| Ishan Ibrahim |
A DELEGATION comprising 33 students and four teachers from International School Brunei (ISB) yesterday departed from Brunei International Airport to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for a week of volunteer service at the Phat Minh Pagoda Orphanage in the Ben Tre Province.
Home to 80 children between the ages of one to 18 years, the orphanage is funded solely by donations and life can be very difficult for them at times.
The Year 10 ISB students discovered their plight and along with their teachers, researched to find out how they could help, and had spent the term brainstorming and fundraising to be of assistance to the orphanage.
The students opted for two fundraising events – a Bake Sale and a Family Fun Day – as well as a donation drive calling for clothing and toys.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nguyen Truong Giang with the ISB delegation. PHOTOS: ISHAN IBRAHIM
ISB students and teachers at the Brunei International Airport prior to departure
The third aspect of the initiative was to plan a weeklong trip to Vietnam to deliver the donations and volunteer at the orphanage to help build a playing and reading area, and to teach English.
Another exciting aspect of their work at the Phat Minh Pagoda Orphanage will be the cultural exchange activities, a set of games and exercises aimed at teaching the Vietnamese about Bruneian culture, and in turn learning about Vietnamese culture from their counterparts.
The ISB contingent received support from numerous parties within the Bruneian community, with the Royal Brunei Airlines providing 300kg of free baggage space in order to transport the donations, as well as logistical support from Danny Chua from Globex; Patrice Faivre from Intermovers; Aewon clothing, and Mr Baker’s Bakeshop.
The day before the departure, four students and one ISB teacher were granted an audience with Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Nguyen Truong Giang, who wanted to hear more about the trip, as well as give advice about how to conduct themselves in Vietnam.
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