Her Space: A Summer I’ll Always Carry With Me

Written by Lulita

Written on July 31, 2026

"When we empower women, we create a stronger, more inclusive future.” - Fetty Kwartati

Before coming to Vietnam, I had read and heard those words many times. They sounded inspiring, but I didn’t truly understand them until I spent almost two weeks in Da Nang with Catalyst for Change (C4C) through the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (EYAA) Programme.

I came to Vietnam thinking I would simply volunteer, teach English, and experience a new culture. I expected busy days, meaningful work, and maybe a few good memories along the way. What I didn’t expect was how deeply this journey would stay with me. Somewhere between teaching children, meeting inspiring women, exploring Hội An, and laughing over dinner every night, I realized this experience was changing me too.

More Than Just Volunteers

From the moment I arrived at the C4C Volunteer House, life quickly found its rhythm. Breakfast together, workshops, English classes, dinner, repeat. As the Group Leader of Team 10, I thought my biggest challenge would be organizing everyone’s schedule. Turns out, it was making sure everyone actually got into the same Grab on time. Somehow, 11 strangers from different countries became people I now can’t imagine this journey without.

One thing I really appreciated about C4C was how prepared we were before teaching. Paul patiently introduced us to lesson planning, classroom management, and fun teaching techniques. We also observed one of his English classes and visited a Montessori school before stepping into our own classroom. It reminded me that although we were volunteers, we were never expected to “just figure it out.” Thank you, Paul, for believing in us and preparing us so well.

Teaching Her Space English Kids quickly became my favorite part of the programme. Every class was filled with songs, games, and laughter. Some children barely spoke during our first meeting, but by the second meeting they were confidently raising their hands and shouting English words before we even finished asking the questions. Honestly, I think they had more energy than all of us volunteers combined.

We also organized the Voice of Resilience Workshop, where we created a space for participants to reflect and express themselves. That experience reminded me that sometimes people don’t need someone to solve their problems, they simply need someone willing to listen.

The Stories I’ll Never Forget

One person I’ll always remember is Ms. Sang. Hearing how she rebuilt her life after facing saparation and continued fighting for her two children completely changed my perspective on resilience. We also visited a café run by another single mother supported by C4C. Watching these women regain their confidence and independence showed me what empowerment really looks like. Before this programme, I had only learned about gender equality through lectures and research. Meeting these women reminded me that behind every statistic is a real person with a powerful story.

Our weekend in Hội An brought another unforgettable experience. Under the July sun, we walked around the Ancient Town handing out flyers for C4C’s Weekend Market. Some people happily accepted them, some politely declined, and a few looked at us like we were trying to sell them something suspicious. We laughed, kept walking, and hoped the next conversation would be different. The market wasn’t as crowded as we had hoped, but I learned that social impact isn’t always measured by numbers. Sometimes, simply starting a conversation is already a step forward.

While in Hội An, I also joined a traditional Vietnamese tea workshop. Every step had its own purpose, from waking up the teapot to waking up the tea leaves before taking the first sip. It reminded me that meaningful change, just like good tea, can’t be rushed.

Leaving Vietnam, Carrying Home

Looking back, I realize Her Space was never just about teaching English or volunteering. It was about children discovering confidence, women rebuilding their lives, and young people from different countries learning from one another. As an International Relations student, I often learn about development through policies and reports, but this experience reminded me that real change always begins with people.

Thank you to Ms. Hong for creating Catalyst for Change and for giving women the opportunity to rebuild their lives with dignity. Thank you to Thuy, who took care of us from before we arrived until our very last day in Vietnam. Your kindness and patience made all of us feel at home.

To my amazing friends Tiya (An), Henry (Minh), Theint (Tâm), Esh (Huy), Jan (Trân), PY (Quyên), Rachna (Na), Joalita (Ly), Ed (Quân), and Linh, thank you for every workshop, every family dinner, every inside joke, every Grab ride, and every memory we shared. We came from different countries, but somehow became one family. This was truly the best summer of my life because of all of you.

I also hope C4C continues to grow and reach even more single mothers in the future. During our programme, we only had the opportunity to meet a few of the women whose lives have been transformed by C4C. I hope future volunteers will have more chances to connect directly with them, because hearing stories like Ms. Sang’s was one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.

Lastly, thank you to the ASEAN Foundation and Maybank Foundation for making the eMpowering Youths Across ASEAN (EYAA) Programme possible. This programme gave us more than a volunteering experience, it gave us friendships, new perspectives, and the belief that young people can create meaningful change in their communities.

I came to Vietnam hoping to make a small impact. Instead, Vietnam and everyone I met here, left one on me.

With love,

Lulu