Where Care Becomes a Classroom: The Story of Our Long-term Volunteer Program in Sinh Phinh 1 & Ta Phin Primary Schools

High in the mountains of Dien Bien, where the clouds graze the rooftops and children walk long winding paths to school each morning, a quiet but powerful transformation has been taking place. Over the past months, our volunteers at Sinh Phinh 1 Primary School and Ta Phin Primary School have been doing far more than teaching English or leading activities - they have been building trust, nurturing joy, and creating a safe space where children feel loved, seen, and heard.

Learning English Through Curiosity and Play

Every week, the classrooms come alive with English sessions designed not just to teach vocabulary, but to spark curiosity. Volunteers guide students through interactive games, songs, and hands-on activities that help them feel confident using a new language. For most of Mong children, this is the first time they speak English out loud - and the excitement in their voices is unmistakable.

 

These English classes are not simply lessons; they are bridges that connect children to a bigger world, expanding their imagination and helping them believe in possibilities beyond their village.

Extracurricular Sessions That Build Life Skills

Beyond academics, volunteers run extracurricular classes centered on hygiene, crafting (DIY), teamwork, and creativity. Students learn how to wash their hands correctly, make simple handmade items, and work together through activities that feel more like play than instruction.

These sessions help the children build practical habits that support their daily wellbeing - a small step that, over time, grows into healthier routines and greater self-confidence.

Caring for Mental and Emotional Wellbeing

One of the most meaningful parts of this program happens outside the classroom. Many of the students are boarding children who live far from home since a very young age (from 6 years old), often separated from their families for a week at a time. Our volunteers quickly become familiar faces, trusted listeners, and gentle sources of comfort.

They check in with students one-on-one, listen to their stories, share laughter after dinner, and offer a warm presence during both easy and difficult days. These emotional connections help children feel grounded, supported, and understood - something every child deserves, no matter where they grow up.

Moments That Matter: Hugs, Stories, and Good Nights

If you ask our volunteers what the most unforgettable part of their experience is, many will mention the nightly routine: a simple hug and a soft “good night” before the children go to bed.

It sounds small — but for the kids, it means everything.

Over time, the children began sharing stories about their dreams, their families, the mountains they love, and even the worries they carry quietly inside. The trust they showed became one of the program’s greatest accomplishments. This willingness to open up - to feel safe and cared for - is proof that connection is one of the most powerful forms of education.

The True Impact: Love, Trust, and Lasting Change

Yes, the students improved their English. Yes, they learned new hygiene habits, creative skills, and emotional awareness. But the greatest outcome of this program is something deeper:

The children genuinely love our volunteers — and feel loved in return.

They run across the courtyard with bright smiles when they see a volunteer arriving. They hold hands during walks, ask for help when they need it, and look for familiar faces in the crowd during morning assembly. They feel safe enough to share their stories, their joys, and their fears — something that does not come easily for many boarding students who carry quiet burdens.

This bond is the foundation for lasting change. When a child feels supported, they learn better, dream bigger, and grow more confidently into who they are meant to be.

Looking Forward

Our hope is that these small moments — a laugh during class, a handmade craft, a shared story, a good-night hug — will stay with the children long after the volunteers return home. And in many ways, they already have.

In Sinh Phinh and Ta Phin Primary Schools, the classrooms feel a little brighter, the dormitories a little warmer, and the children a little more eager to learn.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a caring adult to make a child feel brave.

And that is the heart of our volunteer program.

Read more about our volunteer program.