We have joined the “Winter Voluntary” project in co-operation with the Youth Delegation of the Hanoi Police Department early this December. We took nice train from Hanoi to Lao Cai and then a bus from the Station to Sa Pa. It was abeautiful day when we arrived at Sa Pa, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and clear, with no cloud or fog at all. In the mornimg we checked-into the hotel , and we spent the first half day in greetings and building friendships with Sa Pa Police Youth Delegation. In the afternoon we went out and discovered Sa Pa Town on our own. The weather was really nice and we all had a great time.

We travelled to Thanh Kim Village the next morning, the Village is located in the lower area of Sa Pa Town. However, the weather and the living condition here are much harder than in the town because the local residents live in three separate mountains. It took us more than one hour to travel to the Village although the distance was only approximately 12km from the Town, the road was extremely narrow and bumpy. The Chairman of STC-Group, had authorised a donation of 25 million Vietnamese Dong to Thanh Kim School Headmaster for cementing the school playground.

Together with the STC-Group Social Fund, STC-Vietnam staff and friends also contributed a further amount of 15 million Vietnamese Dong. This was divided into 50 STC-Vietnam envelopes to give to 10 talented pupils and 40 poorest families living in the Village to encourage them to overcome their difficulties. 

Farewell Thanh Kim! Within just a few hours, the weather turned bad quickly, it was so dark and foggy that we could not recognize who was standing a few feet away from to us. We left the Village in the afternoon with many concerns. Vietnam still has many poor areas like Thanh Kim which need contributions not only from you, from me, but from all of us. It is certain that with your kind support, more and more students and children in the highlands and remote areas will be supported and encouraged in the future.