REACH – Walking Alongside Schools on the Journey to Emotional Understanding

REACH – Walking Alongside Schools on the Journey to Emotional Understanding
Modern education is no longer just about delivering knowledge—it’s also about equipping teachers and students with tools to better understand and manage their own emotions. Recognizing this need, REACH, with funding from Metlife, has launched a training program titled “Reducing Stress for Students” across four secondary schools in Ba Vi District, Hanoi: Phu Dong, Phu Cuong, Co Do, and Phong Van.
This marks one of REACH’s first steps on a larger journey: to make mental well-being an essential part of mainstream education.

Emotions – Essential, Yet Often Overlooked
Caught in the rush of exams, lesson plans, performance metrics, and expectations, the emotional world of both students and teachers is often left unspoken. Many students struggle silently with pressure, unsure how to name or express what they’re feeling. Many teachers carry years of accumulated stress, rarely granted the space to rest emotionally.
At REACH, we believe that emotional education is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. Only when students and teachers are emotionally well can they show up as their true, healthy selves.

The Training Atmosphere – Honest, Connected, and Filled with Exhales
During these sessions, REACH’s facilitators don’t “teach” in the conventional sense. Instead, teachers and students come together to:
✅ Recognize negative emotions without judgment
✅ Learn simple breathing and relaxation techniques to tune in to themselves
✅ Practice practical stress-reduction methods they can apply right in the classroom
✅ Engage in interactive games and relatable real-life scenarios
These sessions create a space of honest sharing and mutual care—where eyes soften, shoulders ease, and long-held breaths are finally released in safety.

From One Training Session to a Shift in School Culture
This is not a one-off initiative. REACH hopes to contribute to a cultural shift in how schools approach emotional health, pressure, and mental well-being. Through this program, REACH and the participating schools in Ba Vi are working together to:
✅ Foster school environments that are empathetic and emotionally safe
✅ Support teachers not just to teach content, but to lead with understanding and inspiration
✅ Empower students to better understand themselves—and grow stronger both in and beyond the classroom

REACH – Partnering with Schools So Every Day at School Feels Joyful
The trainings at Phu Dong, Phu Cuong, Co Do, and Phong Van mark a meaningful beginning for REACH. In the months ahead, we look forward to expanding these efforts to more schools and communities—with the hope of spreading a powerful message: “Emotional education is the future of holistic learning.”

📌 Are you a school, education organization, or parent interested in bringing this program to your community?
📩 Reach out to REACH—we’d love to work together toward meaningful change, from the inside out.