More than 1,500 secondary school students and 500 teachers in Trà Vinh Province have gained essential mental health knowledge through a project coordinated by Saigon Children’s Charity (saigonchildren) and funded by the German Consulate General in Hồ Chí Minh City. The initiative, valued at over one billion VND, was carried out from July to December 2024.
On 25th February 2025, the completion ceremony of the initiative “Empowering children in the protection of mental health” took place at the Bureau of Education and Training of Tiểu Cần District, Trà Vinh Province with the presence of donor representatives and local government officials and partners.
Dr. Josefine Wallat, the German Consul General in Hồ Chí Minh City, stated at the event: “As a Consulate we like to partner with saigonchildren, because we believe that investing in improving young people’s lives is the best and most effective investment we can make. I hope that all participants will be able to use the new skills long term and pass them on to others. I also hope that speaking about mental health and emotions will give young people the confidence of speaking about some of the challenges they are undergoing.”

The project was implemented through workshops and sharing sessions, focusing on two main goals: (1) Mental health awareness is enhanced, and protective practices for adolescents’ mental wellbeing are promoted, and (2) Awareness of gender-related health factors is enhanced, and effective methods to safeguard the gender-related health of adolescents are promoted.
Evaluating the project’s effectiveness, Mr. Nguyễn Sinh Quang Anh, saigonchildren’s Child Development Scholarship Programme Manager, shared that the project achieved satisfactory results. Through surveys, it was found that the knowledge shared during workshops was beneficial and helped teachers and students gain a basic understanding of the importance of mental health care and protection.
Nearly 80% of participating teachers reported applying learned knowledge about active listening, emotional regulation, and other techniques in their interactions and communication with students. Over 1,000 adolescents also reported applying healthy habits in their lives and knowing how to seek assistance when facing mental health issues.

“I used to think that only people facing extreme difficulties needed mental health care. But now, I realise it is essential for everyone, every day. I’ve learnt to listen to my emotions, take breaks when feeling burned out, and understand that crying is not a sign of weakness. Seeking help is not wrong. We shouldn’t let stress suffocate us; every challenge has a solution as long as we dare to speak up.” said Minh Hiền, a 9th-grade project beneficiary student.
This project is part of saigonchildren’s broader efforts to support students under the Child Development Scholarship Programme in 2024. Learn more about the programme at https://www.saigonchildren.com/what-we-do/child-development-scholarship-programme/

