Head of the Culture and Information Department for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Vu Tuan Hai talked to Dai doan ket (Great Unity) newspaper about a summer camp for young overseas Vietnamese
This year, the summer camp for young overseas Vietnamese was themed “My homeland’s sea and islands”. It aims to inspire patriotism in young overseas Vietnamese, many of whom cannot speak Vietnamese well. Was it difficult to organise?
The camp is one of many similarly themed activities being organised both inside and outside the country. It is expected to help young overseas Vietnamese learn about Viet Nam’s sea and islands. They will get to travel to coastal provinces, visit the homes of fishermen and meet with law enforcement forces at sea. The activities aim to intensify their love and pride for their homeland as well as make them aware of their responsibility to protect national sovereignty.
Personally, I think that the language barrier may pose a difficulty. So we will bring those who are fluent in Vietnamese together with those who are not. Young overseas Vietnamese who are living in different countries will be accommodated in the same room so that they can use Vietnamese to communicate and improve their Vietnamese.
Do you plan to collect feedback from participants afterwards?
After every summer camp, we distribute a handout for them to write their assessments about the camp. Because of our limited budget, we cannot organise meetings to listen to their opinions directly. However, we know that many still keep in touch online. One thing that makes us happy is that they write to each other in Vietnamese. Despite their incorrect grammar or spelling, it demonstrates their love for their homeland.
Summer camps for young overseas Vietnamese help promote Viet Nam’s image around the world, don’t they?
Yes, they do. The summer camps have been organised yearly for ten years. The young overseas Vietnamese joining the camps really help promote Viet Nam’s image. They even inspire their parents to return to Viet Nam or join activities of Vietnamese communities in their host countries. Many people told us that their children wanted to learn Vietnamese more after the camps.
The camp participants tell the world about Viet Nam, so they are great messengers for the country.
How are young overseas Vietnamese responding to the theme of this year’s summer camp?
They are very excited about it. Many hope to help their homeland. – VNS
Đăng ký: VietNam News
