The building of a new kitchen for the schoolgarten in Nam Dan, in the Xin Man aerea, was completed in August 2021.

This project was backed by fundings given by friends and colleagues of Giulia Tita, who wanted to honor her memory. Her memory was stamped on a plaque at the entrance of the building.
The building and furnishing of the new kitchen will be followed by training of teachers and parents on basic principles of a nutritious and healthy diet. In the same kindergarten, GTV has already set a school garden for the production of vegetables and fruit, to enhance the variety of students’ diet. All these initiatives are a small step forward in the fight against child malnutrition in the area. According to data from the province’s Health Department, in 2019 22% of children below the age of 5 was underweight, while 30% was underdeveloped in terms of height.
The new kitchen is an important step for the improvement of school facilities in Nam Dan. This village is located in a mountain area and is characterised by high levels of poverty, hard to go through, difficulties for agriculture and for the development of means of transport. In addition, the kindergarten hosts 30 children, whose majority belongs to ethnic minorities.
 
The new building is a brickwork, with raised areas which allow the preparation of food according to hygiene standards. There are also a fireplace and a fan. New appliances, which had never been held in the old kitchen, were added. These included a fridge, a gas stove, a kettle, new pots, pans and new equipment for cooking. The new kitchen will be used instead of the old building, a wooden hut which was used earlier. This facility was crumbling and this fact compromised the chances of cooking meals which could respect hygiene standards.

The inauguration of the new facility took place on 15th August. The principal of the school, teachers, two representatives of the village and the GTV member who followed this project joined this event. The kitchen is ready to work for the new school year, which has begun for few days. Photos of the new kitchen working will be shared soon!

These are some of the interviews made during the opening ceremony:

Mrs Thị Bắc, head of the kindergarten of Nam Dan:

Good morning, I am Vuong Thi Bac, and I am the principal of Nam Dan’s kindergarten, in the municipality of Nam Dan, in the district of Xin Man of the province of Ha Giang. In our kindergartens there are two classes, two teachers and 30 students. It’s really an honor for children to have a new kitchen, since the school life has been improved. It’s going to be equipped to guarantee a daily meal for children. Teachers and parents have participated actively and have given their contribution through their efforts to improve the school.
On behalf of the teachers and of the population of the village on Nam Dan, I would like to thank GTV for the interest, the help and the financial support. I can’t wait to collaborate again with GTV in the next future! I would like to show appreciation to the donors. To them, thank you very much! 

Mrs Vàng, mother of a little girl who attends the kindergarten in Nam Dan and was distance adopted through GTV.

I thank the school, the officers of Nam Dan’s municiplality and the donors. GTV helped my daughter Mai to have a wonderful kitchen. Other parents, whose children attend this schoolgarten, are very grateful and happy too. Thank you!

Mr Thèn Văn Lâm - Head of the village of Nam Dan

Dear supporters, I’m the head of the village of Nam Dan.
On behalf of the children and parents, I would like to thank sincerely the donors and GTV for supporting the building of the kitchen for children. Thank you very much!