July 12-13, HCMC
VA NGO Network Summer Capcity Building Workshop (CBW) on July 12 – 13, 2010 titled “Seeds of Change: In the Interest of the Child” was held at the Trường Nghiệp vụ Nhà hàng Thành phố in Bình Thạnh District.
The Summer CBW brought together 68 participants (69% female and 21% male) who came from a diverse professional background and gathered for exchanging ideas, learning and sharing experiences. They currently are working for 21 VANGOs and institutions in HCM City, Bình Dương and An Giang.
Collectively, the workshop on the children civic education titled “Tiên học lễ hậu học văn” by Ms Vu Kim Yến, Principal of Stafford Primary School, from ICEVN inspired the participants with presentation on six characters/virtues of a person/citizen – trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring, and citizenship. Ms. Kim Yến created a lively atmosphere for the workshop with vivid real-life examples.
The workshop on “Social work practice with children and families” was presented by Ms. Nguyễn Thanh Tuyền, a social worker from COPI giving examples on children’s rights and protection of the environment to expand the scope of knowledge in relation to the protection and advocacy of children rights.
Ms. Võ Thị Bích Thủy of Trường Sư phạm Mẫu giáo HCMC presented O1W workshop on “Sustainability of food and the environment for healthy living.” Her presentation was informative and gave key issues on the importance of nutritients and how much we eat.
Participants also were engaged in the discussion and sharing of stories on difficult behaviors and positive disciplines during the session on “Understanding Children’s Behavior: Social and Emotional Guidance” facilitated by Ms. Trần Kim Ánh and Ms. Nguyễn Tri Như Quỳnh. The scenarios were shared on how to develop an ability of critically analyzing social and emotional issues using several pedagogical methods to assist participants to incorporate techniques of foresight into their daily routines when working directly with children.
At the last hands-on workshop on “Physical Development,” workshop attendants actively participated the fun art activities carried out by Ms. Nguyễn Hoài Nghĩa, a First grade teacher of Tinh Hoa School in Long Xuyen, An Giang. Participants enjoyed practicing fine motor skills to make simple toys for children and within 15 minutes they also made a beautiful poster using recycled materials.
A Team of eight volunteers from Bee’s Resource Center, Children of Peace International, Compassion Flower, Our1World, Institute for Civic Education in Vietnam, Pacific Links Foundation and Tinh Hoa School worked together to coordinate the workshop activities including preparing workshop packages, selecting books, purchasing needed supplies, printing certificates and making nutritional snacks for participants.
After dinner on the last day of the CBW, the last session was devoted to inputs from workshop attendants on CBW effectiveness and suggested items to be improved for the next CBW. At the closing ceremony, participants shared that the CBW has contributed an efficient forum for exchange of ideas, views, and experiences. They also appreciated the training methodologies, which involved education and mobilization of communities and individuals to effect change to quality care.
