Project AbOVE and Beyond is a meaningful overseas community engagement initiative led by residents of Hall of Residence 12. The team have collaborated with ECO Vietnam Group (EVG) who aims to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged, disadvantaged communities and educate young people about their civic responsibility as well as nurture their social awareness. The team have helped to build on EVG’s foundation through creating handicraft work for the children’s classrooms, conducting meaningful lessons for the children, assisting in construction work to build community buildings for the children, and assisting in housekeeping.
Handicrafts of A0-sized posters were meticulously crafted to be used as photo frames to hang the artworks of the students and decorate their classrooms. In addition to crafting, the team also created multiple lesson plans to enrich the children’s educational experience by teaching subjects such as Physical Education (including sports such as Frisbee and Captain’s Ball, which are not covered in their education curriculum), English (teaching synonyms of simple English words and their meanings), Computer Science (teaching them how to code a calculator and emphasizing the importance of coding), and Video Editing (teaching them how to edit simple videos using CapCut). These lesson plans were aimed at equipping the children with practical skills and knowledge that would enhance their prospects for the future, opening doors to new opportunities and avenues for personal growth.
Beyond the classroom, the team were also involved in the construction project which they made cement and laid bricks to build a kitchen which is meant to be a community area for the students. In addition, the team was required to do housekeeping duties which included washing certain clothes, helping with meal preparation and washing of dishes. All these are things that the team is usually not exposed to in Singapore, and this allowed the participants to cooperate with one another and understand the hardship and how privileged they are.
Throughout the project’s period of 13 days, they team also enjoyed breaks dedicated to cultural exchange and immersion, which provide participants with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Vietnamese culture. This included visits to Vicosap, house visits to understand the lives of the villagers, donning traditional Vietnamese attire, sampling traditional Vietnamese cuisine, and even sharing their own Singaporean dishes. Overall, this overseas project facilitated meaningful interactions with local customs and traditions while allowing the team to give back to the community.
Working alongside the ECO Vietnam Group was an incredible experience. It allowed me to contribute to community development through various activities that are uncommon in Singapore and also gained invaluable insights into Vietnamese culture. It’s been a humbling experience, reminding me of the importance of empathy, cooperation, and understanding in order to make a positive impact in society. Sng Yu En Jerrica, Member
About Project AbOVE and Beyond
A family of passionate individuals embarking on local and overseas volunteering projects to give back our love to communities while igniting a positive change in society. Our organisation, Hall 12 Overseas Volunteering Expedition (OVE) aims to empower and support individuals through the journey of love and growth, with our belief “Where love crosses boundaries and expands beyond limitation”.
