When the Vietnamese Women’s Museum (VWM) planned to set up a place full of excitement and educational activities for children and adolescents, VVOB Vietnam was happy to support the realisation of this idea. In a country where shortage of space for playgrounds has always been a hot issue, especially in big cities like Hanoi, where educational playgrounds are even harder to find, this was a unique initiative.
Let the children play
The Discovery Centre, as it was named, was built in the Vietnamese Women’s museum in 2010. The centre welcomes children from 5 to 15 to an innovative learning environment where education integrates with recreation. The centre aims to inspire children and families to learn about themselves and Vietnamese culture in a stimulating environment of interactive exhibitions and educational activities, facilitated by the VWM education team. VVOB provided resources and capacity development for the education team related to effective communication, working with children and active teaching and learning skills. One and a half year after opening, the Discovery Centre has welcomed nearly 3,000 children from primary and secondary schools and more than 1,000 adults.
About games, sex and drugs
Parents are pleased to see that their children, who at home often only watch TV and play video games, are happy to create things themselves. We saw the joy on the faces of the parents when their child proudly presented them their first self made present.
Truong Lan Huong, grade 7M, Trung Vuong secondary school
The Discovery Centre also brings children back to a traditional space where an elder demonstrates betel making while telling the children about its legend. The children learn how to make a betel quid, a combination of betel leaf, areca nut and slaked lime.
The Vietnamese Women’s Museum has just gone through a transition phase from a plain tradional museum to an interactive one. Along with the comprehensive innovation in both content and methodologies, the VWM is becoming one of the best museums in Vietnam. The museum is located about 500 metres from Hoan Kiem Lake, the centre of Hanoi. After four years of reconstruction, the VWM was reopened in 2011 with three exhibition themes: Women in the Family, Women in History and Women’s Fashion; featuring rituals, marriage customs, childbirth, family life, traditional costumes and the stories of women during the war. In addition, the museum regularly holds exhibitions with contemporary themes of life such as women trafficking, street vendors, single women, migrants, etc.
In Vietnamese culture, betel plays an important part in many traditional rituals and ceremonies, especially in marriage. Although a fading tradition, it has left an essential impression on the culture and the literature of Vietnam. It is rare now to be able to witness traditional betel making since it is only done by elders in some Vietnamese villages, so this is an opportunity for children and parents to connect with this disappearing tradition.
Children, girls especially, are excited to participate in the try-on costume activity. There are many costumes from a variety of ethnic minorities in Vietnam. Wearing colorful clothes from different cultures enriches the children’s knowledge of historical, cultural and ethnic values.
Phuong Anh, grade 6, Dong Da secondary school
The Discovery Centre also features sex and gender education and reproductive health lessons. Parents often find it hard to openly talk about these things with their children. Children discover facts about reproduction by arranging images about the life circle of the sperm cell called Willy. This animated character is used to make children feel more excited and parents less shy.
Mrs Do Thi Thanh Thuy from British Council
The number of visitors is growing and the interactive activities are updated regularly, so returning visitors enjoy new experiences.
By Dinh Phuong Thao, Social Participation Officer VVOB Vietnam, and Phung Thi Tu Anh, Head of Communication and Education Department of the Vietnam Women Museum
