When dreams are discovered through other dreams

In his first-semester Literature exam, when discussing the quote: “The poorest person is not the one without a penny, but the one without a dream,” An Khanh wrote about the Scarlet sails project. The project had accompanied him for five months, from when he was a 9th-grade student preparing for high school entrance exam to his first few months in a new school level.

“Scarlet sails is where I participated, experienced and came to understand the dreams of the children, as well as the fellow volunteers who walked alongside me,” An Khanh shared.

During that journey, An Khanh participated in many activities, but his most memorable experience was the trip to Phu Tho. There, he not only assisted trainers during workshops but also had the chance to talk with the children about their daily lives and their very simple dreams.

An Khanh also learned a lot from the senior volunteers and trainers in the project. Through each session, he realized that a dream is not just something you want to achieve, but also about the way you persistently pursue and nurture it every day.

Before joining Scarlet sails, An Khanh’s dream was like many other young people: studying abroad, traveling to many places... But during his five months as a volunteer, by listening to and witnessing the dreams around him, he began to think more deeply about the path he wanted to take.

A dream doesn't necessarily have to be grand. Sometimes, dreams are nurtured from empathy, from the places we have visited and the people we have met.

“I realized that when I do something that makes me feel valuable and creates meaning, those actions themselves can ignite my own dreams and ambitions,” An Khanh said.

For An Khanh, Scarlet sails has planted a new dream in him: to continue being a volunteer to accompany, listen to and contribute to lighting up other dreams. His dream did not come suddenly; it was found through the dreams he had the opportunity to hear and experience during the Scarlet sails journey.

And that is exactly what Scarlet sails aims for: creating a safe space where young people can listen to themselves, experience, challenge themselves, and step by step form and nurture their own dreams.