Linh once sat in these same classrooms as a child growing up in SOS Children’s Village Da Nang, in central Vietnam. Now, as the new school year begins, she steps to the front of the class for the first time as a teacher, determined to pass on knowledge and the confidence to speak out.

“I thought a lot about how to make my teaching journey the best it could be,” she says. “Of course, I want to teach my subject well, but I also want to connect with students and bring them soft skills like public speaking, communication, and teamwork.”

Growing up with care and encouragement

Linh entered the SOS Children’s Village at the age of 12, after her father passed away.

“When I first came to the village, I felt homesick, but my caregiver and siblings encouraged me and supported me,” she recalls. “The caregivers guided me in my studies and life so that I could grow up in a stable environment.”

Her SOS Children’s Villages caregiver, Hương, remembers those years well. “At first, Linh was just like any child, except she loved literature,” she says. “I encouraged her and asked the director to give her extra classes.”

Hương's encouraging words left a mark. Linh explains: “She always said that you learn for yourself, not for others. Only your own knowledge and effort can secure your future.”

It was this steady encouragement that gave Linh not only the drive to excel at school, but also the confidence to speak up. What began as motivation to study hard became the foundation for her later advocacy — raising her voice not just for herself, but for other young people too.

Discovering her voice

That confidence soon found an outlet. While still in secondary school, Linh participated in children’s rights forums organized by SOS Children’s Villages Vietnam and internationally. Standing alongside other young people, she realized she had something important to contribute.

“I like networking and I like to explore more about social issues,” she says. “I cannot solve them, but I can raise my voice and share ideas for solutions.”

Her caregiver, Hương, encouraged her to step into this role: “I always told her to be confident before others, to raise her voice and inspire her peers. I am a shy person, but I wanted her to have the courage to speak.”

Advocacy in action

At university, Linh took her advocacy further. She became president of the Literature Club, organized workshops, and joined volunteer trips to remote areas of Vietnam where she taught reading and writing to ethnic minority children. She also helped run a gender equality project that brought art and writing contests to her former school.

“When I implemented the project on gender equality, my message was that there should be no discrimination for any gender,” she says. “Everybody has the right to be themselves.”

Her advocacy comes at a time when gender stereotypes and inequalities still affect young people in Vietnam. According to the International Labour Organization, women make up almost half (48%) of the total workforce, yet they are concentrated in informal sectors such as textiles, garments, and agriculture — where wages and working conditions are often below the national average. Overall, women earn around 13.8% less than men for similar work (ILO, 2025).

“For young people now, the biggest challenge is finding a job,” Linh explains. “Some professions are still seen as only for men or only for women. I hope there will be policies that allow both men and women to work in any field.”

Message to the next generation

Linh’s own path has had challenges, but she hopes others will be inspired by her experience.

“Young women should not limit themselves,” she says. “Prioritize education and career. Learning is a lifelong process — you can continue studying even after you start working or marry.”

Before the start of the school year in September, Linh visited Hương and the children in her care at the SOS Children’s Village Da Nang. She even led them in a short lesson as she helped them with their homework.

To the children growing up in SOS Children’s Villages today, she shares the message: “Study hard. You must use the opportunities to build a better future.”