Project White Dove III: Learning and Growing Together

Introduction to Project White Dove

Project White Dove is an overseas community service initiative founded and led by students from Singapore Management University (SMU), in partnership with World Vision Singapore (WVS) and World Vision Vietnam (WVV).

In July 2025, a team of 18 embarked on a two-week YEP trip to Son Trà, Vietnam, where we taught secondary school students, painted a community house and experienced Vietnamese culture. Now in its third iteration, Project White Dove continues to stay true to our mission: empowering youths and inspiring them to pursue higher education. 

Project White Dove III Team

Building Friendships through Education

Over the course of our trip, we were given the opportunity to visit four secondary schools in Son Trà. At each school, we taught four subjects: English proficiency, digital literacy, cultural education and job orientation. We hoped for the lessons to be fun and engaging for the students, incorporating plenty of games and hands-on activities. Even though our time with the students was short, the friendships we had forged with them through activities such as Non La painting and Captain’s Ball were precious and will become memories that will stay in our hearts forever.

Playing ‘Jeopardy’ during English lesson

Painting Non La together

Breaking the ice with a game of ‘Heart Attack!’

Community House Painting

Beyond the classroom, we also painted a community house in Son Trà. The community house was a place where the locals could rest, seek shelter from the storm, and engage in enriching community activities. Due to the humidity, the paint had worn out and some mould patches had begun to grow, and so the team came together and began our painting project. Despite everyone being amateurs at painting murals, the team pulled through with help from the locals and brought a fresh splash of colour and new life to the community house.

Painting in progress

The day we finished painting the community house

Cultural Immersion

Our journey was not just about giving but also about learning from the local community. Along the way, we were fortunate to participate in many cultural activities, such as traditional fishing and local company visits. These experiences helped us to better understand the daily lives of the locals of Son Trà and gave us newfound appreciation for their tradition and values.

Eating Banh Mi

Trying traditional fishing for the first time

Cultural Exchange

Lastly, to conclude our trip on a high note, we organised a Cultural Exchange Day where we brought together students from all four secondary schools we had engaged. It was a lively and exciting event as each school set up booths showcasing Vietnamese culture, complete with fun activities for everyone to enjoy. Our team also joined in the fun by setting up a game booth featuring traditional Singaporean games such as Chapteh and Five Stones, where students could win Singaporean snacks as prizes. Finally, at the end of the event, each school, as well as our team, prepared a performance on stage. Everyone had a blast performing and cheering wholeheartedly for one another. What touched us most, however, was when the students handed us individual gifts and wrote cards for all of us. It was the perfect finale to our two-week journey in Son Trà, and so, we ended the day with plenty of laughter, warm memories and a deep sense of fulfilment.

Vietnamese cultural Booth

Singaporean cultural booth

Thank You

Project White Dove III would not have been possible without the unwavering support of everyone who contributed to the success and impact of this initiative. We are deeply grateful to World Vision, our partner schools in Son Trà, and the local community for welcoming us with such warmth and generosity. This journey has been one of learning and growth, and we hope that we were able to make a positive impact in Son Trà. Our team would love to maintain the friendships we have built and continue our mission of empowering and uplifting communities, carrying forward the spirit of Project White Dove wherever our journey takes us.

Dinner with the locals

Receiving our certificates from World Vision Vietnam