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Thursday, November 21, 2024

Vietnam Australia International School: “Home of VAS Changeneration”

The Saigon Times

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For the past 20 years, the Vietnam Australia International School (VAS) system has established itself as a leader in the bilingual international education sector in Vietnam.

With nearly 8,000 students enrolled across six campuses certified as “Cambridge International Schools,” VAS proudly boasts student achievements that consistently match or exceed the average results of over 10,000 Cambridge international schools in 160 countries worldwide.

VAS is not just a “home of excellence” but also a nurturing ground for generations of changemakers – global citizens who embody love and responsibility toward their communities and are committed to generating ideas that make the world a better place.

Fostering community-driven generations

In 2016, VAS launched the “VAS Community Programme” to provide students with opportunities to engage in community responsibility through self-implemented projects.

Today, this initiative has become the most inspiring community activity at VAS, recognized for the invaluable contributions VASers have made over nearly a decade and for transforming students’ creative ideas into reality.

Students take ownership of their projects, from brainstorming and planning to fundraising through various innovative methods, ultimately achieving their project goals. This approach cultivates responsible global citizens ready to take action in their communities from a young age, sowing the seeds for core values among VAS students.

To date, nearly 300 community projects initiated by VAS students have been successfully implemented, spreading love and support to thousands of families and children facing difficulties.

“Touching Colors, Painting Dreams”—a project by VAS Garden Hills students at “VAS Community 2024-2025,” which aims to create “sound color” and “tactile color” sets to help visually impaired students easily distinguish colors and illuminate their artistic dreams.

Many of these projects have been sustained over the years and received meaningful awards, affirming their impact and value. Notable examples include the “Lighting Up Knowledge” project by students at VAS Hoang Van Thu, which made it to the “Top 30 National Best Projects of 2022” and the finals of the “Youth Initiative for Energy Transition with Social Justice” competition. Another example is the “Otto – AI Waste Sorting Robot” project by students at VAS Ba Thang Hai, which won First Prize at the 2023-2024 HCMC Secondary School Science and Technology Competition.

The Otto project team introduces the first version of their AI waste-sorting robot model at the “VAS Community 2023-2024” program

Persevering towards sustainable development goals

VAS’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives extend beyond community support and environmental protection; they reflect how VAS and the VASers community—including students, parents, teachers, and staff—have worked toward sustainable development for nearly two decades.

Each year, the VAS community participates in numerous volunteer programs at orphanages, hospitals, and schools in HCMC and remote areas.

In 2024, the entire VAS system has executed 39 community projects, contributing approximately VND1.8 billion to the community. In 2023 and 2024, VAS has constructed two bridges, which is called Viet Uc in Cau Ngang and Tra Cu districts of Tra Vinh Province, which facilitate easier travel for local residents and school children.

Moreover, VAS inspires VASers to take action for the environment and community through various meaningful activities, such as VAS Talks—a series sharing inspirational messages for VASers on their journey to create sustainable value—and 3Rs Projects that encourage students to reduce waste and recycle plastic. Additionally, the annual drawing competition at VAS frequently focuses on themes related to the environment and community.

The artwork “Clear Sky” by Nguyen Ha Minh Anh, a 10th-grade student at VAS Sala, in the “VAS Painting 2024-2025” competition, with the message: “Storm Yagi in the North has swept away countless homes, structures, and schools… After everything, lives are lost, homes are gone, and the Earth continues to turn; the Sun still rises in the East and sets in the West. Therefore, I only have one dream: after all that has happened, everyone will find their own light.”

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