Tran Hong Hanh
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The Legacy Project is a non-profit educational project founded in 2023, dedicated to supporting orphans through Social Emotional Learning (SEL). It was first implemented at the Angels Orphanage (Mai Am Thien Than) to help children heal emotionally, build character, and confidently prepare for life beyond the shelter. The project is developed in collaboration with Faros and Tomato School, two leading early childhood education centers in Vietnam. After successfully impacting the first batch of children, it is now expanding to its next phase at Ai Linh Shelter School. The project believes in the transformative power of education—changing lives, one child at a time.
Long-term change requires more than material aid—it requires emotional education and life skills
The Legacy Project was founded in 2023 as a heartfelt response to a deeply personal question: Are our usual charity efforts truly changing the future of disadvantaged children—or just easing our own conscience? This project was born from that reflection and a desire to break the cycle of emotional neglect and lost potential among orphans in Vietnam. Inspired by stories of young orphans returning to shelters as struggling parents, we realized that long-term change requires more than material aid—it requires emotional education and life skills.
Motivated by this belief, we launched the Legacy Project to bring Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to orphaned children—a method widely recognized internationally but still new to Vietnam’s shelter system. With the collaboration of two leading early education centers—Faros and Tomato School—we introduced a structured 5-year SEL program at Mái ấm Thiên Thần, aiming to help children heal emotionally, develop empathy, build self-worth, and transition into society with confidence. In its first year, the project impacted 40 children—many of whom had previously shown signs of trauma, behavioral challenges, or repeated failure in early education.
Today, those same children are sitting calmly in class, expressing their emotions, and interacting with care and respect. Our proudest moment came when we witnessed children who had never attended kindergarten sharing thank-you notes and affection openly. It was a quiet but powerful sign that healing had begun. As we enter the second phase of the project at Ai Linh Shelter School, our mission is expanding—not only to support children but also to strengthen the capacity of the teaching staff.
Our key objectives include empowering teachers at Ai Linh to become compassionate and effective educators through practical training in SEL and trauma-informed pedagogy. Fostering internal motivation and confidence in teachers, helping them rediscover their role as mentors and healers—not just instructors. Building a collaborative community of educators who take initiative, support one another, and work together to address school-level challenges with empathy and professionalism. By investing in both children and the adults who guide them, the Legacy Project aims to create lasting change—one rooted in education, empathy, and the belief that every, no matter their start in life, deserves a peaceful, empowered future.