, the first thing you need is inner strength. In addition, you need other objective factors such as family, teachers, and school. There can be no future without aspiration, a desire to move forward, to progress, and to learn.
Another factor is customs. In reality, in mountainous districts, remote areas, education is not highly valued. Many families are still concerned with immediate money, instead of thinking about investing in education.
The difference is obvious. But saying that I am shy and self-conscious because of that is not true. Because I have been aware of my national pride since I was very young. My family has also taught me this very clearly and I often tell my friends about the customs and traditions, about the hometown where I live. My friends are also very excited and I think that I have brought a very unique identity to my class.
Up to now, I have had a 9-year journey of studying away from home. Looking back on the past, I think that I have had a bit of a quiet time because I did not live with my family much. But in return, I have been able to go out, read more, study more, meet many people and have had difficulties, I think I have matured. And that is also what my parents and myself want. I still think that, perhaps if I do not go out, how will I know if tomorrow is foggy or sunny and I cherish that.
PV:Thanks for joining the chat!
