Training on Gender and Gender Equality for 35 students at Hy Vong Primary, Secondary & High School (Da Nang)

Instead of beginning with concepts and definitions, the Saturday training session (April 4) for 35 students of Hope School (Da Nang) opened with questions like these. Starting from assumptions that may seem very familiar, students gradually realized through discussion that what “everyone says” is not always necessarily true.

Under the guidance of Ms. Tran Hong Diep - Gender and Child Protection Specialist and Director of For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF) - students gradually became more familiar with and gained a deeper understanding of concepts such as gender, biological sex, gender identity, and gender stereotypes and biases.

Through discussions, games, and role-play activities, students practiced analyzing the consequences of common gender stereotypes and norms. By putting themselves in the shoes of a boy being teased for wanting to join a cooking competition, or a girl discouraged from pursuing her dream of becoming a police officer because she was considered “not strong enough,” students gained a clearer understanding of the barriers that stereotypes can create, not only for individuals, but also for families and society.

Building on what they learned from the training, students worked together to come up with practical actions to promote gender equality, such as designing posters and podcasts for school communication, sharing relatable messages with peers, or simply speaking up when witnessing discriminatory behavior.

“Before, I vaguely knew that gender equality was something we should promote, and I felt upset whenever I saw discrimination. But after today’s session, I understand it more clearly and feel like I can actually do something concrete. When we understand things correctly, we can explain them to others so that everyone can better understand and respect one another,” shared Ngoc Nhu, a Grade 9 student at Hope School.

 When no longer constrained by stereotypes or prejudice, students gain greater confidence to choose their own paths, avoid limiting themselves, and courageously pursue the dreams they truly aspire to.

On this occasion, Ms. Tran Hong Diep also accompanied Hope School’s “Knowledge Connection” and “Passion Connection” events as a member of the judging panel.

The training session marked the opening activity in the 2026 program series of the “Scarlet Sails” project, jointly implemented by VSF and Hope School, a boarding school for children who lost their parents to COVID-19. In the coming time, students will continue participating in training sessions on preventing school violence and life skills. Building on this foundation, the students themselves will become initiators and implementers of communication initiatives, spreading messages of equality, non-discrimination, and non-violence throughout the school.