CASE STORY: Messages that transform lives

Nestled between the north-east and north-west of Vietnam, lies Lao Cai, a mountainous border province. This region is home to 25 ethnic minority groups which make up 64% of the total population. Children in Lao Cai often find themselves on the periphery, receiving limited attention, care, and educational support from their parents. This lack of support stems from the parents' limited knowledge and skills in caregiving and facilitating their children's learning. As a result, when left uncared for at home, these children tend to retreat into their shells, hesitant to communicate with other people, and lack essential life skills.

In response to this issue, Save the Children's Sponsorship Program^(*) launched the Zalo Messaging initiative, underpinned by Vietnam’s wide internet coverage and the power of Zalo, the most popular and user-friendly messaging application in the country. Thanks to low telecommunications rates, people in remote areas in Vietnam can access information with a basic cellphone and Zalo is the platform they use mostly to connect. Taking advantage of that coverage, the Zalo Messaging program was launched, aiming to assist children in distant areas of Lao Cai in acquiring essential knowledge and skills that support their educational development through simple Zalo messages, with the coordination of core teachers from project schools. The program focuses on various topics, including injury prevention, child protection, nutritional health, mental health, etc.

One inspiring story that emerged from this initiative is Cuong and his 8-year-old son, San^(**). Before the program, Cuong struggled to communicate with San, who had difficulties with movement and cognitive development. However, the Zalo Messaging program introduced a wide range of educational activities that not only facilitated family bonding but also engaged San, who began to enjoy these interactive activities.

"Since the family joined the Zalo group for parental guidance on home learning, our son, San, has become more cheerful and lively," shared Cuong. "At home, he enjoys listening to stories read by parents, and he consistently practices the educational content shared from the Zalo messaging program."

Both Cuong and his wife now spend more time assisting San with his studies, enriching his conversations with others. Reflecting on this positive change, Cuong shared: “My child gains valuable knowledge thanks to messaging program, he shows the encouraging progress in his learning and now actively maintains personal hygiene routine. It’s great that all children in the community having the opportunity to learn and grow, like San.”

San also shows significant improvements in his school studies. Ms. Ha, his teacher shared her observations: “With his parents’ active participation in messaging activities on the Zalo group, San has become more agile. He engages more with his classmates and learns much better than before. His improvement has been truly noteworthy.”

The Zalo messaging program has made significant contributions to the improvement on academic progress and well-being of pre-school children like San. After 8 months of implementation, the program has successfully engaged over 20,715 caregivers at the pre-schools and primary schools, including 16,630 parents from ethnic minority groups. Currently, there are 1,323 Zalo class-groups operating at 59 preschools and 41 primary schools. The program has been introduced for experimental implementation in 33 other primary schools in the impact areas of Lao Cai province.

The collaborative effort from teachers, parents, and Save the Children staff has fostered an environment where learning is not merely accessible, but also enjoyable. This commitment to nurturing holistic development extends its benefits beyond individual children, positively impacting families and the entire community. As we look ahead, this unwavering dedication to educational sustainability promises to pave the way for a brighter future for the younger generations.

^(*) In Vietnam, Sponsorship Program (or Child-Centered Community Development Program) has been conducted in Lao Cai province since 2013. Its main purpose is to ensure all children have the chance to study and grow to their full potential, allowing them to become constructive contributors to society.  The Program comprises six components: adolescent reproductive health, school health and nutrition, education, child protection and child participation, job orientation, gender equality. 

^(**) The child’s name has been changed for safety and protection reasons.