{"id":231778,"date":"2026-07-09T12:46:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T16:46:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/?p=231778"},"modified":"2026-07-15T15:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:01:06","slug":"follow-the-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/follow-the-music\/","title":{"rendered":"Following the Music: A Visit to Rock-Paper-Scissors in Vietnam"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>For Ryan Dickinson, music has always represented possibility: the chance to discover something new, find confidence, and connect with others. When he found <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/donate\/14725\/rock-paper-scissors-childrens-fund\/?rf=learn_donorstories_follow_the_music\">Rock-Paper-Scissors<\/a>, an organization connecting young people in Vietnam to music and the arts, he saw a way to help others experience the same spark of discovery that music had given him as a child.<\/p>\n<p>After noticing that Rock-Paper-Scissors\u2019 community center was near a route he and his wife Ece planned to travel, Ryan had an unexpected thought: could we visit?<\/p>\n<p>The answer came quickly: \u201cYes, come!\u201d That question led to one of their favorite days in Vietnam.<\/p>\n<h2>Following the music<\/h2>\n<p><\/p>\n<p>After an early morning train ride through the Vietnamese countryside, Ryan and Ece were welcomed by Rock-Paper-Scissors staff and teachers. They spent the morning joining an art lesson.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.00.43-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231779\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.00.43-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.00.43-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.00.43-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: Ece shows the drawing she made during the art class <\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We sat in on an art class and made drawings ourselves,&#8221; he recalled. &#8220;It felt like getting back in touch with our childhood.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.51.32-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231780\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.51.32-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.51.32-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.51.32-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Ryan offering an origami activity to the classroom<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>The couple brought small gifts with them: origami activities, candy, and snacks to share with the children. The classroom quickly filled with conversation and laughter. <\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.53.40-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.53.40-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.53.40-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.53.40-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: Students explore origami during Ryan and Ece&#8217;s visit.<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>Later, Ryan and Ece joined the teachers for lunch before returning that evening for a student music performance.<\/p>\n<p>As the children took the stage, Ryan wasn&#8217;t just watching a concert. He was seeing something that had changed the course of his own life.<\/p>\n<p>He began playing drums when he was twelve years old and describes that discovery as a turning point.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I had been searching for where I fit in and what gave my life meaning,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I wasn&#8217;t particularly good at sports or many other instruments, but when I picked up the drums, it gave me a focus and a purpose. It gave me an identity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>That experience continues to influence how he thinks about opportunities for young people today.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Music isn&#8217;t the thing for every child,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But for those who have a passion for it, nurturing that side of them is really important.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He knows how easily that opportunity could have been missed. His parents were able to buy him a simple drum kit when he was young. Without that chance, he wonders whether he would have ever discovered the passion that eventually shaped his life as a music producer.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.13.43-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.13.43-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.13.43-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.13.43-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: Children and teachers setting their instruments up for the evening performance<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You have to find what brings you happiness,&#8221; Ryan shared. &#8220;Then you have to think strategically about how that connects to the world and the opportunities around you,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>That perspective made one aspect of the visit especially meaningful: the teachers.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on his time at Rock-Paper-Scissors, Ryan spoke less about buildings or programs and more about the people who dedicate their lives to them.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.27.21-3-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231783\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.27.21-3-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.27.21-3-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-10.27.21-3-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: a teacher speaking to the classroom<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;You could tell they loved turning up every day,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They were doing something that was clearly their passion, and also something that was important to help the next generation realize theirs too.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Many of the teachers were accomplished artists and musicians in their own right. What impressed him wasn&#8217;t just their talent, but the way they had chosen to use it in service of their community.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.41.56-1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.41.56-1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.41.56-1-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-19.41.56-1-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: A teacher working on their painting of a cat<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve found an avenue that connects with what they&#8217;re good at,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It feels good to see people step into something that&#8217;s related to their passion.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>As the visit came to an end, one feeling stayed with him above all else: joy.<\/p>\n<p>When asked what song best captured the experience, he chose &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KQetemT1sWc\">Here Comes the Sun<\/a>&#8221; by The Beatles.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a joyful song,&#8221; he said. &#8220;And that&#8217;s the feeling we had.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Before leaving, he promised the staff he would return one day.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;We&#8217;ll definitely have to come back,&#8221; he told them. &#8220;We&#8217;ll see you guys again.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.44.27-2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-231787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.44.27-2-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.44.27-2-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2026-02-25-11.44.27-2-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 567px) 100vw, (min-width: 568px) 80vw, (min-width: 1024px) 33vw\" \/><br \/>\n<center><small><em>Photo: Ryan, Ece, and two students pose for a photo with their paper hearts<\/small><\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<p>For him, the visit was a reminder that giving can be more than a transaction. Sometimes it begins with a simple desire to support a place you care about. Sometimes it starts with a shared love of music. And sometimes, if you&#8217;re fortunate enough to visit, it becomes a chance to see firsthand the people and passions that make a community thrive.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rockpaperscissorschildrensfund.org\/our-story?rf=learn_donorstory_follow_the_music\">Founded in 2012<\/a> by Sara Stevens Nerone and her daughters, Sophie and Phoebe\u2014both adopted from Vietnam\u2014Rock-Paper-Scissors Children&#8217;s Fund grew from the family&#8217;s deep connection to Vietnam and a desire to create opportunities for children there. What began with art classes and violin lessons during a family volunteer experience has grown into a lasting commitment to supporting girls and young people through education, music, and the arts.<\/p>\n<p align=\"center\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/donate\/14725\/rock-paper-scissors-childrens-fund\/?rf=learn_donorstories_follow_the_music\">Learn more about Rock-Paper-Scissors.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<small class=\"js-learnProjCaption layout_center box_topPaddedHalf text_fontSizeSmallest\"><span class=\"text_4i js-getProjTitle\">Featured Photo: Teacher Training for Young Vietnamese Musicians<\/span> by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.globalgiving.org\/microprojects\/music-teacher-training-vietnamese-youth\/?rf=learn_donorstories_follow_the_music\" class=\"js-getOrg link_subtle text_underline text_4n col_defaultText\" target=\"_blank\"> Rock-Paper-Scissors Children's Fund<\/a><\/small>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For Ryan Dickinson, music has always represented possibility: the chance to discover something new, find confidence, and connect with others. When he found Rock-Paper-Scissors, an organization connecting young people in Vietnam to music and the arts, he saw a way to help others experience the same spark of discovery that music had given him as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":151,"featured_media":231789,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[10955],"coauthors":[10989],"class_list":["post-231778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-education"],"acf":[],"cp_meta_data":{"_edit_lock":["1784151788:151"],"_edit_last":["151"],"intro":["A train ride, a music school, and a shared love of music bridge lives together unexpectedly in 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