The Journey of Sharing Love During Spirit Week

The Spirit Week with the theme “Go Green, Breath Clean” in the first week of October brought many memorable activities to #HomeOfTheEagles.

During Spirit Week “Go Green, Breath Clean”, many interesting activities such as making plant pots from recycled products, drawing mind maps and presentations on main topics; sharing ideas about environmental protection has received many students’ enthusiasm, encouraging the PennSchool community to protect a cleaner and more beautiful environment. The fundraising fair was a significant activity during the conclusion of Spirit Week. Its goal was to gather donations such as books, clothes, and old toys.

Following the fundraising fair, PennSchool students jointly delivered loving gifts to the hands of young ones at the SOS Children’s Villages in Go Vap, Ho Chi Minh City on October 14, 2023.

Through the trip, PennSchool students had a chance to interact with the children in the village, and understand their life here. Particularly, #HomeOfTheEagles and the children in the village together made the paper flowers on October 20 to express their gratitude to their “mothers,” who have cared for them over the years.

Lastly, gifts from the PennSchool community were handed over to these children, aiming to share love and demonstrate the care of #HomeOfTheEagles for them and, more broadly, for the underprivileged children in society.

“As I stepped into the heartwarming embrace of the SOS Children’s Villages, I felt a profound sense of purpose and connection. The smiles that illuminated the children’s faces were like rays of sunlight, breaking through the darkest of clouds. My heart swelled with emotion as I realized the impact we could make in their lives. During my time there, I had the responsibility of being the MC. We shared stories, laughter, and our hopes for a brighter future. Additionally, we organized activities to create flowers for the kids on the occasion of Vietnamese Women’s Day. The bond formed through the act of crafting and gifting those flowers connected us in a way that words couldn’t express. This trip left me with a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful experience and a lasting impression of the resilience, strength, and hope that thrived in the hearts of these remarkable children.”

Hoàng Trần Bình Minh (Jessica) – ADP Class

A mixture of pride and hope for a brighter future for the children at SOS Children’s Villages was the sentiment shared by Nguyễn An Phú, an ADP student, after the journey.

“Walking into the SOS Children’s Villages, I was greeted with the warmest smiles from children who had been through so much. This charity trip to the SOS Children’s Villages was an incredible experience for me. We had the chance to meet kids from various backgrounds and were able to hand them donated toys, books, and clothes from our Pennschool community. We engaged in a variety of activities, including painting and games, and our students and teachers provided these kids with a sense of community, assistance, and hope. When it was time to leave, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly grateful. It strengthened my resolve to continue supporting causes like these. This journey taught me the amazing power of kindness and empathy in our interconnected world.”

The activities during Spirit Week and the trip to SOS Children’s Villages have undoubtedly strengthened the students’ awareness of environmental issues. Additionally, they have collectively spread the spirit of mutual love and compassion through their small yet meaningful actions.