News

Fourteen dedicated Gr. 10 and 11 students and two staff advisors traveled to Hanoi Vietnam on Monday to have a week full of building community among other activities as they kickstarted the first overseas trip since pre-COVID times. For the first time, the club has started working with an organization called Blue Dragon that works to rescue, house and support street children and impoverished families in crisis, including children vulnerable to trafficking through rehabilitation and prevention measures. 

Through the years of COVID and especially this last school year, the Homebuilders Club has held numerous fundraising events and they were finally able to use those funds to contribute to Blue Dragon’s efforts. But beyond that, this trip gives them the opportunity to contribute directly by helping to clear a big plot of land that will be used for gardens that will contribute to feeding children and families, a play park, and housing. In addition, they will scour the markets of Hanoi to purchase much needed goods that go into emergency kits distributed by the organization and spend time getting to know the kids the organization supports with hopes of building peer-to-peer relationships. 

But after a long week of work and educational workshops, the students will spend this weekend enjoying some leisure time and getting to know the beautiful nature and culture of Vietnam. We will welcome home the Homebuilder members, led by co-presidents Uichiro and Leon, on Monday and they are sure to have many intriguing stories of their time there! Stay tuned to find out more in NIS Stories once we get the scoop!