Project HerePhoYou is a group of 27 students from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Club (EEE Club), who embarked on an Overseas Community Engagement Project (OCEP) to Trà Vinh Province, Vietnam, in collaboration with ECO Vietnam Group (EVG). It is the team’s first-year physical volunteering effort, since the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary focus of the trip encompassed two important objectives: building a library facility and providing educational support to the local children, aged 12 to 13 years old.
The team embarked on a transformative mission to construct a magnificent library, with the noble aim of providing the children in the area with a nurturing and inspiring learning environment. This admirable initiative not only offered them a safe haven to indulge in joyful exploration but also provided them with an ideal setting to expand their intellectual horizons. Strategically positioned along a major highway that seamlessly connects numerous communes, this newly built library boasts the remarkable capacity to serve an even larger number of eager young minds. The construction process involved ardently shoveling cement and sand, meticulously tying metal wires to fortify the pillars, and meticulously ensuring every detail was executed with utmost precision.
The team also embraced the responsibility of enlightening young minds by teaching subjects that the local teachers were unable to cover comprehensively. The team’s primary objective was to make the learning experience an enjoyable and captivating one, encouraging the children to delve deeper into these fascinating subjects. With unwavering enthusiasm, the team introduced the kids to cutting-edge concepts like HTML and Breadboard, opening up a whole new world of possibilities and igniting their curiosity.
In addition to the team’s community service endeavours, they had the exceptional opportunity to immerse themselves in Vietnam’s mesmerizing tapestry of rich culture and history. Their journey led them to visit significant cultural landmarks, including the profound War Remnant Museum and the majestic Reunification Palace. These enlightening visits provided them with a profound understanding of the harrowing atrocities that transpired during the Vietnam War, shedding light on the motivations of not only the United States but also other key players involved in the conflict. These invaluable insights resonated deeply within us, fostering a profound appreciation for the resilience and spirit of the Vietnamese people.
The team also had the opportunity to visit local startups in Vietnam. One such startup would be Golden Eye Technologies. Their mission would be to find solutions and technologies for improving production management, quality control, and building a stable and reliable Internet of Things (IoT) environment. Their products and solutions are a combination of data digitizing, IoT devices, and automation systems for different business cases. One particular solution was a burger making machine. The solution was aimed at the American market as the machine would be much cheaper then hiring staff to do the same job over there. It was interesting to hear about how they developed the machine and the many phases of development they went through.
Undoubtedly, the team’s OCEP experience in Vietnam proved to be a transformative odyssey that allowed them to wholeheartedly contribute to the local community while simultaneously expanding their own knowledge and deepening their cultural understanding.
This project helped me to re-align my life principles and self-value. Prior to this trip, I was struggling with self-doubt; however, through the interactions with everyone in the team and the V team, I regained my confidence and developed more self-love and appreciation. Greatest takeaway was on cultural night when a student who was not from our class and one I barely talked to, ran over and google translated in English to ask me to stop crying. That moment made me felt appreciated and wallow in self-pity experienced pre-trip. Jodi Tan, Programmer / First Aider
About Project HerePhoYou
A special Youth Expedition Project (YEP) project portfolio of the NTU School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Club (EEE Club).
