The media event “Rise to Shine,” organized as part of Project 8 by the Vietnam Women’s Museum, attracted nearly 1,000 ethnic minority and mountainous area students and teachers from Cao Bằng province.

Within the framework of Project 8, titled “Promoting Gender Equality and Addressing Urgent Issues for Women and Children,” led by the Vietnam Women’s Union, on May 24, 2025, the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, in collaboration with UNESCO Vietnam, the Cao Bang Department of Education and Training, and CJ Corporation, organized the media event “Rise to Shine” at Hop Giang Secondary School, Cao Bang city, Cao Bang province.

The event gathered nearly 1,000 students and teachers from six secondary schools, of which 86% were ethnic minority students. The “Rise to Shine” communication activities aim to awaken and encourage the spirit of overcoming difficulties, inspire and accompany students in their learning, personal growth, and pursuit of dreams; and spread the message: “Ethnic minority women, be confident to take control of your life.”

Madam. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum, shared that in pursuit of Project 8’s goals, over recent years, the Museum has continuously strived to tell authentic, moving stories that inspire communities in the journey of accompanying ethnic minority women and children in mountainous regions. This has been realized through a series of exhibitions, seminars, and documentary videos from across the country.

“From the event ‘Bee Wax – Indigo Blue’ featuring the Hmong and Dao people in Hoa Binh and Cao Bang, to ‘Stories by the Ba River,’ ‘Highland Sunshine’ from Gia Lai, ‘Sunshine on the Mountains’ in Lao Cai, and ‘Thanh Son’s New Day’ reaching the people of Thanh Hoa, etc. Each story is a bridge extending the hands of solidarity for women and children. The “Rise to Shine” event at Hop Giang Secondary School is a new highlight on this journey. We always listen to the aspirations to ignite the dreams that are like green sprouts in the souls of students on the Cao Bang land, a borderland of the Fatherland,” Madam. Nguyen Thi Tuyet shared.

At the event, Ms. Tuyet delivered a heartfelt message to ethnic minority and mountainous students:
“Life may not always be easy. But as the poet Nguyen Khoa Diem once wrote, ‘Everyone has a homeland to remember, a river to reflect upon, a star to dream of.’ We hope you will hold on to your star. Through this media event, we want you to be confident that you are not alone on this journey. Despite the many challenges life may bring, remain steadfast in your dreams, continuously strive to improve, learn, and share; become the ‘leaders of change’ – not only for yourselves but also for your communities.”

Attending the event, Ms. Dam Thi Trung Thu, Deputy Director of the Cao Bang Department of Education and Training, shared that benefiting from Project 8 by the Central Vietnam Women’s Union (implemented by the Vietnam Women’s Museum) and the We CAN Initiative (collaboratively implemented by UNESCO and CJ with the education sector) in Cao Bang province for over a school year, nearly 40 teachers, managers, and healthcare staff from six schools in the province have achieved significant successes following training sessions and hands-on practice with experts.

Thanks to these projects, the capacity of teachers, administrators, school psychological counselors, healthcare staff, and others has been enhanced; simultaneously, they have become better aligned with the requirements of the new general education curriculum through experiential learning and career guidance activities. Practical learning activities have encouraged students to explore themselves and plan their futures. Moreover, gender equality content has been integrated into academic subjects and extracurricular activities, fostering a fair and respectful school environment.

Within the framework of the event, the seminar program “Rise to Shine” took place with the participation of two outstanding ethnic minority women speakers. They represent the image of women who dare to dream, aspire, overcome prejudicial barriers, and persistently pursue their goals to succeed and shine in their own unique ways.

They are the young Tay film director Ha Le Diem, who won the “Best Director” award at the 2021 Amsterdam International Documentary Film Festival for her film “Children in the Mist,” which was also shortlisted among the top 15 Oscar nominees; and Dao ethnic Jujitsu athlete Phung Mui Nhinh, who won the Gold Medal at the 2024 Asian Jujitsu Championship and is a pride of the Vietnamese Jujitsu team on the international stage.

The event also featured a creative platform through a painting and presentation contest themed “Breaking Barriers – Reaching Far and Shining Bright.” Six teams from schools across Cao Bằng province – including Huy Giap Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Thanh Cong Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, Hop Giang Secondary School, Van Trinh Primary and Secondary School, Na Giang Secondary School, and Duc Long Secondary School – expressed their views on the role and right of students – especially girls – to take charge of their futures. This interdisciplinary activity combined visual arts, literature, and creative experiential learning.

Also during the event, the exhibitions “My Dream” and “Rise to Shine” were showcased. These two exhibitions presented stories and testimonies about the journeys of women and children from mountainous regions who have been striving to overcome gender barriers through various effective activities of Project 8, implemented by different levels of the Women’s Union.

“As an institution affiliated with the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Vietnam Women’s Museum has, over the years, been at the forefront of implementing strategic communication initiatives within the framework of Project 8, steadfastly accompanying ethnic minority women and children in their pursuit of gender equality. The “Rise to Shine” event this year represents a profound continuation of this enduring commitment, designed to cultivate an empowering platform where narratives of resilience and aspirational dreams are not only heard but also resonate deeply within the wider community. This endeavor transcends conventional communication efforts; it stands as a solemn affirmation of our unwavering dedication to supporting marginalized communities – particularly those residing in mountainous regions – in the collective quest for a just, inclusive, and sustainable society.”

Madam. Nguyen Thi Tuyet, Director of the Vietnamese Women’s Museum

A selection of memorable moments captured during the event: