Project Recap: “Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” – Spreading Love Through Livelihood Plants
Aloe vera is familiar to most of us as a plant with many everyday uses. For the Raglai community in Ninh Thuan Province, however, it carries another meaning. Grown and traded locally, aloe vera has become an important livelihood crop, offering families another way to earn an income and work toward greater economic stability.
With the hope of supporting more sustainable livelihoods for the Raglai community in Ninh Thuan Province, the UEF Center of Service-Learning (CSL) successfully delivered 14,000 aloe vera seedlings to local residents. This marked the final stage of the three-month “Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” fundraising campaign, which brought together UEF students, lecturers, staff members, and community partners through a series of fundraising activities.
UEF Students in Ninh Thuan – The Final Destination of the “Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” Campaign
“Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” was launched by the UEF Center of Service-Learning (CSL) in collaboration with TreeBank to raise funds for aloe vera seedlings for the Raglai ethnic community in Ninh Thuan Province. With an enthusiastic spirit, the project officially began on March 26, 2024, with the meaningful message: “Aloe vera takes root, livelihoods take shape.”
One of the first activities was a fundraising booth featuring a miniature aloe vera garden bed. Students could contribute directly at the booth or donate online through the MB Bank charity app. A contribution of VND 3,000 funded one seeding. Those donating the equivalent of ten seedings could have their names placed on a small plot in their model garden.
The garden bed model was designed by members of the Communication for Development (C4D), a project under the UEF Center of Service-Learning. The idea quickly attracted attention across campus, with students as well as 34 lecturers and staff members joining the campaign.
The charming aloe vera garden-bed model
Fundraising was not limited to the booth. C4D members also brought the story of aloe vera to students through a short play titled “Chuyện đời nha đam” (The Story of Aloe Vera). The play followed farmers facing the challenge of earning a stable living from the land. Through lively acting, humorous yet meaningful dialogue, and music, the students gained a deeper understanding of the story behind aloe vera, the significance of the project, and the importance of livelihood crops to farmers.
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A scene from the play “Chuyện đời nha đam”
The “Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” campaign did not stop there. A variety of unique fundraising campaigns organized by different projects under the UEF Center of Service-Learning also became an essential part of the initiative. These campaigns made a significant contribution toward the project’s initial goal of raising funds for 10,000 aloe vera seedlings.
Among them, the C4D project successfully organized “Soil Sáng”, a series of three DIY workshops: Vun Xới – Ươm Mầm – Đâm Chồi. The workshops attracted a total of 119 students and raised funds equivalent to 1,836 aloe vera seedlings. With a relaxing atmosphere and dedicated support from the organizing team, UEF students had the opportunity to immerse themselves in creativity and create unique products that reflected their personal identities, while joining hands to bring a brighter future to the Raglai community.
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UEF students enthusiastically participating in the workshop
Several other Service-Learning projects also developed their own fundraising activities.
Nụ Cười Em Thơ raised the equivalent of 2,500 seedlings through its “Cuộn cơm mầm xanh” campaign; Sketchnote For Good contributed funds for 3,500 seedlings through the “Gom sắc màu, góp yêu thương” workshop series and the “Gieo hy vọng” booth; Heart To Hand added another 1,500 seedlings through its “Ngọt ngào nơi yêu thương lan tỏa” fundraising booth.
Different in format and style, these activities shared the same purpose. Together, they showed how students could turn creative ideas into practical contributions to a community initiative.
Together, these activities generated impressive results, reflecting the creativity, enthusiasm, and continuous efforts of the students involved in the community projects.
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The diverse and colorful fundraising campaigns organized by community projects under the UEF Center of Service-Learning
Finally, after three months of implementation and fundraising, the UEF Center of Service-Learning raised a total of 14,000 aloe vera seedlings, exceeding the initial target by 4,000 seedlings.
This remarkable achievement was made possible through the collective efforts and support of the community. Eager to personally deliver the aloe vera seedlings to local farmers, the UEF Center of Service-Learning and UEF students arrived in Ninh Thuan on the morning of July 20.
Representing UEF at the donation ceremony were Ms. Tran Thi My Phuong, LL.M. – Director of the UEF Center of Service-Learning; Ms. Huynh Kim Phung – Coordinator of the UEF Center of Service-Learning; and more than 30 UEF students. The program also welcomed representatives from GC Food, a company specializing in aloe vera and coconut jelly products.
Mr. Vu Xuan Hanh – Marketing Director of GC Food
In addition to receiving 14,000 aloe vera seedlings, the Raglai community also welcomed UEF students who came to learn more about the history of aloe vera, listen to local farmers share their difficulties and concerns in agricultural work under the harsh weather conditions of Ninh Thuan, and learn about their efforts to build stable livelihoods through the cultivation of this crop.
Amid the vast red soil and refreshing winds of Ninh Thuan, UEF students also had the opportunity to plant aloe vera seedlings themselves under the dedicated guidance of local farmers.
Through this experience, students not only gained valuable knowledge about the history of aloe vera, the environment, and the local community, but also participated in meaningful and highly practical activities. The experience helped raise their awareness of community issues while providing opportunities to engage with real-world challenges.
Mr. Vu Xuan Hanh – Marketing Director of GC Food, shared:
“This is a highly meaningful program that brings special value to students. After graduating from university, students can confidently work with businesses and say that they have not only studied but also applied their knowledge in real-life settings while contributing to social initiatives.”
The joy of UEF students experiencing the hands-on planting of aloe vera seedlings
After three months of fundraising activities, workshops, performances, booths, and student-led initiatives, “Bén Duyên Bén Rễ” came to a close in the aloe vera fields of Ninh Thuan.
Fourteen thousand seedlings were delivered, exceeding the campaign’s original goal. But the journey also left something beyond that number: students had the opportunity to meet the community they were supporting, listen to local stories, and take part directly in the work behind a livelihood project.
For the UEF Center of Service-Learning, the campaign is another step in building programs that connect learning with community needs. For the students involved, it was an opportunity to learn outside the classroom, contribute through practical action, and see more clearly how their knowledge and skills can take root in the wider community.
Written by: Như Quỳnh
Photos: UEF Center of Service-Learning
