ABE students went on an enriching community service trip to Ben Tre, Vietnam. .
25 students and 2 staff from the School of Architecture and Built Environment (ABE) set out on an Overseas Community Involvement Project trip to Ben Tre, Vietnam, a remote village 3 hours away from the city of Ho Chi Minh City, from 19 March to 1 April 2016.
In collaboration with SP Go Serve, YEP (Youth Expedition Project) and YMCA (Young Mens Christian Association) Singapore, the team left the warms beds of their homes into the warm hospitality of our Vietnamese hosts. Led by staff Mr Enzio Tang and Mr Lucas Lim, the team consist of students from the Diploma in Civil Engineering with Business, Diploma in Integrated Events and Project Management and Diploma in Hotel & Leisure Facilities Management.
On the first day of the trip, the students visited the Vietnam Remmant Musuem to learn about the rich history and the hardship that the villagers had to suffer through the years. They also visited the Thien Phuoc Orphanage the following day where they witnessed the effects of the World War and Agent Orange on the villagers.
The students were split into 2 groups for their community service project. One group taught conversational English for the students of Linh Phung from Grade 2, 3, 5 and 6 whereas the other group helped restore the other 3-roomed community school buildings. The restoration involved sanding down the rooms, grilles, re-tiling and re-painting the building. The students also helped repair the classroom’s furniture.
It was an enriching and enlightening experience for all the students. They were humbled by the simple lifestyles and the warm culture of the villagers. Students involved in the trip also hoped that more of these trips can be organised as it doesn’t just benefit the Vietnamese community but also enrich the characters of our students.
