Every July, a group of American students come to Quang Ngai to help poor people here build more solid and spacious houses. They carry bricks, mix cement, and hold trowels to place each brick like "construction workers". This is the 17th year that the international summer volunteer program has been held in Quang Ngai, an annual activity organized by the Vietnam Youth Union of the province in coordination with the Putney Student Travel organization (USA).
This year, the program was implemented in Van Tuong and Tinh Khe communes, from July 1 to July 23, with the participation of 31 American volunteer students, divided into 2 groups.
Here, students supported funds and working days to build 6 charity houses, worth a total of 450 million VND, to give to poor, single-parent households, and those in especially difficult circumstances. In addition, there were exchange activities with local youth, community activities, contributing to strengthening solidarity and friendship between the youth of the two countries.
In Van Tuong commune, 15 American students participated in building houses. They were divided into 3 groups, each group was responsible for building 1 house. Hannah (17 years old, Canada) shared: “I have participated in the Putney Student Travel program in 4 countries, and this time I chose Vietnam because I was very impressed with the volunteer activities to build houses for people. When I learned about the organization's website, I knew this would be a special experience and it really was.”
Hannah added that what she enjoys most is working with Vietnamese students, building houses, and learning unique construction techniques that can only be found in Vietnam.
With the guidance of local people, the children built brick walls and repainted old houses. For Stephen (16 years old), he had the opportunity to visit 2 countries in the Putney Student Travel program and this time he also chose Vietnam.
Stephen said: “Before coming to Vietnam, I was a bit worried, not knowing what Vietnamese food would be like, whether it would suit me or not. So I went to a few Vietnamese restaurants in the US to try it first and luckily I found it very good. When I arrived in Quang Ngai, I found it interesting that people have the habit of drinking coffee and eating bread in the morning, a unique cultural feature that I really like.”
Ms. Pham Thi Nhan (Tan Hy village, Van Tuong commune) said: “My old house was built a long time ago and is now seriously degraded. Every rainy and stormy season, I always live in anxiety and have to stay with others everywhere for fear of the house collapsing. Now that I have received support to build a new house, I am really happy.”
Ms. Ho Thi Thu Thanh, President of the Vietnam Youth Union of Quang Ngai province, said: "The summer international volunteer exchange program is an opportunity to strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between American students and Quang Ngai youth, spread the spirit of volunteerism and sharing for the community, and bring practical values."
Since 2006, Quang Ngai province has welcomed 17 international volunteer student groups, participating in the construction of 64 houses and schools, with a total support budget of more than 2.1 billion VND. Nearly 1,000 American students have come to Quang Ngai each summer, bringing with them their youthful energy, volunteer spirit, sincere friendship and international solidarity.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tinh-nguyen-xuyen-bien-gioi-post802651.html
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