Education Vietnam Project #13391

Art Mentorship for Poor Vietnamese Children

by Rock-Paper-Scissors Children's Fund

Art Mentorship for Poor Vietnamese Children

Project Report | Apr 12, 2025
She Cherishes her Sketchbook and Watercolors

By Phoebe Nerone | Co-founder

Happy Spring Everyone!

Spring has sprung, and as the days have gotten longer, it gives way to more time in the day to have fun! We are happy to be able to provide a welcoming and encouraging environment for our art students to be able to freely express themselves both individually and together within the communities that we our classes create. Thank you all for your continued support of our girls.

To show our appreciation to you all and our excitement, we wanted to introduce one of our students in our art program who loves attending our art classes and has blossomed into a confident student and talented young artist.

Meet Cao, who is 12 years old, and one of our many wonderful students. Cao begins her Monday morning before dawn, meaning by 3 a.m., she’s already awake, preparing for school, and by 4:30 a.m. she is boarding a bus that takes her to the boarding school that she attends during the week, where all local ethnic minority students must go. Although her schedule is demanding, Cao is a great student.

Cao comes from a hardworking family. She lives with her parents, younger sister, and younger brother. Her father works tirelessly in the fields while her mother herds cows to support the family. When she’s home, Cao completes housework which consists of caring for her siblings, bathing them, and dressing them. She also helps with the herding farmer’s cows.

At school Cao enjoys math and finds joy in solving problems, and with support through our girl’s tutoring program in her village, she has been able to come out of her shell and participate in class with much more confidence. Now, she proudly raises her hand and feels more prepared for tests. Her true passion, however, is art. Every Saturday, she attends our art program where she can express herself through her passion for drawing and painting. She cherishes the sketchbooks and watercolors that you have helped us to provide to her, and dreams of becoming an artist one day, inspired by our teacher, Ms. Trang.

Our tutoring and art programs have provided Cao with a nurturing space to learn, create, and grow. She describes our classes as a place filled with love, and encouragement and where she can develop her skills without pressure like she endures at her weekly boarding school.

We are thrilled to share the success and progress with you, of our students like Cao. We are so grateful for all the support that you have provided to us over the years.

Thank you all for your donations!

Phoebe

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Dec 11, 2024
A young girl with an artist's soul and a chef's heart

By Phoebe Nerone | Co-Founder

“When I bring my artwork home my mom gives me nice compliments. I feel very happy at that moment.” Rock-Paper-Scissors CF art student

Hello Friends,

As the leaves start to change and the holiday spirit fills the air, many people think about the fun times with family and friends. Our programs strive to create these moments for our students in Vietnam, sparking joy, laughter, and a sense of belonging. All students deserve an encouraging environment where they can explore their self-expression freely.

This month, we are excited to introduce Thinh. Thinh has been a student in our art program for many years and has grown into a vibrant young artist during her time with us. She currently attends middle school at a boarding school for ethnic minority kids away from the village that she lives in, and where she stays during the weekdays and returns home on the weekends. Thinh is 12 years old and is in her second year at the boarding school.

During her time in our art program, she finds comfort and inspiration not only through the creative challenges given by our art teachers but also in the comradery she shares with her fellow classmates. Over the years, Thinh has built lasting friendships, developed self-confidence, and found a space where she can truly thrive. When asked how she would describe the program to others, Thinh shared her thoughts:

“It’s a warm and happy place where I can learn freely, without pressure. It’s a space that encourages my dreams and gives me the confidence I need.”

Beyond her love for art, Thinh is a young girl with an artist’s soul and a chef’s heart. She dreams of being a chef one day, inspired by her father, who loves to cook delicious food. As she continues to pursue her education, she is excited to explore her creativity in different fields that will help her come one step closer to achieving her dreams.

Thank you for supporting our programs and helping students like Thinh find a place where they can dream, create, and grow. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and all of our incredible young girls!

Please consider giving the gift this Holiday of a sketchbook, paint brushes and paints for one of our students like Thinh.

Thank you and Happy Holidays!

Phoebe

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Aug 14, 2024
A Trip Back to Vietnam

By Phoebe Nerone | Co-Founder

Hello Friends,

Happy summer everyone!

This summer has been exceptionally special for me! As a co-founder of Rock-Paper-Scissors Children’s fund, along with my sister and mom, I’ve been able to travel back to Vietnam many times during the summers over the years when I was in middle and high school. Although sadly, I have not been able to return for over six years being in college and graduate school and having other summer break commitments. But this summer I was finally able to return, and the experience was just as amazing as I remembered. Although all the years I was in school, I continued to work on fundraising, and working on various tasks for our non-profit, the best part was always returning to reunite with our wonderful staff and students in our programs.

This summer after graduating, I loved the opportunity to reconnect with our girls in our art program, and be able to create art alongside each other. I missed being able to sit among the girls and get to know them as they tell their own unique stories through the pieces of art created in each class. It’s been a privilege to watch the girls grow over the past years, many of the girls began in our art classes when they were very little, and now, years later, have grown up and become beautiful young women which was truly inspiring to me. Between attending art classes this summer, I was able to visit a few of the girl's homes and learn more about their family and homelife. This personal experience reinforced my understanding of the hardships that they endure, but also highlighted the resilience each one of the girls reflect.

During my time with our students this summer, I was able to see the tight friendships that have developed among them, from being together in our art classes. The laughter and joy the girls express together, both participating together in the classes, as well as in their free time away from the classroom, is wonderful. Having this connection has helped the girls build support systems among them, to help each other during hard times.

I wish all the girls attending high school this fall good luck! I look forward to seeing them all again soon.

Thank you for supporting our students with your donations! It means a great deal to not only me and my family, but the many girls you support in Vietnam.

Phoebe

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