On July 3rd, Cisco Systems Vietnam partners with The Library Project to donate one Reading Room to Tân Lược Primary School. This donation has impacted 1,063 students and 42 teachers. 

Our Journey

Tân Lược Primary School is located in Bình Tân District – a rural district bordering with Can Tho City and is 40km away from Vinh Long city center. Along the 809 Highway connecting Vinh Long city center to Binh Tan district are vast green paddy fields. 

The central school is under renovation at the time of our arrival. They are in the process of building 18 new classrooms, bringing the total number of classrooms at this school to 28 rooms. Once the renovation is complete, the central school will merge with a smaller satelite campuse that they manage.  This will greatly improve the education that the children attending the satelite school will receive.

Although our entrance to the library is relatively narrow and muddy due to the rain last night, the logistics work of moving heavy boxes is quickly completed with the enthusiastic support from Cisco volunteers.

We are warmly welcomed by the school’s administration. In attendance are representatives from the Vinh Long Union of Friendship Organization and the Binh Tan District Board of Education. Ms. Thuy Luong, General Director of Cisco Vietnam, expresses her great pleasure of visiting the school and her belief in the long-lasting impact of a new library on the academic development of Tan Luoc School. On behalf of the school, teachers, and students, the Principal, Mr. Nghia, also expresses his gratitude for Cisco’s support with their donation of a school library. 

A New Beginning

After our meeting, Cisco volunteers begin their work by setting up the library. We start with stamping the books and assembling the rolling carts for the Innovation Corners.  

Once each book is placed on the shelf, and each educational poster is placed on the wall, a beautiful library is slowly coming to life. 

While the library is being organized by the Cisco team, our Program Coordinator conducts a Teacher Training session with the school’s librarian. The training focuses on helping their librarian to operate and maintain the library effectively. The librarian was also given two library management handbooks, compiled and published internally by The Library Project.

A Beautiful Library

A brand new library has come to life! This beautiful library is our proud achievement after months of coordination between Cisco and The Library Project, from a simple idea to a functional library. 

The cooperation between Cisco Vietnam and The Library Project has turned an old classroom into a spacious new library. The new Reading Room would become a learning space for more than 1000 students at Tan Luoc Primary School. 

On behalf of Cisco Systems Vietnam, Ms. Luong Thi Le Thuy – General Director of the company – presented a new Reading Room to Mr. Luu Huu Nghia – Principal of Tan Luoc Primary School.

Our Reading Room donation to Tan Luoc Primary School provides five bookshelves with more than 1000 books ranging from different topics. This will be an important starting point for students on their quest of discovery.

The Library Project has designed seven educational posters dedicated only to elementary school students. Together with the World Map and Vietnam Map, these posters will support the teachers and students with Biology, Geography, Science subjects. 

The Innovation Corners are a special gift from Cisco for the Tan Luoc Primary School. These places will nurture young talent to become future scientists, inventors, and artists. This is where students can freely express their creativity with their peers. 

Our Literacy Program

After lunchtime, we begin our Literacy Program with the students. This has always been the most anticipated part of our donation in which students can explore their new library. Our Program Coordinator introduces the new library to the students and shares reading steps. We start our program with an energetic warm-up game. 

After the warm-up game, students are asked to choose their favorite book on the shelf. 

…and look for their most favorite picture…

…and share it with their friends….

The colorful book with eye-catching illustrations is a page-turner for students. 

The students have the chance to share their favorite picture/page in front of the class. 

Library instruction and rules are one of the important parts of our Literacy Program. 

Instructions on how to read and practice are central to the Literacy Program. The goal of this activity is to teach students reading fluency and comprehension skills. 

Reading instruction is conducted directly by Cisco volunteers. 

Cisco volunteers will read the story to a small group of students and lead the discussion by asking them questions, and then students can freely express their opinions. 

The stories that are used in this activity have been carefully selected by our staff. The words convey meaningful messages about honesty, compassion & gender equality. 

Each book is a way to open up a new and colorful world. Reading a good book is a beautiful journey for every student. 

Thanks to the guidance from Cisco volunteers, the students enthusiastically all share their thoughts on their new library.

Explore the new Innovation Corners

Students get excited about the Innovation Corners. We believe that this is the first time students get to see so many cool educational toys. Educational toys in the Innovation Corners not only allow students to turn unique, daring ideas into reality, but also help them practice teamwork and communication skills. 

We have so much fun during this donation with the Cisco team and the students. We are happy with the beautiful library, and we believe that the Cisco Library Project donation will have a long-lasting impact for many generations to come at the Tan Luoc Primary School.

About Cisco Systems Vietnam

Cisco Systems, Inc. is a US multinational technology corporation headquartered in Silicon Valley. The company is the world’s leading supplier of computer networking products, systems, and services. Cisco established a representative office in Vietnam in 1998. In 2004, Cisco changed its legal status to become a 100% foreign-invested enterprise with the name of Cisco Systems Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Cisco Systems Vietnam Limited).