ONE JOURNEY, COUNTLESS NEW BEGINNINGS!

A school year has just come to a close, and the doors of summer have opened wide for the 8th and 9th graders in the “Empowering You” project. But this summer isn’t just about playtime — it marks a meaningful turning point as the students begin to explore their future paths. And what better way to start this journey than a field trip to Don Bosco My Thuan Technical School in Vinh Long.

Before dawn and while the city still lay asleep, laughter and chatter already filled the small alley where Thao Dan Social Protection Center for Children is nestled on Hai Ba Trung Street. The students, neatly dressed and full of anticipation, were ready. Some had even come the night before to sleep at the center, worried they might oversleep at home. One child confided sweetly: “I have to be here early tomorrow or I might miss the trip.” A simple sentence, yet it carried such excitement and eagerness about the journey to a school they’d never seen before.

At exactly 5:30 AM, the bus rolled out, carrying with it young hearts full of nervous anticipation. As we passed roads and crossed the majestic My Thuan Bridge, the school gradually appeared—Don Bosco My Thuan Technical School, run by the Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) and the Filiae Mariae Auxiliatricis (FMA), welcomed us with peace and strength. It was more than just a school—it felt like a home. A place where young people are trained not only to become skilled workers but also kind and upright citizens—regardless of religion.

The warm hospitality of the teachers quickly melted away the children's initial shyness. They were guided through every corner of the school—from spacious classrooms to modern vocational workshops in electricity, mechanics, and automobile repair. Their eyes lit up with awe and curiosity at these unfamiliar but fascinating new spaces. Innocent yet thoughtful questions began to fill the air:"Is the school campus big?"

"Is it fun to study here?"

"Are there lots of friends in the dorms?"

Bit by bit, their timidness gave way to enthusiastic conversations. The students began chatting with 12th graders preparing for their exams, bombarding the friars and sisters with “ten thousand whys”—about class schedules, daily routines, extracurricular activities, and more. Every question revealed a genuine interest, a real effort to imagine and understand a possible path ahead.

Amidst the cheerful energy, a quiet moment stood out. Tuan, a shy and reserved boy, gently turned to Ms. Uyen, the social worker from Thao Dan, and said:"Miss Uyen, can I pack my things and move here tomorrow?"His words were simple, but they touched our hearts deeply. In his sparkling eyes, we caught a glimpse of newfound hope—for a brighter future.

As we said goodbye to Don Bosco My Thuan, the return trip was filled not with the sleepy silence of the early morning, but with singing, laughter, and non-stop conversations. The journey may have been short, but it opened up a world of new dreams. And this is only the beginning—soon the students will visit other vocational training centers and join orientation sessions together.

We truly hope that through these trips and real-life experiences, our students will gain enough knowledge—and confidence—to choose the right path for their lives. Because to us, every decision they make today is the first step toward a brighter tomorrow.