At 5 a.m., the volunteer team from the Dewey Tay Ho Tay Community Foundation began their journey to Lao Cai under pouring rain. Yet inside the bus, nearly 40 students, together with the school leadership team, teachers, and parent representatives, carried nothing but excitement and the heartfelt desire to bring love and support to children in the highlands.
And then, something special happened. As the group arrived in Van Chan, the sky began to clear and sunlight appeared — almost like nature’s own blessing for a journey dedicated to sharing warmth and hope.
During this trip, the volunteer team attended the inauguration ceremony of Phu Son Bridge in Ba Cau Village, Suoi Bu Commune, Van Chan District — a community project worth 180 million VND funded by the Dewey Community Foundation.
To many people, it may seem like just a small bridge nestled among the mountains. But for local families, it represents peace of mind after years of crossing dangerous streams during the rainy season.
Mr. Dinh Van Mong, Head of Ba Cau Village, shared that around 200 students travel through this route every day to get to school. Before the bridge was built, parents had to stop at the stream and carry their children across the rushing water on their backs. For kindergarteners and first graders, crossing alone was almost unimaginable. “Now that the bridge has been completed, everyone in the village feels truly happy and relieved,” he said.
Beyond building a new bridge, the volunteer team also delivered nearly 500 gifts — including school supplies, red T-shirts with Vietnam’s yellow star flag, and other essentials — to students at Suoi Bu Primary and Secondary School. Dewey students spent time playing with the children, guiding them patiently through clay-making activities and sharing joyful moments together.
But perhaps what Dewey students will remember most are the bright smiles on the faces of the Suoi Bu children as they experienced, for the very first time, toys that might seem ordinary to children in big cities.
Nguyen Tien Dat (11 Orlando) shared that the trip helped him realize how everyday things can become incredibly meaningful gifts to children in different circumstances. “I learned that volunteering is not only about giving material things, but also about giving care, compassion, and helping children feel that they are not left behind.”
What made the journey even more meaningful was the participation of several Korean students currently studying at Dewey Tay Ho Tay. Lee Junsung (10 Burlington) said this was his first volunteer trip of this kind. “I feel really proud of myself for being able to help the children here.” Beyond differences in language, culture, or background, students from different countries found common ground in empathy and the desire to share kindness with others.
Some bridges are built with concrete, steel, and human hands. But others are built through compassion, care, and the belief that every child deserves a safe path toward the future.
