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School News!
Last year was an especially rough year in the pandemic for the schools in Vietnam. The prior school year had some shut downs, but since the government limited travel and put other controls in place it kept the effect of the Delta variant of Covid at bay.
The 2021 - 2022 school year was a different story. All students started online, which is a struggle for most communities around the world, but was magnified for those with little means. The teachers rallied to get the students connected, providing resources as best they could. However, many families in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) moved back to remote villages due to the lack of work in the city and to deal with personal issues. The students in remote areas had an even harder time trying to get connected, if at all.
Anh Linh Free School
We are sad to say enrollment dropped at the Anh Linh School during 2021-2022. The challenges mentioned above and near total lock downs made it extremely difficult to conduct school or for children to access it. The teachers and principal worked hard to provide educational resources, food, and some fun to the students.
We are happy to say, with such dedication, many students persevered! By January of 2022, the older students returned to school to prepare for state-wide exams and even had a small Tet celebration! Thanks to special donations from a few B2L supporters, each student received special treats, and families that were experiencing the most hardship received additional support. After Tet, the younger students who were still in the area returned to school, started to get back on track and have some fun at year end.
The summer was a time of renewal at the school, but at the same time there was sadness and challenges. The well-regarded sewing teacher passed away, and others contracted Covid, ended up in the hospital, or developed long-Covid type symptoms. However, the work continued as they prepared for the new school year, and most importantly, worked diligently to ensure students would fill the classrooms. Fortunately, by the time school resumed energy was returning!
Now it's the 2022-2023 school year and it started with a simmer, then a big bang!
The simmer... older students were brought in the week prior to the official start of school to review work from the previous year and to catch up.
The big bang! The next week started with lots of fanfare and celebration. The kids are ready to learn. So many smiles as the oldest students (9th grade) escorted the new class of first graders into the school, speeches were made, songs were sung, and special treats were enjoyed. The ceremonial drum was beaten to usher in the year with huge cheers!
The Mid Autumn Festival quickly followed with lots of crafts, dancing, and treats too! Such fun and joy for all!
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Now enrollment is back up! The school has 140 primary students and 100 secondary students. There are about 50 students in high school from grade 10 to grade 12. In a country where students must test in order to qualify to attend high school, this number is reflective of the quality of the education they received at the Anh Linh school, and their dedication to their studies!
In addition, there are more than 10 students in colleges. Some of them have a part time jobs, so the Anh Linh School only provides scholarship for some students. College tuition is very expensive so they have to earn money for their education. Luckily it is not difficult to find a part time job in the city.
There are three girls in the dorm, one returning girl and two new girls. They are of ethnic minority heritage. Four other girls went back their village. They are ethnic too.
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It's difficult for them to live far from their village. Of the four, only two of them continue learning in their village. Hopefully their time at the Anh Linh School will provide a good foundation for future learning.
Here are some photos from the first few weeks of school! Enjoy!
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Students celebrate the Mid Autumn Festival with Lion Dances.
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Anh Linh students gather with their Mid Autumn gifts.
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Students painting stars at Anh Linh School.
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Young girls painting an elephant at Anh Linh.
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Viet Anh Primary School
The Viet Anh Primary School experienced some unique challenges. Located in rural Vietnam, serving an area with more ethnic minority children in remote areas proved extremely difficult. Poverty is often more severe and many lacked any way to connect regularly via technology. Packets of teaching materials were distributed, or picked up at school whenever possible. Teachers taught one-on-one when they could, but it left many students without schooling. Fortunately, by spring many students returned to the classroom and they were able to finish the year.
After seven years leading the school, the principal, Sr. Kim Ngoc, is moving to a new position in France to share her experiences as a leader and educator. Part of the message from Sr. Kim Ngoc to the school supporters, "I sincerely express my deep gratitude to you, who have loved the ethnic minority children of Viet Anh School, and have always supported me in many ways so that I can do my work well. I have learned and received a lot during my time working with you."
We will miss her greatly, thank her for her hard work and determination to provide a quality education and great experiences for the children, and wish her well in her new role.
 Currently, Sr. Phương Thảo is the new principal of the school as paperwork is straightened out so Sr. Pham Thi Mỹ Trinh (Anne Trinh, pictured) can assume the role. The two are leading the school as a team. Sr. Anne Trinh is our key contact, She has worked at Viet Anh School since 2018 in a variety of roles, including teacher. We look forward to working with them, supporting the school, and receiving updates about the children. We wish them the best!
The 2022-2023 school year started with lots of fun and activities for the children, followed soon after with a Mid Autumn celebration! It is absolutely wonderful to see the children and teachers reconnect and have a great start to the school year.
Currently, there are 157 students, ages 6 to 10 years old, attending the school, with 88 living in the dormitory from Monday through Friday. There are seven classes from first through fifth grade. A team of nine sisters, nine teachers, three staff, a housekeeper, a cook and a security man work hard to provide a quality education and to meet their needs. Life is very busy at the school.
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New students are ushered in by the older students for the new school year at Viet Anh School.
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Students line up for special holiday treats!
Moon cake anyone?
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Young students pose for a class photo and to share the love.
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Viet Anh School students having fun with the Lion!
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We miss receiving updates and photos back from people who are visiting the school! We look forward to reconnecting, in person, with the children and teachers as sponsors, donors and board members can travel to Vietnam. Hopefully 2023 will provide those opportunities. Please let us know if Vietnam is in your travel plans. In the meantime, photos, emails, social media and Skype have kept us filled in.
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In case you missed our recent email invitation:
Please join Bridges to Learning at Open Book in Minneapolis for an evening of exquisite wine tasting and international and local charcuterie, with proceeds supporting B2L’s work providing education, food, and healthcare to impoverished children in Vietnam.
Joe Kotnik, owner of Rootstock Wine Cellars will lead the tasting, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience! He will work with Dan Campo from South Lyndale Liquors (both are long time supporters of B2L and the kids) to fulfill your holiday order!
A silent auction and lots of fun will round out the evening!
Date: Thursday, November 10th
Time: Social hour starts at 6 pm, done by 9
Location: Open Book, 1011 S. Washington Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Registration: Early bird rate of $80 ($40 tax deductible) through October 30th, then $100 ($60 tax deductible) thereafter.
Clink the glasses below to register now!
Cheers! We can not wait to see you there!
Are you interested in helping in other ways? We could use:
- donations of goods or services for the silent auction;
- host a dinner–past founders dinners are tons of fun and a great way to connect with other B2L supporters;
- video producers, we have some content, we need some skills;
- event photographer;
- translator from written Vietnamese to English;
- other ideas? Fresh ideas are great!
Please contact Stacy at stacy@bridges2learning.org if you are interested in helping.
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The 3rd Annual Tournament was a huge success! Here’s the breakdown for this record setting year:
115 Golfers enjoyed the beautiful course, friends, co-workers, games, food and drinks;
22+ Hardworking Volunteers (we couldn’t have done it without you);
7 generous hole sponsors; with 2nd Swing bringing 22 golfers and donating a bunch of equipment!
200+ egg rolls and a ton of jello shots;
People traveling to Minnesota from across our beautiful United States!
2 exhausted, but very happy people: the volunteer event coordinator and her game arranging and jelly-shot making husband!
All of this adds up to over $25,000 raised to support the children at the Anh Linh School. It will supply 50 children, who otherwise would not have the opportunity, with education, meals, uniforms, haircuts, basic medical services and a nurturing environment for one school year!
The overwhelming caring and generosity will serve more than 2 times the number of children served in last year's tournament!
We can not thank everyone enough for coming out to the tournament, volunteering, and donating goods and services! We are looking forward to the 4th Annual tourney.
Special thanks to our hole sponsors:
- 2nd Swing
- Tom Brandt, RBC Wealth Management, Big Oak Advisory Team
- Lance Crooks, Elite 8
- Jake Fisher, Bridges to Learning Board Member
- Ben Leistikow, RBC Wealth Management
- John Sorich, Diamonds Direct
- Wakame Sushi and Asian Bistro
Here are a few photos from the tournament, to see more click here, or go to the Bridges to Learning Event Page at https://bridges2learning.org/events/ and scroll towards the bottom of the page.
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