Improved Ethnic Minority Education Project

in Thai Nguyen

The Ethnic Education Project has targeted the poorest kindergartens and primary schools in Pho Yen and Song Cong districts, and due the ongoing success of the project, it was recently expanded to include Dai Tu district. Support is provided in the areas of teacher training, classroom repairs, provision of teaching equipment, and library construction.

In 2005 the program targeted 68 of the poorest kindergartens and primary schools in the province. Activities included:

•  Building 11 classrooms and repairing 39, and building 35 school latrine and clean water systems.
•  Supplying 700 sets of tables and chairs for primary school pupils, and 300 chairs and 42 tables to
   local kindergartens.
•  Libraries were also targeted, providing 20 bookshelves and 2,700 books along with audiovisual
   equipment and keyboards to schools in the district.
•  Teacher training was provided for 51 teachers.

“The (CWS) project has helped to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in our schools…In addition via IEC campaigns, the project has not only attracted more and more school age children to come to school, especially the kindergarten pupils, but has also made the teachers and pupils love their schools more, teach and learn better, the parents pay more attention to the study of their children”
Song Cong – Report on project phase I: 2003-2005

Our school teachers and pupils are very happy with the new toilet and water supply system sponsored by CWS. With this valuable support, our pupils’ health has gradually improved.
Luong Xuan Duong - Head master of Phuc Thuan #2 Primary School, Pho Yen district - 16 Jan 2006

Physical Ed in Ba Xuyen Kindergarten Song Cong

Kindergarten children decorate their new classroom

Lunch time

New classroom in Song Cong

“… We used to learn in the old class, which is low-roofed and dirty. When it was raining, the books and notebooks got wet. When it was sunny, we had to use the old newspapers to cover the windows. Now thanks to the CWS project, we have a new classroom and also a new and modern latrine... We are very happy and we learn better…..” Phan Thi Hang Ngan – class 5 A – Tan Quang Primary school – Song Cong town – Thai Nguyen Province

“ …. My friends and I really like the new classrooms. These classrooms are spacious and airy. There is also a marble floor, which is very beautiful…. The new latrine is very modern. It has a septic tank and there is clean water coming from the tap… Thank you CWS very much for providing us the chance to learn in a new spacious and airy classroom….” Nguyen Thi Nga – class 5 C – Ba Xuyen Primary school – Song Cong town – Thai Nguyen Province

Children in their new classroom

New tables & chairs for kindergarten	"...Like other pupils in my school, I’m so happy to have such beautiful classrooms with tiled floors and new sets of tables and chairs and such a clean and modern toilet as well. I would like to express my sincere thanks to CWS for your great support..." Le Thi Hoai Phuong – grade 5 student, Phuc Thuan #2 Primary School
Thai Nguyen Business Support Center CWS provided support to the Business Support Center in Thai Nguyen in another successful project that ended in 2005. The project was initiated in 2003 to improve employment opportunities by providing training services and information to provincial small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The project provided the center’s library with books, computer equipment and a photocopier. Training courses to enhance the capacity of the center’s staff and lecturers were conducted, and through the center, 54 training courses and 2 market study tours were organized for local enterprises. More than 2,700 local business people benefited from the project, and the center’s facilities have been vastly improved, guaranteeing a successful future for the local business community.
A training course at BSC	Using new teaching equipment		Teachers on a music training course

“Thai Nguyen BSC would like to express our sincere thanks to CWS for their support in enhancing the capacity of services provided to Thai Nguyen enterprises. Equipment supported by CWS is essential for facilitating the organization of more professional activities, and the center’s lecturers and collaborators have improved their capacity and skills. Owing to CWS support, the BSC has promoted our services and gained the trust of Thai Nguyen enterprises”

Business Supporting Center – 20 Jan 2005

"Among other small and medium enterprise owners in Thai Nguyen province, I was given the chance to participate in BSC’s activities supported by CWS. As an individual doing business, I’ve gained a lot of experience from these activities. …I think that the services provided by BSC have been very useful to many Thai Nguyen enterprises. On behalf of these enterprises, I would like to express our gratitude to BSC for the service provision; our thanks also go to CWS for their financial support to the project” Pham Van Quang – Vice chairman of Thai Nguyen Small and Medium Enterprises – 19 Jan 2006	“ …. Before the course “Starting Business and Making Strategy” I had no opportunity to participate in any training courses. I did my business based on limited experience; therefore my business met many difficulties. At the course, ..I learnt the steps that need to be done when starting business. I now understand the concepts of Marketing, Development Strategy, Borrowing Proposal and Making Plan for Business. …We made our own business plans with the guidance of the lecturer, which helped me to learn the steps to perform well in my business... I can perform my work better and more easily” Chu Thi Hue – Xom Cho – Binh Thuan commune – Dai Tu – Thai Nguyen Province