Spreading love to those with 'special' circumstances.

Following 12 seasons of activity, the Cozy Village community project returns once again with a meaningful exchange event called "Luu Duong" at the Soc Son School for the Care and Education of Disabled Children. The event is not only an opportunity for meeting and sharing, but also continues its mission of spreading love, bringing joy and hope to those with "special" circumstances.

Unforgettable memories with "Liu Yang"

The Soc Son School for the Care and Education of Children with Disabilities (Ve Linh village, Phu Linh commune, Soc Son district, Hanoi) currently has over 90 students aged 6 and above, each carrying their own unique stories and struggles. These children come here with congenital disabilities such as autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, or hearing impairment. Many also suffer from multiple disabilities, making daily life activities a significant challenge. These physical and psychological difficulties have become invisible "shackles," preventing these young children from exploring this wondrous world.

Understanding this, the Cozy Village community project organized the "Liu Yang" event to create an environment for children to play and interact, while also providing an opportunity for volunteers to share and learn more about these underprivileged but optimistic children. Therefore, the event was not simply about giving gifts but also included many activities that fostered close interaction and camaraderie between volunteers and the children.

On the day of the event, volunteers participating in the project arrived at the Soc Son School for Disabled Children very early, busily preparing for the event. Together they decorated the hall, arranged gifts, and prepared activities, ready to give the children a day of joyful and memorable experiences.

Right from the start of the event, under the guidance of volunteers, the children at the Soc Son School for Disabled Children participated in a series of creative and joyful activities organized by Cozy Village. They tried their hand at crafts, cutting and pasting, performing arts, chatting, sharing, and taking commemorative photos, fostering a bond between volunteers and disabled children. Laughter, eager eyes, and joy were evident on the children's faces, creating a magical atmosphere.

As a parent whose child attends the Soc Son School for Disabled Children, Ms. Nhung (Soc Son) shared that events like "Luu Duong" always excite her child. She said: "My child loves performing arts, always dancing and wanting to socialize. When the volunteers invite the children to sing along, they just keep smiling. Every time a group comes to organize events like this, the children are very eager to participate. I hope that activities like this will continue to be organized so that the children have a place to play, connect, and alleviate their sadness."

The event was not only a memorable experience for the children but also for the volunteers. Nguyen Gia Bach (16 years old, a student at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for Gifted Students) said that participating in the event gave him very special feelings. “The moment I remember most is when I interacted with the children. At that time, I realized that although we are all human beings, each person has their own destiny. I am lucky to have been born with a healthy body, but there are still children out there who are not as fortunate as me. Therefore, when I talked and played with the children at the school, I felt very moved and deeply empathetic to their circumstances,” Gia Bach shared.

It's clear that because the event wasn't simply about giving gifts, but also included activities that fostered close relationships, these moments became unforgettable memories for everyone. A representative from the Cozy Village project shared: “We came to the children not only as volunteers, but also as friends and companions to these underprivileged children. We believe that each shared moment will give them more motivation to see life through a more positive lens .”

The project has a mission to spread love.

Founded in 2013 by students themselves, the Cozy Village community project was created with the goal of supporting disadvantaged children, especially those with intellectual disabilities, in Hanoi and surrounding provinces. To date, after 13 seasons of operation, Cozy Village has organized a series of meaningful events and programs for many centers and children's villages.

Each season tells a different story, leaves its own mark, but all revolve around the project's overarching message: cherish life, live it to the fullest, and open your heart to those less fortunate. Simultaneously, the project aims to contribute to raising community awareness, so that more people understand, empathize with, and support children with disabilities.

Sharing the reasons why Cozy Village has consistently supported children throughout its journey, Nguyen Ho Thuy Linh - Head of Communications for the project - said that Cozy Village has been sustained for 13 seasons thanks to three main motivations: “Firstly, the mission of spreading love to children. Secondly, the humane messages we want to send to the community. And finally, the trust and support of everyone, especially young people today.”

This year, by sharing authentic images and stories from the Soc Son School for Disabled Children, Cozy Village is striving to become a sustainable "bridge" between philanthropists, benefactors, and children in need of love and support. The event has received attention and support from many individuals and communities concerned with intellectually disabled children. This demonstrates that compassion is always present and spreading in society.

Evaluating the "Luu Duong" event as a meaningful activity, Ms. Le Thuy Nga - Principal of Soc Son School for Nurturing and Educating Children with Disabilities, said: “As an educator, I understand that children with intellectual disabilities need more than just a school – they need sharing, encouragement, and opportunities to confidently express themselves. And the Cozy Village community project has done just that. Thanks to meaningful and practical activities, the volunteers have helped the children become more confident, happier, and open to the world around them. Hopefully, in the future, the project will continue to spread love, so that together we can bring even more good things to children with intellectual disabilities.”

Beyond its mission of spreading love, compassion, and building a civilized community where every child has the opportunity to live in joy and happiness, the Cozy Village community project also provides an environment for volunteers to learn essential life lessons and skills. For Nguyen Khanh Ngoc, Deputy Head of the Project Organizing Committee, the first skill learned was responsible and effective teamwork. “In parallel with direct work, the project also frequently works on many online platforms. Therefore, members have the opportunity to be exposed to effective teamwork tools,” Khanh Ngoc said.

According to Nguyen Ho Thuy Linh, Head of Communications for the project: “Cozy Village has helped us hone many important skills such as problem-solving, leadership, and public speaking. In addition, each member has developed additional professional skills through the activities of each sub-committee within the project. Each sub-committee has its own tasks and roles, so during the training and learning process from senior members, we have gradually improved and enhanced the specific skills that each sub-committee offers.”

Sharing their future plans, representatives from the Cozy Village community project stated that the group is planning to expand its activities to neighboring provinces and cities to create more opportunities, motivation, and hope for more children to continue developing and integrating into the community. In addition, the project is striving to innovate its event organization methods, for example, by implementing activities to collect used clothing, toys, and books to support underprivileged children. However, to realize these goals, Cozy Village understands the need to continuously improve its capabilities, strengthen its reputation, and gain more trust and support from the community, thereby gradually expanding its reach.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/lan-toa-yeu-thuong-den-nhung-so-phan-dac-biet.html