VIThe first season of Sprouts of the Forest blossomed with meaning, carried by the love and support of sponsors and kind-hearted donors. More than just material support, the programme brought encouragement and renewed strength to the dedicated forest rangers who work tirelessly day and night in Chu Yang Sin National Park. A small journey, but one that bore early fruit for the forest’s children:
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10 scholarships, each worth 5 million VND, were awarded to children in especially difficult circumstances.
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150 gift sets, each worth 100,000 VND, were delivered to children living in buffer zone communities around the National Park.
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Most memorably, the Full Moon Festival Night brought joy, laughter, and shimmering lanterns into the heart of the forest — a magical Mid-Autumn night the children will never forget.
This year, Sprouts of the Forest returns — a warm gesture of gratitude to those who guard the ancient forests of Chu Yang Sin. At the heart of this year’s journey is a heartfelt ceremony held during Mid-Autumn Festival, with lion dances and a cozy gathering at the Park’s Headquarters. Here, forest rangers’ families reunite, honouring quiet sacrifices and sending a gentle message to the ones who wait at home: “To protect the forest is a noble profession.”
Deep in the vast wilderness of Chu Yang Sin — where the forest is home and the paths back to loved ones are steep and winding — children grow up with a constant longing for their fathers. Many are sons and daughters of forest rangers and patrol team members who stand ready to defend the green canopy. For them, home is sometimes only a hurried phone call or a fleeting visit.
Take the family of Thào Chung Măng, a member of the Community Conservation Team: his twin children suffer from a serious illness, their health fragile since birth. Their home is still modest, without separate rooms. Their school desk is a makeshift table beneath the bed, lacking even proper lighting.
Many families “have grown used to hardship.” With uncertain incomes and fathers serving as the main breadwinners, children often lack access to both quality education and healthcare. Some children live with health issues that go untreated for too long. In many homes, mothers carry both the weight of love and the burden of care — while fathers hold fast in the forest, keeping alive the dream that their children can go to school. Not in luxury — just a place that is safe, stable, and nurturing. And yet, despite these challenges, their eyes still sparkle with joy at the mention of school, books, and the chance to celebrate Mid-Autumn like every other child.
Building on last year’s impact, Sprouts of the Forest 2025 launches under the theme “Warm Stoves – Green Forests” with the following goals:
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Award 13 scholarships (5 million VND each) to children of forest rangers and patrol team members in especially difficult circumstances.
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Deliver 150 school gift sets (worth 200,000 VND each), including backpacks, school supplies, milk, and personal items to children living in buffer zone communities.
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Host the photo exhibition “Eyes of the Forest – Eyes of a Child”, nurturing children’s awareness of biodiversity conservation.
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Celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with a special event: Full Moon Festival Night in the heart of the National Park.
Sprouts of the Forest is not just an event — it is an ongoing commitment, a journey rooted in care and hope. WildAct believes that even the smallest acts today can lead to great change tomorrow. With the support of generous sponsors and donors, children in the buffer zones of Chu Yang Sin can grow up with better educational opportunities and brighter futures. At the same time, these efforts help improve the wellbeing of rangers, giving them peace of mind as they carry out their mission to protect our forests.
We warmly invite individuals, communities, and businesses to join us in this meaningful journey. Your contribution — whether through financial support, in-kind donations, or helping to spread the word — can nurture the dreams of children who live with courage and resilience deep in the heart of the forest. Together, we can help them grow into confident, compassionate guardians of tomorrow’s green world.