With the motto "Lifelong learning, lasting culture, bright future, deep integration," Son La city is implementing comprehensive solutions, striving to have initiatives recognized by UNESCO and awarded the "Global Learning City" prize by 2030, further affirming Son La's position on the world education map.

Expanding the "House of Wisdom" initiative.

To achieve the goal of being recognized and honored by UNESCO as a "Global Learning City" by 2030, the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee issued a conclusion on strengthening leadership in building Son La city to meet UNESCO's criteria for a global learning city. This includes continuing to improve educational infrastructure, promoting the construction and development of community learning spaces, and building innovative learning models such as "Houses of Wisdom" and "Libraries of Compassion," creating the best conditions for people to access lifelong knowledge.

Provincial leaders and officials from various departments and agencies visited the "House of Wisdom" in Group 1, Chieng Le Ward.

Comrade Ha Trung Chien, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the City People's Council, and Head of the Steering Committee for Son La City's Global Learning Program, stated: After more than 7 months of being registered in the "Global Learning Cities" network, Son La City now has 35 "Houses of Wisdom" and 8 "Humanitarian Libraries" launched and operating in villages, hamlets, and schools. Many practical activities, from searching for and reading books and newspapers to participating in games, cultural exchanges, arts, and sports, attract a large number of people. The "Houses of Wisdom" have become familiar destinations, contributing to promoting the building of a learning community and a learning society in the city.

The House of Wisdom in Group 9, Chieng Le Ward, serves the reading, recreation, and entertainment needs of the people.

The "House of Wisdom" in Group 9, Chieng Le Ward, was completed and put into operation in May 2024. The house is designed with separate sections to create a convenient living space for citizens to read books for free and participate in recreational activities. Notably, it also features an exhibition area displaying artifacts such as costumes, utensils, and musical instruments of the local ethnic minorities, contributing to the preservation and promotion of traditional cultural values.

Mr. Giang Van Dong, Secretary of the Party Branch of Group 9, Chieng Le Ward, shared: The Party Committee, together with the mass organizations of Chieng Le Ward, has mobilized social resources to build the "House of Wisdom" for the group; launching a movement to donate books, newspapers, and magazines from citizens. Currently, the "House of Wisdom" of the group has 3,000 books to serve readers, gradually improving the reading culture for the local community.

Group 3, Quyet Tam Ward, collaborates with the Provincial Library to serve the reading needs of citizens.

Recognizing the benefits of the "House of Wisdom" model, Chiềng Lề ward has now expanded its implementation. Ms. Lò Thị Bình, Secretary of the Ward Party Committee, shared: The Party Committee has directed the Ward People's Committee to issue guiding documents for the implementation of the "House of Wisdom" model in various groups. To date, 9 out of 13 groups and villages in the ward have "Houses of Wisdom," with a total of over 18,000 books covering all fields; maintaining reading activities at least 3 times a week and regularly hosting cultural, artistic, sports, and ethnic cultural preservation activities.

"The House of Wisdom" in Group 3, Quyet Tam Ward, serves the reading needs of citizens.

Nguyen Trai Secondary School is one of eight schools that have built a "House of Wisdom," which includes: a compassionate library with thousands of books on various fields; a local corner displaying ethnic costumes, props, and artifacts reflecting the rich culture of the ethnic groups in Northwest Vietnam... serving the reading, research, and learning needs of teachers and over 900 students.

Recreational activities at the "House of Wisdom" at Nguyen Tra Secondary School.i.

Giang Nguyen Khanh Son, a student in class 9A5, shared: "During recess, my friends and I often go down to the 'House of Wisdom' to read our favorite books and play chess for entertainment. These books help us gain knowledge beyond textbooks, especially advanced math books, which I'm studying for the gifted student team competition."

The Institute for Lifelong Learning donated books to the "House of Wisdom" at Nguyen Trai Secondary School and to various groups and villages in the city.

Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for Lifelong Learning and founder of the "Humanitarian Book Shelf" and "House of Wisdom" programs, stated: The creativity and flexibility of the organizations, villages, and schools in sourcing books and organizing activities at the "House of Wisdom" have attracted a large number of people to participate and contributed to spreading reading culture to the community. The Institute for Lifelong Learning will provide maximum support to the "Houses of Wisdom" in connecting with education experts both domestically and internationally for cultural and academic exchange. It will also facilitate sister city relationships between Son La City and several cities abroad that share similar cultural and social characteristics.

Building a civilized, modern city with its own identity.

The preservation and promotion of the cultural identity of ethnic groups is a priority for Son La city. The city directs communes and wards to establish ethnic cultural clubs, promote and encourage people to participate, and invite cultural artisans to teach their skills to members and their children.

Thai language class at the Thai Culture Club in Chau Co village, Chieng Coi ward.

Chiềng Cơi Ward has established three Thai cultural clubs in Hamlet 1, Chậu Cọ and Coóng Nọi villages, with 135 members. These clubs actively collect, preserve, and teach the cultural heritage of the Thai ethnic group, such as Xòe dance, ancient Thai dances, Hạn Khuống singing, and teach the Thai language to local people, their children, and students of Tay Bac University.

Every Saturday and Sunday, members of the Thai Culture Club of Chau Co village gather at the village's cultural center for activities. Ms. Lo Thi Mai Cuong, a member of the club, shared: "The club has a specific weekly schedule, including many activities such as playing folk games, practicing singing and dancing, and teaching the Thai script... Participating in the club helps us to interact, learn, preserve, and pass on the precious cultural heritage of the Thai ethnic people."

Thai cultural clubs in Chau Co village, Chieng Coi ward, teach children how to embroider Pieu scarves.

As the oldest student in the Thai script class in Chau Co village, Ms. Tong Thi Hoa shared: "After more than two months of studying, I have learned to write the Thai script, and I know many more folk songs, proverbs, rhymes, and verses of the Thai ethnic group. I will pass them on to my children and grandchildren."

In Chiềng An ward, three ethnic cultural clubs have been operating effectively, with 141 members. These clubs organize four classes teaching Thai Xoe dance and the "Dance of Unity," three classes teaching the Thai language, and training young people in traditional weaving and handicrafts. In addition, the clubs actively organize cultural exchanges, sports competitions, and traditional folk games such as Tó Mák Lẹ and Tung Còn, creating a joyful atmosphere and fostering community cohesion.

The Bản Bó Cultural Club in Chiềng An ward regularly practices and participates in city events.

Ms. Lo Thi Bua, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Chieng An Ward, shared: To create favorable conditions for the clubs to operate, the ward mobilizes social resources and contributions from members to build funds and purchase equipment. In the near future, the ward will launch two more clubs in Ca and Phua Con villages.

To date, Son La city has established 54 Thai cultural clubs, attracting more than 2,300 members. Ms. Lu Thi Doan, Head of the City's Culture and Information Department, said: "These clubs not only contribute to preserving and transmitting traditional cultural values, but also serve as a bridge between generations; actively researching and preserving good customs and traditions from the ancient Thai script to the common script, helping the community to easily access and better understand the cultural heritage of their ethnic group. In addition, the city has also revived the 'Xen Ban' festival and maintained the practice and performance of six 'ancient Xoe' dances and the 'Unity Dance'."

Promoting Global Learning Cities

Striving to maintain its title as a "Global Learning City," the lifelong learning movement within families, clans, and communities is being given attention and developed by various sectors, units, and localities in the city; creating favorable conditions and encouraging officials, civil servants, workers, students, and pupils to promote self-learning and creativity through various flexible and appropriate forms.

The city is organizing a "Book and Reading Culture Festival".

Ms. Lo Thi Lien, Vice President of the City's Association for the Promotion of Learning, reported: The lifelong learning movement within families, clans, and communities has received attention and development in depth from various sectors, units, and localities. The percentage of "Learning Families," "Learning Clans," "Learning Communities," and "Learning Units" has steadily increased each year. To date, 73.1% of the city's citizens have achieved the title of "Learning Citizen," 95.8% of households have achieved the title of "Learning Family," 100% of clans have achieved the title of "Learning Clan," 100% of communes, wards, villages, hamlets, and sub-districts have achieved the title of "Learning Unit."

The city continues to maintain and innovate the organization of foreign language and ethnic minority language training courses for officials and civil servants to serve their work. It advised the Steering Committee on developing a plan to organize the "Son La - My Beloved Global Learning City" competition; and successfully organized an English public speaking competition for high school students in the area during the 2023-2024 school year.

English language training course for officials and employees of the Son La City Party Committee, People's Council, and People's Committee in 2024.

Mr. Tran Cong Chinh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La City, said: The city has proactively participated in all conferences and seminars organized by UNESCO through both in-person and online formats. It has also proactively contacted and registered with the UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning to participate in the case study project on global learning cities in Asia and Africa, scheduled to be held in Shanghai, China in October 2024. Furthermore, it has registered and is implementing the scientific research project "Research on solutions to improve the quality of reading promotion in Son La City"...

Students from various schools enthusiastically participated in traditional folk games at Northwest Square.

With strong political determination, Son La city strives to achieve the "Global Learning City" award by 2030. The focus is on promoting learning opportunities for the people, from basic to higher education; encouraging learning within families and communities; creating learning opportunities relevant to work and in the workplace; expanding the use of modern learning technologies; enhancing the quality and comprehensiveness of learning; and promoting a culture of lifelong learning...

Source: Son La Newspaper