When Elsa, whose real name is La Le Quynh Anh, was in 5th grade, her parents told her a story about the “Landfill Cinderella.” The story was about a girl who had to pick up trash from a young age to help support her family and had no formal education until she was 11 years old. Despite these challenges, she graduated as the valedictorian of Trinity School and went on to receive a full scholarship to the prestigious University of Melbourne.
This story greatly inspired Elsa, who is in 11th grade at the Saigon South International School (SSIS). Realizing that knowledge could completely change a person’s life and is the key to unlocking incredible opportunities, she established 4TheYouth, which includes programs like the “Landfill Cinderella Virtual Library” and the “Landfill Cinderella Educational Scholarship for disadvantaged ethnic minority children in Vietnam.” All profits from teaching Public Forum debate at the Vietnam Public Forum Academy, which she also founded, are used for this initiative to provide underprivileged children, particularly those in remote areas, with more access to education.
Interestingly, Sophy Ron, the girl in the inspirational story of Landfill Cinderella, and Elsa have become friends, bonded by their shared desire to improve the lives of disadvantaged children.
After visiting and implementing the “Landfill Cinderella Virtual Library” project at the SOS Children’s Village in Go Vap (HCMC) in June, the 4TheYouth team, consisting of students from various schools such as SSIS, the Canadian International School, and Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, continued their journey to Dang Sron (Lam Dong) to visit 200 K’Ho ethnic children in August.
With the desire to contribute to helping disadvantaged students, especially from ethnic minority groups, and with the belief that education holds transformative power, 4TheYouth awarded the first 10 scholarships of the Landfill Cinderella Educational Scholarship Program to K’Ho ethnic children. Elsa and her companions believe that this event will encourage the children to keep striving in their studies and serve as an inspiration for other children in the K’Ho community and other ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
Additionally, 4TheYouth is implementing the Landfill Cinderella Virtual Library project, combining it with online teaching for K’Ho ethnic children here. Through this, Elsa hopes that the online library can nourish the minds of these young people, and the volunteer teachers can bring knowledge right to the doorstep of these children, regardless of their circumstances.
In addition, Elsa’s team also participated in activities such as visiting, playing with, and giving gifts to the K’Ho ethnic children.
Participating in the activity, Duong Tue Linh and Nguyen Minh Phuc Hung (Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted) shared: “This was my first time traveling on a long distance journey, which made me anxious. But upon arriving in Dang Sron and giving scholarships to the K’ho children with my peers, my worries vanished, replaced by joy and excitement. This trip has definitely taught me about the challenges in the highlands and the importance of giving and empathy.”
