2006 Summer Camp for poor but studious teenagers brought a great joy to teenagers who overcame difficulties to do well at school.

The teenagers performed the fashion show at the summer camp.

211 poor but studious teenagers from villages, districts and Bien Hoa city of Dong Nai Province arrived at the camp location at about 9 AM. On getting off the bus, the teenagers streamed to the beach. Most of them led difficult lives so this was the first time they had ever joined a summer camp, watched and played at the seaside. They looked cheerful, a little astonished and unfamiliar with everything. Trinh Cong Son from Cam My Unit said to us eagerly: "I was very excited. I couldn't believe my ears when hearing that I could join the camp. I was in such a good mood that I couldn’t sleep on the night, just looking forward to the sunrise. Now, I feel really joyful to watch the beautiful scenery of the sea."

 After the open ceremony, the teenagers sang traditional youth songs and then took part in a large number of interesting games and exciting activities under the organization board's instructions. Drawing based on topic titled "colors of childhood" was the first game in which 3 teenagers from each unit painted a picture together. Although it was the first game that made them a little confused, it took them twenty minutes to finish the picture. Each picture has its own beauty of various subjects such as: a happy holiday, sea and nature, construction of a rich and beautiful country, Friends' Embracing Arms, traffic safety etc All of the pictures showed  thoughts, dreams and determination of Dong Nai teenagers to build up a strong country. In the morning, the teenagers were still shy but the shyness was soon replaced with confidence and joy in the afternoon thanks to attractive games such as stamping balloons, pushing balls etc. A huge swathe of Phuoc Hai seaside was filled with laughs, shouts and cheers. "I have known a lot of friends so far and through games, I am more confident than ever before" said Nguyen Thi Kieu Oanh from Thong Nhat unit.

The teenagers were playing volleyball.

When the organization board announced that there would be a "quiz for fun", a singing contest and a fashion show at night, the teenagers gathered right after dinner, prepared for musical turns and were absorbed in creating fashion clothes. Our impression was that their creativeness was revealed by the clothes designed from various material such as nylon, empty water bottles, rambutan skin etc In teenagers' eyes, their cute clothes which was a little stylized are connected with useful lessons on environment protection., forest protection, prevention and elimination of social evils etc These clothes was worn and performed by the teenagers themselves, which actually brought about a spectacular night. Moreover, the "Quiz for Fun" was really fascinating with fun quizzes and assorted questions on prevention and elimination of social evils and traffic safety. When asked that what activity they liked most that night, most teenagers admitted loving the Quiz best. "It is the Quiz that I like most because it helps me to widen my knowledge of traffic safety and above all, I will have a gift if I've got the right answer." honestly said Nguyen Chi Cong from Cam My unit.

However what moved and impressed us best was that a group of from three to four teenagers sitting side by side on benches or under trees in the camp area were absorbed in writing and that the naive teenagers sometimes looked toward the sea as if they lost in thought with winds and waves; sometimes their faces lit up but sometimes they looked reluctant. After asking about the reason, we learned that they were writing down their feelings and thoughts of this summer camp because the organization board had launched a "writing contest" talking about feelings of the camp. Only when we read their papers, did we understand thoroughly their happiness, their thoughts as well as their honest dreams. Some teenagers described the beautiful scenery of the sea, some wrote down their trip. some wrote about anxiety and joy when knew that they could take part in the camp and some wrote about the enthusiasm of supervisors and the board etc However, all showed the contentment to play, to be cared about and to make new friends. They also showed their determination to study well so that they could join these kinds of camp and they would simultaneously contribute their little effort to the constructions of a rich and beautiful country.

Although the summer camp took place in the short time, for only two days, it was really a festival for over 200 poor teenagers in Dong Nai Province. They could play as much as they wished, enjoy the fresh air of the seaside and learn a lot from useful games. The games not only helped the teenagers to be more confident but also foster the solidarity, team work skills and creativeness. They simultaneously helped them widen their knowledge of many fields such as social evils and traffic safety and order, directing them to a sound life. Trinh Cong Son form Cam My unit said "I am very happy to attend the camp. I have learnt a lot of things such as solidarity, way of living together in harmony and self-confidence."

On July 21 evening, the organization board ended the camp and gave gifts to the teenagers. They got on the bus but kept on looking toward the sea as if they did not want to leave there. Nguyen Duong Huong Lan from Tan Phu unit confided to us "The enthusiasm of the supervisors and the board, especially the sense of humor of Mr. Kien who was the MC brought us a very happy summer camp. I don't want to say goodbye to my friends at all.

Translated by THKC