Who are we?
“Chalk” represents the traditional Vietnamese education, where chalk is used instead of markers and whiteboards. “Road” embodies the pathway, whether it refers to majors or occupation. So “Chalk Road” is a metaphor for a pathway that goes beyond traditional textbook learning, embracing individual students' futures.
The story of Chalk Road
... and the founder's
Bui Gia Khanh Pham
I once adopted a rose-colored view of the world that most people have access to an education like mine, until a short documentary popped up in my Facebook feed and burst that misconception. A 33-year-old man from an ethnic minority group was trapped in a drug trafficking supply chain. He was too kind and trusting to detect the scent of scam, to refuse the strangers’ “beg for help”, to know what is inside the box which eventually confines him behind the bars.
Stirred and obliged, I truly believe that education can give way to brighter possibilities. Now a 2022 YOUNGA delegate, speaker of Global Goals Week, and a self-volunteered member in various local projects through which I gain firsthand experience of the lives of the disadvantaged children, I become more insightful, empathetic and thorough about their needs and struggles. Chalk Road is what I have incubated for months and is the manifestation of my want to give back to the less privileged.
Chalk Road all begins with hoping to "bring education closer" to the children. It is hard, for it is common to undergo an arduous 10km everyday with a rumbling stomach, cross rivers and dip mud to be sewed with seeds of knowledge. Financial conditions, family structures, old-fashioned stereotypes, low quality institutional environments further deter these children from school.
This is where Chalk Road comes in to ease the physical and mental difficulty in their journey to obtain knowledge, and to truly make education accessible.
What we do
Chalk Road is a student-led project committed to fostering a sustainable and holistic education in the mountainous regions of Vietnam. Recognising how human trafficking and early marriages, especially at the borders, often stem from inadequate education and a generally lower sense of self-worth among rural children, Chalk Road tackles this overlooked aspect of education. Therefore, we focus specifically on nurturing lifelong personal values and sustainable skills that transcend formal academic settings.
Our Approach
#1
Workshops &
English programs
We dedicate time to crafting holistic workshops, such as Dance, Research, Cybersecurity and inviting experts to talk shows on career orientation, thus providing skills not taught in traditional schooling. Within those workshops, we embed messages on self-belief and resilience. We believe in the transformative power of such life-long values (i.e: self-confidence) and mindsets will equip them even in adulthood.
.png)
#2
Donations &
Fund-raising
On the material side, Chalk Road provides essential teaching equipment and facilities: books, library, sports and musical instruments in order to facilitate a genuine love for learning. In fact, it’s difficult to enjoy music lessons without practice, or reading in a bare room.
.png)
Our Core Team
Bringing holistic education. Nurturing lifelong values. Advancing the Global Goals.
Chalk Road Volunteers
Vũ Hà Minh Nhật
Nguyễn Khánh Chi
Nguyễn Hà Phương
Đinh Thúy Hạnh
Lê Hà Ngân Anh
Lê Linh Chi
Đinh Gia Linh
Đỗ Ngọc Linh
Lại Nhật Anh
Đào Phương Anh
Nguyễn Hoàng Gia Linh
Phạm Ngọc Quỳnh Thy
Nguyễn Minh Anh Khoa
Nguyễn Trần Phương Thảo
DinhD
Our Roadmap
Launched in late 2022, we are working to establish collaborations and partnerships, which will be followed by fundraising projects that simultaneously spread awareness about the situation in the mountainous areas of Vietnam. To ensure sustainability, Chalk Road holds monthly workshops to guide students' self-study skills, drop-in sessions where students can be consulted with their majors and future orientation. We also are holding a regular English program (currently running 6 weeks) as of the students’ interest.
01
Advocate in YOUNGA
Date: September to October 2022
-
Participate in weekly Working Group meetings with our Working Group Leaders
-
Contribute to discussions around key issues and ways to take action
-
Represent the voices and ideas of young people with your lived experiences
-
Assist in conducting research and drafting policy recommendations for the 2022 Youth Delegate Communiqué
02
Advocate during Global Goals Week 22'
Aligned with our first mission, we are chosen to speak during Global Goals Week about our organization. We actively emphasize the current local challenges that children encounter and promote solutions & collaboration.
03
Spoken at the ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event '24
Date: April 18, 2024
-
1 of 3 students honoured to have spoken at the ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event 2024 about Chalk Road Initiative and how it has impacted its local community
04
.png)
Finalist of Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge '24
Finalist of the Learning Planet Youth Design Challenge | Based on the model of Chalk Road Initiative
Our Partnership
Chalk Road is endorsed by Nord Anglia Education and has received a $9000 grant since December 2023. This is used to fund our upcoming two projects in Phu Tho and Thanh Hoa for over 1700 students in total.
