YOUNG GENERATION SHAPING THE FUTURE – WHEN CHILDREN ARE HEARD AND TRUSTED

Photo: Delegates attending the workshop.

The workshop provided an opportunity to reflect on the results and changes achieved after one year of implementation, share experiences from students, teachers, parents and participating schools, and discuss how effective models and approaches could be sustained and further developed beyond the project period. Participants also explored solutions to continue promoting meaningful child participation, gender equality, and safe, inclusive and respectful school environments.

The “Girls Unstoppable” component was implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights with support from Save the Children from September 2025 to August 2026 across 17 lower secondary schools and two charity/non-formal education schools in Ho Chi Minh City. The component focused on supporting girls aged 10–13 to strengthen their confidence, life skills and leadership capacities, while creating more opportunities for them to participate and express their views. It also strengthened the capacity of teachers, parents and schools to foster safer, more supportive and gender-equal learning environments.

Photo: Student and teacher participating in the workshop.

A wide range of activities were implemented during the project implementation period, including Girls’ Clubs, school-based communication activities, children’s forums, dialogues among students, parents and schools, child-led initiatives, teacher capacity-building, learning-through-play spaces and school counselling rooms across all 19 participating schools. Designed around a child-centred approach, these activities created opportunities for children to learn, gain experience, contribute their ideas and develop their abilities.

Photo: Student confidently sharing at the workshop.

Key results included:

• 25,641 students across 19 project schools were reached through campaigns, communication sessions, school events and other project-supported activities, including 12,453 girls and 13,188 boys; 

• 19 girls’ clubs were established, involving 456 core student members; 

• 1,090 teachers and school staff received capacity-building training, while more than 800 parents directly participated in project activities. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Pham Dinh Nghinh, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Protection of Children’s Rights, said: “In the coming period, the Association will continue working with schools and relevant stakeholders to sustain and build on effective models, strengthen connections among children, teachers, schools, families and communities, and mobilise additional resources so that these positive changes can continue and reach even more children.”

Photo: Save the Children and local partners.

Through regular girls’ club activities at school, students gained knowledge and skills related to children’s rights, gender equality, leadership, communication, emotional management, violence prevention and online safety. Over time, many became more confident speaking in front of others, sharing their views and engaging in dialogue with teachers, parents and school leaders. They also directly proposed ideas, facilitated discussions and implemented initiatives to improve their learning environments.

Yen Nhi, a student at Vinh Hoa Lower Secondary School, shared: “In the past, I rarely volunteered to speak in class or in front of the whole school. Now, I can share my ideas during club activities and confidently take part in activities with my friends.”

Photo: A student sharing about her change after joining the project activities.

A wide range of creative communication activities on children’s rights, gender equality, school violence prevention, mental health and online safety were also carried out with the participation of students, teachers and parents. Through performances, drawing activities, communication videos, competitions and experiential activities, positive messages about building safe and happy schools were shared more widely within school communities.

The project also recorded positive results in strengthening teachers’ capacity and increasing parental engagement. Training on children’s right to participation, social and emotional learning, positive discipline and student mental health support helped teachers apply child-centred approaches more effectively. At the same time, parents gained additional knowledge and skills to better understand, listen to and support their children as they grow.

Several effective models have been adopted by participating schools and are expected to continue beyond the project period, including girls’ clubs, school dialogues, student counselling rooms, reading spaces, social and emotional learning activities, and child-led initiatives. These provide an important foundation for continuing to support children’s holistic development, particularly that of girls, while strengthening child-centred learning environments in the years ahead.

Ms. Le Thi Thanh Huong, Country Director of Save the Children in Viet Nam, shared: “The positive changes we see today are the result of close collaboration and the efforts of our partners, schools, families and, importantly, the students themselves. Save the Children remains committed to working alongside our partners to sustain and expand safe and respectful spaces that encourage children’s participation, so that every child has the opportunity to develop and reach their full potential.”

Photo: Save the Children Vietnam’s Country Director speaking at the event.