Generations of Dreams

by Elena Tran

Generative educational nourishment across the generations

I was in my late 20s when I had the opportunity to attend a work camp in Bến Tre, a Vietnam project by YMCA International. My friends and I were deeply touched by all that we saw, heard, and experienced. Certainly, everyone’s story is unique; yet the common thread was that our mindsets shifted while our eyes, and therefore our hearts, opened up to those who have much less than us.

Dare to dream a little dream

Our love for the students we met and have yet to meet was the driving force behind sharing our story and dreams to help more students in remote villages of Vietnam. It was a rather simple dream, and we had enough humility and courage to share our experiences and ask for guidance and support. Everything fell into place with the right people coming together, and Sunflower Mission was founded later that year.

Beyond my wildest dreams

From my simple dream of securing funding for some new classrooms and supporting students so that they would stay in school, Sunflower Mission’s contributions over the past twenty-two (22) years of providing educational nourishment have well exceeded anything that I could ever have dreamt of.

Continuous stream of generative inspiration and hope

I am tremendously humbled to be here on the 20th anniversary work camp with Sunflower Mission’s present and future, with my children and close friends, and to be back in Vietnam. My heart overflows with gratitude for everyone who has contributed to making dreams come true, for thousands of students, and for those of us who simply dreamt of helping in some way.

The realization that our mission provides continuous inspiration, hope, and progress energizes me tremendously. The representative examples noted below showcase a fraction of Sunflower Mission’s magic that continues to regenerate, transform, and renew so that we can do even more, in service of the students and our future.

  • Bright, beautiful faces, from dream to reality: The Vietnam-based university scholarship recipients who attended work camp to deliver the STEAM workshops and furnish the library - Hồng Phượng, Kim Oanh, Khánh Linh, Thanh Huyền, Hồng Nhớ, and Châu Thuận, are beautiful faces for the unknown students we had not yet met when Sunflower Mission was founded. These students are all under the age of twenty-two and, therefore, they were not even born yet. They excel academically, lead in their areas of expertise, actively volunteer, and are elder sisters and coaches for other students. Meeting these students and seeing them in action leaves me with indescribable elation.

  • Our future is bright: Sunflower Mission’s scholarship alumni continue to build the community and are on the leadership team. The SEEDS, started by NaNhi, Dan, and Vi-An, have evolved through several generations of leadership with new ideas and progress as one supports another. NaNhi and Dan reunite on this 20th anniversary work camp as adults older than I was when I attended work camp for the first time. The SEEDS, along with the students in Vietnam, continuously define and shape our future.

  • Students partner across the globe: Students based in Vietnam are partnering with students in the US to deliver projects including the English Initiative, mentoring, and fundraising. Their successful fundraising earlier in 2024 funded the STEAM workshops and library for this year’s school, Long Thạnh 2.

  • Refresh and new life, “sức sống mới:” The young leaders and work camp team members bring fresh ideas, energy, and innovation. I find myself learning so much from those around me. I have the privilege of reverting to the 28-year-old me on my first experience of work camp ~ navigating, adapting, being inspired to connect with and dream. This time, however, I shall dream much bigger dreams.

Sunflower Mission’s nurturing communities of donors, supporters, families, and students certainly have generative energy to grow and transform. For all that we have experienced on this work camp at Long Thạnh 2 School and for the communities in which Sunflower Mission has provided educational nourishment, I sincerely THANK YOU! Together, we give our shared dreams the wind for them to flourish and generate something greater than anyone could have ever wished for.

To you, and you, and you ∞, we cannot say cám ơn (thank you) enough.

Filled with gratitude and recharged - Kiên Giang, 16 June 2024

Cindy Au