 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
VVAW Library and Learning Center UpdatesBy VVAWMany years ago, John Zutz of Milwaukee VVAW used the proceeds of his Milwaukee Beer Fest fundraisers to support the work of Chuck Theusch and the Library of Vietnam Project. This support led VVAW to help fund a computer lab at one of the children's libraries in My Lai, Vietnam in 2018. We never would've imagined that in 2025, we are about to begin construction on the FOURTH VVAW-sponsored Library and Learning Center in Vietnam. It appears there might even be the possibility of a FIFTH VVAW-sponsored library. We regard these projects as ongoing even after they are open to the students. Continuing support is required. The local people's committees and central government help fund the operations. Thanks to your generous support, we also provide for upgrades and other needs. What a journey this has been. Just recently, Chuck Theusch and Khoi Tran of the Vietnam Library Project spent almost two months visiting Vietnam and overseeing the construction of the Library and Learning Centers VVAW is sponsoring (along with all their other projects). They were joined on some of the library visits by Le Ly Hayslip, writer, memoirist, humanitarian, and author of When Heaven and Earth Changed Places. They attended the December 15, 2024, dedication of the third Vietnam Veterans Against the War sponsored Library and Learning Center at the An Nghia Secondary School, An Nghia Village, Binh Dinh Province in Vietnam. Library of Vietnam Project members were also in attendance. The Library and computer lab are already in use. They also attended the groundbreaking on January 17, 2025, of our FOURTH and largest Library and Learning Center in Vietnam. This Library and Learning center will be at the Hanh Minh Secondary School, Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province. This Library will serve secondary school students in grades 6-9. The goal for completion is by the fall of 2025. Here are some updates on the Library and Learning Centers funded by VVAW, including messages directly from individuals in the specific library districts. #1 From our first Library at the Pho Vinh Secondary School (grades 6-9), Duc Pho town, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam. Letter from the Principal We thank you and your sponsors for your interest in our school library activities in recent years. Since its inauguration, the Pho Vinh Secondary School library has become the focal point for the vibrant research and learning activities of the School's staff and students. We have annually organized many meaningful activities at the Library every year, such as Book and Reading Culture Day, Book Sharing Club, exchanges with authors and works, reading culture ambassador movement, library reading periods and lessons, classroom bookshelf activities, and library connection activities, mobile book program and many other interesting activities. Your library construction and investment have brought positive values to our staff and students, significantly improving the School's educational quality and helping us complete one of the 28 criteria of the level 2 national standard school. In December 2024, the School was recognized by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee as a Level 2 National Standard School. The school library has become a center for reading and cultural exchange of teachers and students from 4 secondary schools in Duc Pho town. We appreciate you and the sponsors for giving us the opportunity and environment to access endless knowledge and colorful world cultures. You have brought us real happiness. We hope the Library will be equipped with more audio-visual equipment so that the school library can become a learning and exchange center between students of our schools and other schools in our country. We would like to work with you and the Library of Vietnam Project to operate and develop the Library effectively. We hope you send our thanks and best wishes to the sponsors.
Sincerely, #2 From our second Library at the Hanh Trung Primary School (grades 1-5), Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province, Vietnam Chuck Theusch reports "Ms. Tu, Headmaster of Hanh Trung, does an exemplary job with the VVAW Library. Getting books donated is a specialty. How does she do it? She invites other schools, agencies, and business people to visit her at the VVAW Library." "They have been impressed with the Library. Indeed, one business person who routinely donates books to local schools was so moved by the quality of the VVAW facility AND the excellent management, books, and resources outreach program that he now makes his donation directly to this school rather than casting about the Province for other schools." #3 From our third Library at the An Nghia Secondary School (grades 6-9), An Nghia Village, Binh Dinh Province in Vietnam. Letter from the Librarian The Headmasters are happy to have received the library, the first in our District, from the American Sponsor. The National Government has decreed that a separate library building is essential in improving our education. The Library of Vietnam Project and its sponsors are the first of their kind to ever come to the Hoai An District with international support. This is fabulous! We hope to receive a Level 2 recognition from the Government Education Agency in 2025 because we have this important addition to our school. We are a very poor district and do not have much money, agriculture being our business in this area. We have the Kim Son Prison, and that has been a historic thing people are aware of when they think of Hoai An District. This project will help us change how our local people and friends think of us. We now have some alumni from our poor district who will be stirring up support for others to donate more to this library. Thank You from our staff. We hope the sponsors in America will have additional support next year. With the new library, we will be holding a special event called National Book Day on April 21, 2025, which was started by the National Government Decree in 2014. This is the 11th one we will join in. We will be a more important part of it in 2025.
Ms. Vo Thi Phan #4 From our fourth Library at the Hanh Minh Secondary School, Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province. This, our largest library and learning center to date, was made possible partly by a generous donation left to us in the will of a VVAW member, Charlie Jones. The plan is for the library to be completed and open for student use by September 15, 2025. A dedication will follow later in October or November. Chuck Theusch reports "The staff has been particularly delighted with the VVAW Project. The People's Committee has added nearly $25,000 to make this library possible, largely thanks to the increased sponsorship that family, friends, and Charlie Jones of VVAW have seen fit to invest." "Mr. Sam, Vice-Chairman of the District People's Committee, has been especially vocal in supporting the VVAW project. He has noted on different occasions that this library, with its larger size and expanded facilities, may serve as a prototype for other libraries across Quang Ngai Province." VVAW's FIFTH library in Vietnam?? A long-time VVAW member has expressed interest in contributing significantly to constructing another VVAW-sponsored Library and Learning Center in Vietnam. We are working with Chuck and Khoi to determine possible locations and costs. We will need your help getting this project completed. The role of education is key to our continuing to fund children's libraries and learning centers in Vietnam. The direct consequence is that children in poor and often still war-ravaged areas can access books and computer labs in dedicated spaces. Also, we hope that by supporting these projects, we draw attention to the damage our war in Vietnam wreaked upon the people and the land. Wars have consequences—long-lasting consequences. We still need to raise funds to keep the library project going and continue supporting our existing libraries, so your support is essential. If you want to include VVAW in your will but don't know how, please contact the National Office at vvaw@vvaw.org. VVAW is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. You can also donate online at www.vvaw.org or mail us a check. All contributions are appreciated.
|
