"Reach out - Shine" inspires ethnic minority students in Cao Bang to excel

Within the framework of Project 8 "Implementing gender equality and solving urgent issues for women and children" chaired by the Vietnam Women's Union, on May 24, 2025, the Vietnam Women's Museum in collaboration with UNESCO Vietnam, the Departmentof Education and Training of Cao Bang province, CJ organized the communication event "Reaching out - Shining" at Hop Giang Secondary School, Cao Bang city, Cao Bang province.

The event attracted nearly 1,000 students and teachers from 6 primary schools, of which 86% were ethnic minority students. The communication activity "Reaching out - Shining" aims to arouse and encourage the spirit of overcoming difficulties, inspire and accompany students to study, grow and pursue their dreams; spread the message "Ethnic minority women should confidently take control of their lives".

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum, said that in order to implement the goal of Project 8, over the years, the Museum has been constantly striving to tell authentic, moving and inspiring stories to the community in the journey of accompanying ethnic minority women and children in mountainous areas, through a series of exhibitions, talks, and documentary videos from all over the country.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum, spoke at the event.

"From the events 'Beeswax - Indigo' of the Mong and Dao people in Hoa Binh and Cao Bang to 'Story by the Ba River', 'Sunshine on the Plateau' of Gia Lai to 'Sunshine on the Mountain' in Lao Cai and 'Thanh Son on a New Day' for the people of Thanh Hoa... each story is a bridge to extend the arms of companionship for women and children. And the event 'Reaching Out - Shining' at Hop Giang Secondary School is a new bright spot in that journey. We always listen to aspirations, to fuel the dreams that are like green buds in the souls of students in Cao Bang, a border area of the Fatherland", Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet shared.

At the event, Ms. Tuyet sent a message to ethnic minority and mountainous students: "Life may not be easy. But as poet Nguyen Khoa Diem once wrote: 'Everyone has a homeland to remember, a river to reflect on, a star to dream of'. We hope that you will hold on to your star. Through the media event, we want you to firmly believe that you are not alone on that journey. Even though life is full of challenges, you should persevere with your dreams, constantly practice, learn and share; become 'leaders of change' - not only for yourself, but also for the community".

Attending the event, Ms. Dam Thi Trung Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Education and Training of Cao Bang province, said: benefiting from Project 8 of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union (implemented by the Vietnam Women's Museum) and the We CAN Initiative (implemented by UNESCO and CJ in coordination with the education sector) in Cao Bang province over the past school year, nearly 40 teachers, managers, and medical staff of 6 schools in Cao Bang province have achieved many successes after participating in training and practicing with experts. Thanks to the Projects, the capacity of teachers, managers, school psychologists, medical staff, etc. has been improved; at the same time, they have become closer to the requirements of the new general education program through experiential education and career guidance activities; practical learning activities have encouraged students to explore themselves and orient their future; Integrate gender equality content into subjects and extracurricular activities, create a fair and respectful school environment...

Within the framework of the event, the "Reach Out - Shine" talk show took place with the participation of two typical ethnic minority female speakers, representing the image of women who dare to dream, dare to aspire, overcome barriers of prejudice and persevere, steadfastly pursue their goals, to succeed and shine in their own way. They are the young Tay female director Ha Le Diem (who won the "Best Director" award at the 2021 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival with the film "The Children in the Mist", which was in the top 15 Oscar nominations) and Dao female Jujitsu athlete Phung Mui Nhinh (who won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Asian Jujitsu Competition and is the pride of the Vietnamese Jujitsu team in the international arena).

Young Tay director Ha Le Diem (left) and Dao Jujitsu athlete Phung Mui Nhinh (right) interact, share and inspire students at the event "Reach out - Shine"

The event also brought a creative playground with a painting and presentation contest on the topic "Removing barriers - Reaching out to shine" . Six teams from schools in Cao Bang province (Huy Giap Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Thanh Cong Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Hop Giang Secondary School, Van Trinh Primary and Secondary School, Na Giang Secondary School, Duc Long Secondary School) expressed their views on the role and right to master the future of students - especially girls - through interdisciplinary activities combining fine arts, literature and creative experiences.

Also at the event, the exhibitions "My Dream" and "Reaching Out - Shining" were displayed. The two exhibitions are stories and sharing about the journey of women and children in the highlands who have been trying to overcome gender barriers through many activities of the 8 Effective Project implemented by the Women's Union at all levels.

"As a unit under the Vietnam Women's Union, over the years, the Vietnam Women's Museum has always actively implemented communication activities under Project 8, accompanying ethnic minority women and children in the journey to promote gender equality. This year's "Reaching Out - Shining" event is a meaningful continuation of that journey, aiming to create an inspirational space - where stories of overcoming difficulties and dreams of rising up are heard and widely spread in the community. This is not only a communication activity, but also an affirmation of our commitment to accompanying the community, especially the people in the highlands, for a sustainable society."

Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of Vietnam Women's Museum

Some pictures at the event: