Pages of Possibility is a student-led project founded in August 2024 at Concordia Hanoi by a Grade 10 student. The project's mission is to raise funds to purchase books and donate them to communities where children lack access to these resources. Beyond providing books, Pages of Possibility also builds libraries within the organizations they support, creating dedicated learning spaces for young minds. Historically focused on schools, the project now aims to expand its reach to broader communities and other organizations. Through this initiative, the students are making a meaningful impact by fostering curiosity and strengthening life skills among young readers, empowering them to grow and thrive.

Panda (G10), the founder of this student-led initiative, drew inspiration from her extensive involvement in previous book projects dating back to 2018. These projects included organizing fundraisers to collect books and recording and translating books for Vietnamese children. Building on her years of experience with these initiatives, Panda was motivated to launch her own service project. Her vision expanded beyond donating books to schools, aiming to reach broader communities where these resources could have a profound impact.

With nearly 25 members now on board, Pages of Possibility has attracted students who were equally inspired by previous book fundraising projects. These students were eager to join this student-led initiative, drawn by the same passion that sparked its creation. As a result, Pages of Possibility has evolved into a dynamic entity with its own momentum. At its core, the organization remains committed to its mission: “providing a dedicated space where readers of all ages can explore, connect, and discover their own journeys through books”.

This student-led initiative at Concordia Hanoi was made possible thanks to the collective efforts of our school community and a valued partnership. During our annual Fun Run and Christmas Fair, we successfully raised an impressive 80,000,000 VND. We extend our gratitude to TMG, who partnered with us for the Fun Run, contributing to the event's success. The entire sum raised has been dedicated to this project, ensuring that every aspect of the initiative is well-supported and equipped to achieve its goals.

The pillars that make the foundation of this project include education, community, and hope. Through education, Pages of Possibility believes in empowerment, fostering a life-long love for learning and developing critical thinking skills. As for community, through creating learning spaces by building libraries, they are creating a space where ideas can be exchanged and spoken about freely. Lastly, this project was “built on hope–the hope that every child, regardless of their circumstances, can have access to knowledge, inspiration, and opportunity.”

Currently, there are two locations where this project has visited. These two locations include a church and a hospital. On December 8th, 2024, Pages of Possibility took a trip to the Na Phac Church In Bac Kan, Vietnam. At this church, they donated a library that holds over 400 books which features a variety of genres, including Vietnamese Literature, World Literature, history, poetry, fiction, non-fiction, etc. 

In Bac Kan, many children face significant barriers to education due to their remote locations, making it difficult for them to attend school. In response, the priests of Na Phac Church took a pivotal step in 2018 by establishing a free dormitory. This initiative provided a home and access to education for over 30 students aged 6-16 from diverse backgrounds. During the day, these students can attend school, and outside of school hours, they have a place to rest, eat, and study. Inspired by the church's dedication to education and service, the students decided to contribute by building a library at the church. This library serves as a valuable resource for the children and a dedicated space for learning. Pages of Possibility is deeply grateful to Father Kien, the head priest, who collaborated with the group to make this vision a reality.

Beyond sharing books, the team from Pages of Possibility spent quality time with the children, engaging them in fun activities like exploring with a microscope and making cotton candy. To foster ongoing connections, they organized a competition that encourages the children to stay engaged. After reading a book, the children are prompted to write down their initial impressions using guided prompts provided by the Pages of Possibility team. The church staff then takes a photo of their written responses and sends them to a Pages of Possibility member via email or Zalo. Later this year, they plan to award prizes to the children who submit the most creative and thoughtful responses. Every participant will receive a prize, with winners receiving a special, larger prize. The team looks forward to future visits to the Na Phac Church and is delighted to maintain connections with the children through their shared love of reading.

The second location is the National Children’s Hospital of Hanoi, a facility that provides care to over 100,000 pediatric inpatients annually, with more than 1,500 children receiving treatment at any given time. Many of these young patients are Elementary School students, and their prolonged hospital stays often result in missed school days, creating a significant educational gap.

In order to take on a project this large in scale, Pages of Possibility teamed up with Creation of Hearts, another student-led organization at Concordia Hanoi. The Creation of Hearts regularly visits children in four specific departments of this hospital. This then sparked the idea of donating around 400 books to each department. These four departments include emergency medicine, poison control, cardiology and otorhinolaryngology.

On February 23rd, Pages of Possibilities delivered two large bookshelves filled with over 250 books to the hospital for one of the four departments. They organized the books, displayed them, and spent time playing with the children. Additionally, they brought coloring books to enhance the experience. Despite the hospital's limited staffing on Sundays, they were able to spend over an hour with the kids. Although the visit was brief, it was memorable for the children, and they soon returned.

On March 2nd, Pages of Possibility purchased 15 boxes of books, planning to give 2 boxes to each department. Within each box contains 90 books, which means they purchased a total of 1,350 books. On March 15th, they took these books to the hospital and donated them to the 3 other departments hitting their goal of filling these 4 departments with books. Over the next few months, Pages of Possibility aims to replicate the successful writing competition they initiated at the church, extending this engaging initiative to the patients. This will foster ongoing interaction and deepen connections with them.

Pages of Possibility recognizes there is a vast number of underprivileged kids throughout Vietnam that do not have access to books or an education. This project aims to create more opportunities for these children through providing books while creating spaces for learning. Without books, “these children miss out on the tools that inspire curiosity and build essential skills for their futures.” Through providing these opportunities, Pages of Possibility “aims to nurture a generation of young minds who can dream beyond their circumstances”. 

As Pages of Possibility continues to grow in numbers and expand throughout the community, the organization is already planning donations to two additional locations. With about 25 members currently on board, Pages of Possibility aims to extend its membership beyond Concordia to other schools. By engaging more schools, they can further grow and identify new locations to support. Recently, Pages of Possibility launched an Instagram account (@pages_of_possibility.hn) to raise awareness about their mission. If you're interested in joining this dynamic initiative, please reach out to them to explore opportunities for collaboration and contribution.

“As a group, we are deeply grateful for the school's support, which exceeded our expectations. We received significant backing from attendees at the Christmas fair, who helped promote us and provided engagement and motivation for the project” - Panda (Founder)

“This project has inspired us to dream bigger for the future. Witnessing the children immersed in the books we donated was truly heartwarming. The impact on the communities and locations we visited has been profound, and we are eager to spread more joy and ignite a deeper passion for reading and literature among children across Vietnam.” - Le & Chau Anh (Heads of Operations)

Pages of Possibilities is proud to partner with Kim Dong Bookstore, located in the Old Quarter. This partnership extends to Concordia Hanoi, where Kim Dong Bookstore collaborates with us to supply the books needed for our library. We are deeply appreciative of their ongoing support.

If you're inspired by the dedication and impact of our service project group, consider supporting their efforts. Your contribution can help amplify their mission and create even more opportunities for growth and service. To donate, simply scan the QR code below and include "Pages of Possibility" in the description line of your donation. Every contribution counts, and we appreciate your support in helping us continue to make a difference.

 

 

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