Students donate to storm and flood victims during Mid-Autumn Festival

Children from the riverside neighbourhood of Yên Phụ Ward in Tây Hồ District, where severe flooding occurred just days ago, joyfully celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival on Sunday night. VNA/VNS Photo Quốc Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Many schools in Hà Nội and across Việt Nam have decided not to hold traditional Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations for students as initially planned. Instead, they organised fundraising initiatives to support families and children severely affected by Typhoon Yagi, as well as the recent floods and landslides in the northern regions.

Although modest and cost-effective, these activities were deeply meaningful, fostering a sense of solidarity and compassion. They also taught students valuable lessons about kindness and the importance of giving back to the community.

A lesson in sharing

This year, instead of the usual lively Mid-Autumn Festival with circus performances and grand feasts, Lý Thái Tổ Primary School in Cầu Giấy District, Hà Nội, hosted a special celebration.

With guidance from their teachers, students crafted school supplies and traditional Mid-Autumn toys, which were sold to raise funds. All proceeds were donated to Hà Nội City’s Relief Fund through the Việt Nam Fatherland Front, to aid those severely impacted by the storms and floods.

Under their teachers' enthusiastic direction, the students eagerly cut, painted, and assembled colourful Mid-Autumn toys and created vibrant powder-coloured paintings. Their creativity and dedication resulted in unique products that spread a message of care, sharing, and love within the community.

Parents supported this meaningful initiative by purchasing the handmade items and contributing additional donations, including essential goods, to be sent to affected students and families.

Huỳnh Thị Hương, Principal of Lý Thái Tổ Primary School, remarked: “This event not only brings joy and practical support to children in disaster-stricken areas but also provides a wonderful lesson in humanity and social responsibility for our students.”

Thái Thịnh Secondary School in Đống Đa District, Hà Nội, also cancelled its scheduled Mid-Autumn Festival activities.

Principal Nguyễn Cao Cường stated that the entire budget allocated for these festivities would be redirected to support flood victims.

“Both teachers and students understand that, at this moment, helping those in need is our top priority. We will organise recreational and experiential activities at a more appropriate time,” he said.

The school’s fundraising efforts are being conducted transparently, with all donations going through Hà Nội City’s Fatherland Front to assist severely affected areas.

Students from Đức Trí Secondary School in Đà Nẵng City participate in a fundraising event to support residents in the northern provinces affected by natural disasters. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

Similarly, Ái Mộ A Primary School in Long Biên District, Hà Nội, cancelled its Mid-Autumn Festival celebration for students, originally planned for yesterday (September 16).

The entire event budget, along with additional contributions from individual classes, will be donated to support those affected by the floods through the Việt Nam Fatherland Front in Long Biên District.

Principal Phạm Thị Khánh Ninh stated: “This Mid-Autumn Festival will be marked by meaningful actions, as our students come together to bring joy and peace to others. Their kindness will surely create unforgettable memories and plant the seeds of goodness for the future.”

At Đoàn Kết Primary School, also in Long Biên District, classes decided to forgo their Mid-Autumn celebrations and instead initiated fundraising efforts to support storm-affected regions.

Principal Nguyễn Thị Liễu noted that this year, students are encouraged to set aside their desire for toys and focus on helping those in need. Through these meaningful and practical actions, they will still experience a beautiful and fulfilling Mid-Autumn Festival – one that celebrates kindness and sharing.

Handmade lanterns, masks and lion heads created by students are sold to raise funds for those impacted by Typhoon Yagi. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

In Đà Nẵng City, students from Đức Trí Primary and Secondary School in Hải Châu District raised funds by crafting their own lanterns, lion heads and masks.

The adorable masks and lion heads, along with the vibrant, hand-made lanterns, were part of a STEM project and were sold, each accompanied by stories of compassion and the spirit of sharing.

Even the clumsy handwriting of first graders, writing messages like "I hope you're happy," and thoughtful notes sent to students in the northern provinces, conveyed a deep lesson in the meaning of fellow citizens.

A student from Đức Trí Primary School in Đà Nẵng City writes a letter filled with love and encouragement to students affected by natural disasters. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Dũng

One child wrote: "I saw on TV that your house was washed away, and you lost your books and clothes. I feel so sorry for you. I hope you can return to school soon."

Many letters and colourful cards from Đức Trí students were filled with love and encouragement for those affected by the floods.

At Huỳnh Ngọc Huệ Primary School in Thanh Khê District, instead of hiring a professional lion dance troupe for the Mid-Autumn Festival, students from various classes performed the lion dance themselves. The VNĐ7 million originally allocated for the professional troupe, along with donations from students, parents, and school staff, will now support those impacted by Typhoon Yagi.

Meanwhile, Bình Minh Kindergarten in Hải Châu District organised a fundraising bazaar. Stalls featured a variety of items, including lanterns, dried food, fruits, and vegetables. Teachers personally decorated the stalls and rose early to purchase supplies from wholesale markets, securing better prices.

All proceeds from the bazaar will be sent to students in northern regions, with the hope they can soon return to school.

Small actions, big impact

In a touching display of compassion, students from Marie Curie Hanoi School have been engaging in meaningful activities to support those affected by the recent floods. These efforts include breaking open their piggy banks to donate savings, preparing care packages like sesame salt and dried shredded pork with their families, and writing heartfelt messages to offer encouragement to flood victims.

Second-grader Châu Anh was moved to tears when her mother showed her images of flooded areas she had visited. Seeing children struggling in floodwaters or shivering on rooftops deeply affected her.

When her mother suggested donating the savings she had collected over two years to buy milk for children in need, Châu Anh eagerly agreed.

Ngọc Lan, the mother of a fourth-grader at Marie Curie Primary School, donated a month’s salary to prepare and vacuum-pack one hundred care packages for families in Tuyên Quang Province. Her son, Diệc Phàm, contributed VNĐ500,000 from his savings to help flood victims.

Lan explained: "I want to teach my children to appreciate what they have and to share love with those around them. This Mid-Autumn Festival, I plan to donate new school supplies to children in mountainous areas who lost their clothes and books in the floods."

Mai Anh, another parent, also rallied to collect essential supplies such as bottled water, sesame salt, shredded pork, fresh milk, and dry food for the flood-affected areas of Yên Bái and Phú Thọ.

"Some families stayed up until 2am grinding sesame seeds and preparing dried shredded pork. We vacuum-packed everything to ensure its quality. What touched us most was how the children wrote loving messages to the flood victims. Their enthusiasm and care deeply moved us. We hope these small gifts will bring some comfort and help people through this difficult time."

In a call for solidarity, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn urged the entire education sector and the public to contribute both materially and emotionally to help the flood-affected areas, particularly in northern provinces. He emphasised that the severe damage caused by Typhoon Yagi will require considerable time and resources to recover, and any support—whether it be a notebook, money, or personal items—is invaluable.

Sơn encouraged schools to promote this spirit of giving among students, noting that even a VNĐ1,000 donation or a pencil from a child carries great significance, as it fosters a spirit of compassion.

These acts of kindness continue to spread across schools, students, and communities, helping flood-affected regions stabilise their lives and enabling students to return to school. — VNS