This project by MAE Club Overseas Community Engineering Programme (OCEP) was conducted in Vietnam. The service-learning project was centered around the construction of a community center, conducting educational lessons for the local children, cultural exchanges in the village to experience and understand the lifestyle of the locals, and a university exchange with Van Lang University.
The primary objective of the project is to improve the educational opportunities available to children in rural areas and to expose them to hands-on learning otherwise not accessible to them. OCEP members took part in constructing a community library, to build an environment conducive for after-school enrichment and learning. The daily lessons conducted by the OCEP members in the village were planned to empower the children in the village with knowledge and expose them to the possible opportunities education can bring about. The engagement with the local community was a valuable learning opportunity for the OCEP members, as they develop empathy and awareness of social issues in different contexts by understanding the villagers’ different ways of life. Through the cultural exchange, OCEP members acquired an appreciation and mutual understanding of a foreign way of life.
Additionally, the university exchange programme in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s bustling urban centre, facilitated the chance for OCEP members to explore different aspects of Vietnamese society, and to expand their viewpoints. OCEP members interacted and forged meaningful relations with students from the programme, fulfilling the learning objectives.
Through building community spaces, imparting applicable knowledge, and engaging with the local community, OCEP members gained valuable insights and experiences while contributing to the betterment of education and the well-being of the villagers.
Having had the opportunity to go on this trip along with my schoolmates has been an eye opening experience for all of us. Most of us live privileged lives in Singapore, and seeing the challenges faced by the communities in Vietnam has led to a much greater appreciation of the things we do have here at home. Collaborating with Eco Vietnam Group, I have been reminded and shown the lasting impact that can come from working together in this project. Whether it was physically seeing a library being built up from the ground, or seeing the children we were teaching engaged and eager to learn, our OCEP has inspired me to continue my efforts in empowering others through community service. Jason Lam, Participant
About Project MAE OCEP x EVG Community Center
Founded in 2019, MAE OCEP is a vibrant portfolio that aims to bridge engineering and volunteerism through overseas service-learning projects. We participate in multiple opportunities to give back to both local and overseas communities throughout the academic year.
