Early last July, after many weeks of consideration, Ms. Tran My Hanh (40 years old, Linh Nam ward, Hanoi ) prepared her suitcase and paid nearly 6 million VND in fees for her 4th grade son to participate in a 5-day summer camp program to learn life skills and return to nature in the suburbs of Hanoi.
Everything seemed to be in order, but just a few days before departure, she decided to cancel.
"That day, I was scrolling through my phone and saw pictures of the Eager Village summer camp: children bitten by mosquitoes, makeshift sleeping quarters, dirty restrooms, some children injured but no one noticed... I was suddenly stunned. I immediately thought of my child. He was sensitive, had a weak stomach, and was away from home for the first time. If something happened, who would be responsible?" , the female parent said.
Ms. Hanh immediately returned to the organizer's website to double-check the information. Although the media content was presented attractively and promised results after the camp, she quickly realized some worrying gaps: there was no name of the official person in charge, no information about the accompanying medical team, and no clear explanation of the handling process when children got sick, had an accident, or had an emergency during the camp.
After the complaints related to Eager Village, many parents have become cautious when registering their children for summer camp. (Photo: Eager Village)
"Before, I was convinced by the sweet introductions of 'helping children overcome their own limits, live bravely in nature, learn life skills like adults'... but after the incident at the Eager Village summer camp, I am more cautious. My child does not need to be strong after 5 days, he needs to be cared for and safe first," said Ms. Hanh.
Immediately after that, she contacted the organizer to withdraw her registration. Although she had to accept losing half of the fee she had paid, she did not feel regretful, instead she felt lighter and more secure, "not betting on something she did not understand."
For many years, every summer vacation, Ms. Duong Bich Lua (37 years old, Hoan Kiem ward, Hanoi) has let her 5th grade daughter participate in a short-term summer camp program. Not because the child really wants to go, but because both husband and wife work in administration, and no one looks after the child. Ms. Lua considers the 5-7 day programs as a two-in-one solution - the child can have fun, and the parents can work with peace of mind.
The female parent said that her daughter never complained after each trip. When she returned home, she only told her parents about some of the games and outdoor activities and then quickly returned to her normal routine. There were no unusual signs, and no complaints, which made Ms. Lua completely trust her and regularly enroll every year as a matter of course.
But this year, everything changed. Like most other parents, after a series of complaints about the Eager Village summer camp, Ms. Lua was confused. What she previously thought was safe has now become her biggest worry.
"My child has always been quiet, sometimes something happened to him but he didn't tell me. After the Eager Village incident, I was shocked, what if my child fell into that situation? Who would be responsible if something bad happened?" , Ms. Lua worried.
During the long summer break, both Ms. Lua and her husband were busy, without the support of grandparents, and when it came to extra classes, the child became bored and could not concentrate. In the end, with no other choice, Ms. Lua had to leave the child at home. Day after day, the little girl was confined to the four walls with the iPad as her companion.
"At least if I leave my child at home I know where he is, what he's eating, and if he's safe. But if I send him to summer camp now, if something happens, it'll be too late to regret," said the female parent.
Many parents regret sending their children to summer camp. (Photo: Eager Village)
According to Ms. Vu Thi Van, currently working at a psychological counseling center in Hanoi, after a series of recent incidents related to summer camps, many parents have begun to be more cautious. They realize that trust cannot be given easily, especially when the ones directly at risk are the children.
"Insect bites can be cured with medicine, scratches can also heal over time, but the mental trauma of children being neglected, not listened to, not protected can be deeply ingrained in their minds, leaving long-term consequences," Ms. Van emphasized.
According to her, parents need to understand that choosing a summer camp is not simply about choosing a beautiful location or a reasonable price, but about choosing a reliable companion for their children.
In the context of the lack of a strict inspection system for summer camp activities in Vietnam, parents' alertness, initiative and strictness are the first and most important layer of protection. Ms. Van recommends that before deciding to let their children participate in any summer camp, parents need to ask the organizing unit to provide full information: from the professional manager, the supervisory team, to the accommodation plan, activity schedule, medical plan and how to handle incidents.
“A decent summer camp will not be afraid of transparency. This is not just a place to send children for a few days of summer vacation, but a space to help children develop emotionally and form their personalities. Children need to be cared for with responsibility and sincerity, not become the objects of programs created just for communication,” the female expert emphasized.
The incident at the Eager Village summer camp caused a stir on social media platforms when a parent posted an article expressing his frustration after letting his 10-year-old son attend the 8-day, 7-night summer camp at Eager Village ( Thai Nguyen ).
This parent said that her son had many dermatological health problems such as rashes and dermatitis, and also revealed that her son was psychologically affected by bullying. Many other parents also spoke up after Ms. L.'s post, sharing that when their son returned home, he showed signs of insect bites with a rash on his back and red, swollen spots on his face. Others reported that the facilities and hygiene conditions at the camp were very poor: the toilets were not clean, the swimming pool had larvae, many mosquitoes, the mosquito nets were punctured, the sleeping place had no mattress, and the blankets were not enough.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/sau-vu-trai-he-lang-hao-huc-nhieu-phu-huynh-giat-minh-tung-giao-trung-cho-ac-ar953652.html
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