Build a Library for Children near Khe Sanh

Dear GlobalGiving Friends,

Happy Summer!

It has been over a year since the library was put into use. 750 students and teachers are benefiting from it everyday.

The Principal just informed us that they would be sending Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, the librarian, for continuing training during the summer vacation in order to improve her capacity for better service at the Library. After the training, Ms. Ha will be more capable in improving the traffic for the library, which now accommodates more than 10,000 books and 5 computers. After summer vacation, there will be replacement of old books by new books for the new school year. “It will be a lot of work for me to do during 2 months of Summer but I’m happy seeing the children enjoying the books and computer everyday.”, shared Ms. Ha.

On April 2014, Ms. Charissa Murphy from Global Giving made a visit to Khe Sanh Library and was introduced to the project. She was talking with the students and the Principal about the use of the library. “It was truly inspiring to learn about all of the details you shared about your programs and plans for expanded or new programs. It is evident that the work you're doing is very important”, commented Ms. Murphy.

We are looking forward to seeing the phase 2 of the project to be implemented, which will provide opportunity for 130 tribal students at the nearby neighborhood to get access to the same resource. “About 100 books will be rotated weekly from Khe Sanh Main School to its Satelite School in Pa Nho village. GCSF has committed to provide 3 big bookshelves, reading table and chairs, and extra books to Pa Nho village. With these, we can rotate books there so that the students don’t have to walk 3 kilometers to the Main School for reading.”, said Ms. Huong the Principal.

Friends, we appreciate so much for your generosity and look forward to your further contribution to make this phase 2 completed.

Sincerely,

Nguyen Xuan Tam and the GCSF team in Vietnam

Dear GlobalGiving Friends,

Happy Tet! The dedication ceremony for Khe Sanh Primary School Library was held after the students returned from the Vietnamese New Year vacation break. On February 21st, Headmistress Huong, teachers and students welcomed Mr. Luong from Huong Hoa District, Mr. Tran of the Khe Sanh local government and Global Community Services Foundation (GCSF) representatives to their school. In attendance on behalf of GCSF were board member Al Bergstrom with his family and staff members Nguyen Xuan Tam and Olivia Fernandes.

Following the ceremony featuring colorful dances by students, the guests toured the library and visited with teachers and students.  "I like to use the internet to get material for my lesson plans, and my daughter, Hoang My, loves reading the English books in the library," shared Ms. Hahn, a teacher and mother of a 5th grader at the school.

GCSF representatives also visited a satellite school attended by over 130 ethnic minority students in the nearby village of Pa Nho.  The second phase of the Khe Sanh Library project is establishing a bookmobile service from the library at the main campus to Pa Nho.

The generosity of all supporters of the project is deeply appreciated by the children and citizens of Khe Sanh.

Sincerely yours,

Nguyen Xuan Tam & GCSF