SMU: April + May 2016

The Singapore Management University (SMU) has since its inception in 2000 mandated that every student must complete at least 80 hours of community service before they graduate. Thereby, since 2013, Hearts For Hue (H4H) has worked with SMU as a facilitator to organize Community service projects for their students.

From 24th April to 16th May 2016, four groups of more than 80 SMU students under the assistance of Hearts For Hue came to Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam to conduct four different projects which were:
– Project Phoniksa at Phu Luu Primary School, Vy Da primary school at Vy Da Ward

– Project Hue Dreams VII at Quang Phuoc Primary School Number 2, Quang Phuoc Commune, Quang Dien District

-Project Hue Hope VI at Nang Hong Kindergarten, Thuy Tan Commune, Huong Thuy District

-Project Triveria III at Hoa Mi 1 Kindergarten, Quang Vinh Commune, Quang Dien District

In Project Phoniksa, Singapore Students concentrated on Microfinance Training for small business owners.Those participating in the training were women small business owners, students from Hue University of Economics, Vietnamese volunteers and students from SMU. SMU students started the training by sharing business skills such as personal financial management, marketing tools and business communication. The training ended with a discussion among participants and SMU students about the difficulties and disadvantages of the current financial situation of the business women. Simultaneously, students also gave advice for the business women to expand their business. This was also a good opportunity for Singapore Students as well as Vietnamese Economic Students to get real world experience for their studies and obtain a better understanding of how economics works in the community.

Additionally, Project Phoniksa has left a good impression to the teachers and students of Phu Luu and Vy Da Primary School through the useful lessons and interesting games.

In Project Hue Dreams VII, Hue Hope VI and Project Triveria III, SMU students focused on building fences, teaching basic English and soft skills for children in kindergartens and the primary schools nearby. With the enthusiastic support of more than thirty local volunteers who were recruited by Hearts For Hue, all the tasks were completed to a high standard. In addition, the Singaporeans had the opportunity to better their understanding of the rural life by having dinner at the local houses, working in the paddy fields and visiting fishing farms. Other outstanding activities were visiting some famous historical monuments in Hue such as the Imperial City, Tombs, Thien Mu Pagoda as well as cultural exchange with students from Hue University of Foreign Languages, College of Education and Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry. As a result, 98 percent of the women participating in Hearts For Hue’s Microfinance Project in Vy Da Ward were provided with useful knowledge of business and marketing and 3 new fences were built completely after 2 weeks of hard-work from the Singaporeans. This contributes to creating safe learning environments for the children in Primary Schools and in the kindergartens. Moreover, through English classes, students have the chance to practice their listening and speaking skills. Hearts For Hue is very pleased to be a companion of SMU students to facilitate them to contribute to community.

On behalf of Hearts For Hue, we would like to express gratitude for the great contribution of SMU students to our community as well as the support of local volunteers in order to make the projects a success.

– H4H

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