Expats join hands to bring poor Vietnamese children Mid-Autumn Fest
Monday, September 28, 2015, 18:16 GMT+7
A group of expats have recently celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival together with poor students in Tay Ninh Province, located in southern Vietnam.
The fest took place on September 27 at Dong Ken Elementary School in Tan Thanh Commune, Tan Chau District, a remote, deprived area where most children live in severe poverty.
Organized by VLS, a Ho Chi Minh City-based school which teaches Vietnamese to foreigners, the event saw the enthusiastic participation of nearly 20 expats from Spain, France, Korea, Japan, and Australia.
Besides presenting notebooks, pens, lanterns, and cakes to 250 students, the foreigners played “Cay Da va Chu Cuoi” (The Buffalo Boy and The Banyan Tree), a local folk tale that tells the story of a boy who flies to the immense sky to catch his magic tree and spends the rest of his life there, in Vietnamese.
The event received huge appreciation from not only parents and teachers, but also the children who have very few opportunities to celebrate the festival and have fun together.
The charitable group also gave presents to 60 poor families in the commune, as well as visited the Cambodian community of Vietnamese origin living along the banks of the Dau Tieng Lake, one of the Southeast Asian country’s biggest reservoirs.
According to Nguyen Thi Thu Van, chief operating officer of VLS, these activities were aimed at bringing happiness and joy to poor children and families.
“This is my first time attending the Mid-Autumn Festival. We came to the poor children in Tay Ninh Province. It’s tired performing for the children, but it’s really fun and I really enjoyed it,” said Philip Anderson, who played the buffalo boy role.
“This is the first time I’ve come to Vietnam. My friend suggested me to join the festival. I was very happy seeing the children dance and play together. It’s a very nice, impressive, and incredible feeling,” Xavier Mercy, a French participant, added.
During the trip to Tay Ninh, the international friends also had the chance to visit a temple of Cao Dai, Vietnam's largest homegrown religion, and enjoyed the foods served by local people.
The emcee invites a child at Dong Ken Elementary School to play a game during the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Students are pictured enjoying a game to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival at Dong Ken Elementary School on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Students play together during the Mid-Autumn Festival at Dong Ken Elementary School on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Tan Thanh Commune, where Dong Ken Elementary School is situated, is one of Tay Ninh Province’s most remote, deprived areas, where most children live in severe poverty. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Philip Anderson (L) is seen talking to children at Dong Ken Elementary School during the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Eri Nakamura (L) and Philip Anderson (R) act in the “Cay Da va Chu Cuoi” (The Buffalo Boy and The Banyan Tree) play during the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Jessica Fletcher (L) and Philip Anderson (R) act in the “Cay Da va Chu Cuoi” (The Buffalo Boy and The Banyan Tree) play during the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
A child is seen playing with the lantern given by the charitable group during the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Two children hold their “special gifts” to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
Juanjo Carrique Mas, a Spaniard, is seen talking to a poor child in Tay Ninh Province on September 27, 2015. Photo: Binh Minh/Tuoi Tre News
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