On November 26th, nearly 70 students from the Merali, Microsoft YouthSpark and Future Energy AES-VCM  sScholarship programs visited and participated in team- building activities in Xuan Thuy National Park (( Giao Thien commune, Giao Thuy district, Nam Dinh province).


Memorable moments.

Students divided into six groups to participate in team- building games. This picnic is one of many activities that the Center of Education and Development (CED) provides for students who received the Merali, Microsoft YouthSpark and or AES-VCM scholarships with funding from scholarship sponsors. The goals of the activity day were to facilitate scholarship recipients interactions and to learn.about the famous national park.
The team- building games help students to get acquainted and connected. “Eating Fruits”  was the game that was considered to be the hardest for team- building. In the game, players must try to eat an entire fruit hanging on a wire while their hands are tied and they are blindfolded.
Nearly 70 students attended the picnic, including 21 girls from the Microsoft YouthSpark Scholarship Pprogram, 31 girls from the Merali Scholarship Pprogram and 18 students from the AES-VCM Future Energy Scholarship Pprogram. For the Micorosoft YouthSpark Sscholarship Program (Hanoi area), this is the first interactive activity for the scholars since receiving the scholarship in October .
Two members from the Pink Team shared one bag and jumped together in a “sack race” game. Games required not only team spirit, but also skillfulness and agility.
In the afternoon, students went sightseeing, and learned about the introduction of ecology in Xuan Thuy National Park. Xuan Thuy National Park is a large wetland with the core area being 7,100 ha and 8,000 ha for the buffer zone. The park’s fertile alluvial soil is a unique in the wetland with a diversity of plants and animals. Xuan Thuy National Park has about 219 species of birds, of which nine species have been documented as endangered species in the Red Book. At the peak period, the number of bird species in Xuan Thuy National park may reach 30-40 thousand. “Co Thia” is one of the rare migratory birds in Xuan Thuy National Park and was chosen as the symbol bird of the park.
There are many fishing huts to watch out catching fish in the buffer zone of Xuan Thuy National Park. Xuan Thuy National Park separates two distinct areas: the core zone and the buffer zone. The core zone is a strictly protected area, with no human activities taking place here. The buffer zone which is adjacent to the core zone, allowed to exploit, acts as a transition zone with activities regulated and limited to reduce human impact on the National Park.
On the way to visit Xuan Thuy National Park, the students went to Con Lu. Con Lu is one of the national nature reserves of Vietnam with an area of 10,000 ha of buffer zone and 7,000 ha of strictly protected area. This is an ideal habitat for animals. … In particular, Con Lu is known for the “station” convergence of thousands of precious birds from the North. From November to March next year is the bird season in Xuan Thuy National Park.
Students were took photos after the picnic. “ This is an amazing trip with for me this year. I discovered a new place, made friends with other scholarship recipients,. I have new memorable experiences, learned more interesting knowledge about vast nature. It is one of the most beautiful memories of my life as a student,” said Mai Thi Gam..

Center of Education and Development does not only support students, but also regularly organizes exchange activities, professional and soft skill trainning sessions for them so that they can develop socially as well as intellectually, and have increased employment opportunities after graduation.

More photos.

Website of Xuan Thuy national park: http://vuonquocgiaxuanthuy.org.vn

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