The June Edition of the Kindness Bus: Spreading Childhood Happiness with “For the Children”

From a Lacking Childhood to a Heart Full of Empathy

The central figure of the june Kindness Bus episode is Thach Ngoc Hai, a final-year student at Dong Thap University and the founder of the charity project “For the Children”. With a heart devoted to his community, especially underprivileged children, few people know that Hai is someone who has experienced hardship and poverty firsthand.

Thach Ngoc Hai (left) - Founder of the “For the Children” project.

From a young age, Hai did not live with his parents, instead being  raised by his grandmother. By seventh grade, he had already started working to support himself. Yet, those hardships became the driving force in his life. Rather than breaking under pressure, Hai grew stronger, turning adversity into a source of compassion. It was then that he decided to  embark on a new chapter in his life: a journey of kindness called “For the Children”.

Elementary students support by the “For the Children” project.

In 2023, Hai officially launched “For the Children” with eight core members. In just under two years, the project has undertaken a series of practical activities, including refurbishing classrooms, collecting milk donations, organizing nutritious meals for students, cooking meals, and creating welcoming learning environments. These seemingly small acts carry enormous meaning, as they convey care, trust, and encouragement to children, empowering them to rise above their circumstances.

Bringing “Color” to Rural Classrooms

The Kindness Bus visits Phu Hiep Primary School (Dong Thap)

Together with “For the Children”, the june Kindness Bus, in collaboration with THACO - Truong Hai Group, arrived at Phu Hiep Primary School (Dong Thap), bringing warmth, cheer, and heartfelt surprises for the students.

The Kindness Bus brings decorations, learning supplies, and more.

There, an old classroom was “given a makeover” and transformed into a clean, vibrant self-study room. From early morning, the volunteer team arrived with books, school supplies, toys, and decorations, and quickly got to work. Some painted the walls, while others assembled desks and chairs, cleaned, and arranged bookshelves.

Volunteers from the “For the Children” project repaint the classroom.

The new study space quickly came to life, with the project’s signature mint green walls and carefully curated learning corners. The bookshelves were filled, the school supplies were neatly arranged, and most notably, a brand-new computer was placed in the “IT corner”, sponsored by the Kindness Bus.

The new self-study room is filled with books, toys, and supplies...

Adding to the delight, Thach Ngoc Hai surprised the children with a magic performance, drawing wide-eyed wonder and laughter from the whole class.

Surprise magic show leaves the children in awe and joy.

Cooking for the Children – Right on the Kindness Bus

The Kindness Bus transformed... into a mobile kitchen!

Delicious dishes are prepared for the students by the project.

But the surprises didn’t stop there. At 4 p.m., just as the children’s little stomachs began to rumble, the schoolyard filled with the irresistible aromas of sausages, fried snacks, crispy fries, and shaved ice syrup.  That was the moment the Kindness Bus officially “transformed” into a one-of-a-kind mobile kitchen.

Excited children are waiting in line to enjoy the food.

The schoolyard lit up with excitement as students gathered to enjoy the Kindness Bus event..

Shaved ice syrup – a favorite sweet treat for the kids.

The volunteers turned into chefs, cooking right on the bus and personally handing warm, delicious portions to the children themselves. The schoolyard echoed with laughter, shining eyes, and innocent yet heartfelt words of thanks.

Volunteers hand out food to the students.

Thus, “For the Children” is more than just the name of a project – it’s a simple yet profound message: Giving is forever. Despite his own childhood of scarcity, Thach Ngoc Hai chose to rewrite his life story through gentle yet persistent acts of kindness.

Thach Ngoc Hai with students of Phu Hiep Primary School.

And with every journey the Kindness Bus undertakes, good deeds are nurtured and spread, sowing the seeds of love in hearts and  issuing silent yet powerful calls to compassion.

Representatives of the Kindness Bus and “For the Children” project with students of Phu Hiep Primary School.

Tune in to “Kindness Bus” on the “Kind Deeds” program, aired at 8:10 PM on the second Saturday of each month on VTV1 – Vietnam Television, and on the Kind Deeds Facebook fanpage to share meaningful moments of life.