The woman who sowed faith in thousands of students from the zero-dong class

Editor's note

Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, there are women who quietly live beautifully in their own way. They are mothers who teach their children with love and kindness, girls who diligently sow good deeds in everyday life, or entrepreneurs who bring value to the community...

Each person has a story, a journey worth cherishing.

“Choose the difficult path to go with the community”

While many young people choose stable jobs with guaranteed salaries, Master of Psychology Vo Hong Tam (from Binh Thuan , now Lam Dong province) has turned to a path that few people choose: freelance work.

She collaborated with many businesses and schools, then returned to build her own projects, not for profit but for a desire: to spread knowledge, to help the young generation believe in themselves.

Since mid-2022, with two like-minded people, Master of Psychology Pham Dinh Khanh and training expert Minh My, Master Tam founded the zero-cost course “I Believe In Me”. The name is also the core message: everyone can liberate themselves, live more positively and confidently - starting with believing in themselves.

She said: “We want to bring something truly useful to students - especially those in remote areas, where access to soft skills and gender equality awareness is very limited. We do not charge any fees, because we want to maintain the spirit of volunteerism, everyone can participate and receive value.”

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MSc. Vo Hong Tam. Photo: NVCC

I Believe In Me had a humble beginning but quickly spread strongly thanks to its humanity and methodical approach. Master Tam's group organized seminars on "Gender - Gender Equality" and gave away hundreds of books such as I Learn About Gender , Ba Trieu's Daughter of the 21st Century ... to middle and high school students.

In each locality, the group also organizes a 4-day soft skills training course for 20 core students - the "little seeds" who will continue to spread the learned values to their friends.

Not just limited to theoretical lectures, Ms. Tam’s classes are always filled with positive energy. Students discover themselves, learn to identify emotions, set life goals, and practice presentation and communication skills.

Part of the program also helps students cope with stress - which is becoming a "silent problem" in schools.

MSc. Vo Hong Tam and a student continued, carrying out the campaign at their own school. Photo: NVCC

She said: “When I asked the children to name their emotions, at first everyone was confused. But after a few sessions, they learned to write diaries, to share, to observe their emotions instead of running away. From there, confidence gradually sprouted.”

The project's motto is "Strengthen your luggage, move forward firmly". According to Master Tam, education is not only about imparting knowledge but also about helping students gain the skills to walk on their own journey.

“I really like the words of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh: 'Be beautiful, be yourself' - Only when we are ourselves, we are beautiful” - Master of Psychology Vo Hong Tam said.

Journey of sowing seeds of love

Up to now, I Believe In Me has traveled through many provinces and cities such as Da Nang, Lam Dong, Khanh Hoa... Despite limited funding, Master Tam's group still persevered to "set out" thanks to anonymous sponsors after learning about the project's significance.

“Some people just send a little money, some lend us their cars, some connect with local schools. They trust us because they see we are truly committed, not for fame or profit,” Ms. Tam shared.

Those trips not only bring knowledge to students but also touch the hearts of many teachers.

Teacher Tran Van Muoi, Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School (formerly Binh Thuan, now Lam Dong), commented: “The course helps students open their minds, understand themselves to become more confident. This is what the school always wants - to teach students how to best live with themselves.”

Behind that success is the companionship of many young faces working in the field of psychology and content creation. Each person contributes a part of their expertise, together creating a "seed field" shining with faith.

Cultivate confidence and love for nature with your friends, the foundations to “return to yourself”. Photo: NVCC

When asked what the deepest value the project wants to achieve is, Master Vo Hong Tam said without hesitation: "It is a change in perception."

The female master explained: “Many women, especially in rural and remote areas, because of social prejudice, close themselves off, accept their lot, and accept their fate. We want to help them - the future generations - understand that gender equality is not just about rights, but about having a correct perception of one's own value.”

According to her, when men understand correctly, they will respect women because they see each other's value; when women perceive correctly, they will respect themselves because they know they have value.

“Men are not always strong and women are not always weak. Gender is not a stereotype, but a difference that needs to be respected,” said Ms. Tam.

She emphasized that changing perceptions must start from within oneself, then spread to family and community.

“We can change through concrete actions - living confidently, pursuing our dreams, demonstrating our true abilities instead of just talking. Like H'Hen Nie's journey, from an Ede girl to the Miss Universe crown - it is a living testament to the power of belief.”

When you believe in yourself, anyone can shine.

Each trip and each talk with students left Master Tam with many profound memories. There were students who were once shy and quiet, but after the course, they boldly shared their dreams of becoming teachers, doctors, and psychologists. One student wrote to Master Tam: "Teacher, for the first time I feel valuable. I want to live better and believe in myself more."

Those simple words, to Ms. Tam, are the most precious reward. “When a child believes in himself, he will free himself from all limitations - that is true equality,” Ms. Tam said.

The I Believe In Me project not only provides skills but also inspires students with a positive belief, in line with the spirit that Master Vo Hong Tam pursues: "Giving knowledge, raising awareness - so that everyone can live as themselves, beautiful as themselves".

In an era where people are easily caught up in comparison and pressure to succeed, the work that the female master and her colleagues are doing is like a breath of fresh air, reminding us that happiness begins with believing in one’s own worth. And from that seed of “belief”, today’s young generation is growing up – more confident, compassionate and equal.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-sows-niem-tin-den-hang-ngan-hoc-sinh-tu-lop-hoc-0-dong-2454331.html