On 11 December, EU Ambassador Aliberti, head of the European Union Delegation in Vietnam, visited preschools in Quang Nam province in the Central region of Vietnam. These schools are piloting the EU-co-funded GENTLE project, which transforms preschools in central Vietnam into environments of gender-responsive, play-based learning, involving parents (and fathers in particular) to the fullest in the process.
Mr Aliberti: “It takes a long-term effort to achieve the goal of ensuring equal opportunities for all children, both boys and girls. That is why we [the EU] focus on gender in the early stages of the education process, which is the top priority of this project. VVOB is helping with the pedagogical approach. Together, we train teachers, school leaders and government staff to look at gender from a different perspective. They can then communicate with children and communities in an appropriate way.”
Learn more about GENTLE: Keeping preschoolers safe from gender stereotypes in Vietnam
One day later, we welcomed Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam Mr Jansen to Kon Tum Province, also in Central Vietnam. We visited a preschool actively engaged in our BaMi programme, which mitigates barriers to learning for preschool children in poor ethnic minority communities. Funding this programme, the Belgian Development Cooperation supports the competences of preschool teachers on process-oriented child monitoring and enables preschool teachers to address gender, environment and language barriers to learning and participation and to ensure deep level learning among all children.
Mr Jansen sat down with the Provincial People's Committee: “I appreciate that VVOB and the provincial authorities in Vietnam are collaborating to improve of quality early childhood education. I look forward to the positive changes that the Belgian-funded projects can bring.”
Learn more about BaMi: Diversity in preschools: an asset
For more information about VVOB's work in Vietnam, please visit our local website.
