“What touches our hearts is the joy reflected in the eyes of those facing challenging circumstances, whom we have the opportunity to assist.” These heartfelt words were spoken by Nguyen Minh Duc, a student from Class 7Havana and Vice President of the Dewey Student Council at The Dewey Schools Duong Kinh, as he discussed his journey of spreading love.
Upon entering high school and in search of a suitable club, Minh Duc was captivated by the name of the “Community Service Leadership” club, prompting him to join without hesitation.
“Volunteerism is born for those who are willing to do good for others without needing anyone’s reminder” are the simple words with which Minh Duc defines the concept of “volunteerism” for himself as a guiding principle.
Embarking on the journey of sowing the seeds of compassion, in his role as the leader of the club’s media team, under the guidance of their teacher, Minh Duc and the members:
▪️ Outlined preliminary ideas based on their aspirations and realistic perspectives
▪️ Established connections with difficult local circumstances
▪️ Appealed for support from philanthropic individuals
▪️ Commenced the implementation of the project.
At the beginning of the school year, Minh Duc and his club collaborated with Supporting Community Development Innovation (SCDI) to provide gifts to children and families heavily impacted by the consequences of having addicted family members. Their aim was to share in their hardships and provide solace on their path forward. These small yet valuable tokens of encouragement have brought warmth and solace to numerous underprivileged families in Hai Phong.
Currently, amidst their demanding school schedules, Minh Duc and his club remain focused on brainstorming ideas and developing new projects, furthering their collective commitment to contribute to the sustainable development of the community. Minh Duc expresses his enthusiasm, saying, “The accomplishments we achieve through each volunteer project serve as valuable lessons in understanding and empathizing with difficult circumstances. They have greatly aided me in my role as Vice President of Dewey Student Council at the school during my tenure over the past two years.”
Alongside his vibrant volunteer activities, Minh Duc is a talented TDSer who has spent 6 years studying and honing his skills at The Dewey Schools Duong Kinh, with remarkable achievements such as winning the Gold Medal in the Global 2023 Science, Mathematics, and English Olympics and the Bronze Medal in the 2023 International Mathematics Challenge. Sharing his future goals, Minh Duc believes that he needs to make positive impacts on the community, even through the smallest tasks, as they can make a difference in people’s lives. The 13-year-old boy also hopes that future projects will receive the collective support of numerous TDSers to spread kindness and good values to more people.
The volunteer activities have taught Minh Duc valuable life lessons and experiences that cannot be found in books. Minh Duc, along with many exemplary TDSers who embody a proactive spirit from their time in school, is the most convincing evidence of the educational purpose that The Dewey Schools always pursue. It is to empower and enable generations with the necessary knowledge and skills to master world changes and be leaders that positively impact communities wherever they are.
We wish that the compassionate young men of The Dewey Schools continue to stride forward and dedicate themselves to the journey of spreading goodness to the surrounding community.
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(*) As part of the “DESIGN TODAY, GLOW TOMORROW” campaign, the “Glow Up Stories” series will feature authentic stories about personal growth journeys and becoming better versions of themselves every day for our TDSers.
