Anthea Ho

From 4-11 Dec 2010, in partnership with World Vision Singapore, I joined 13 other enthusiastic Jebsen & Jessen volunteers across the region to travel to the mountainous Hang Lia commune in Vietnam.Our mission was to build two classrooms for a primary school benefiting 130 primary school children who were learning in dilapidated temporary classrooms made from wood and bamboo.

Located in a remote mountainous area, our team travelled everyday on an exciting two-hour trip full of surprises through unpaved and winding roads to reach Hang Lia commune where the construction site was. Throughout the week, we helped the local workers with initial construction work. We also get to enjoy mingling and playing games with the local communities and children during lunch break.The highlight of the one-week trip formed a magnificent evening of cultural exchange between the international Jebsen & Jessen team, local children and community of Hang Lia where we take turns to perform local dances, songs and shows. “I have never met people from Indonesia or the Philippines before,” said one of the delighted school teachers, “and now I’m experiencing their cultures and traditions through our close interaction and these great performances.”

At the end of the evening, the team, supported by Chairman Mr Heinrich Jessen who joined the programme for a stint, handed a total of 326 goody bags, donated by colleagues from across the region, to the children in the community. In a breathtaking act of thanks, the community lit a bonfire and children, volunteers, teachers and community leaders alike, danced around the fire in joy. It was a fantastic and memorable evening indeed.

Returning to Hanoi, we stopped by World Vision Vietnam National Office to visit the Group’s four sponsored children from Phu Cu and presented them with Christmas presents. After a wonderful week of community work, the team bid farewell and travelled back to their respective home countries on a rainy Saturday.