Chairunnisa, a student of the Political Science Study Program at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FISIP USU), participated in the MBKM Global Volunteer program with AIESEC in USU in Vietnam. The program lasted for 50 days, from December 21, 2025 to February 8, 2026, and was held in Hai Phong City. During the program, she was involved in educational community service through a project titled the Happy Bus Project, which focuses on teaching students from various educational levels, ranging from preschool to senior high school.
Her interest in joining the program stemmed from her curiosity about the development of Vietnam’s education system. She wanted to directly observe how the system has evolved while learning from the practices implemented there. “Since my second semester, I have been actively volunteering to teach underprivileged children in Medan. From that experience, I realized that education plays a significant role in shaping a person’s future,” she explained.
During the Happy Bus Project, she served as an English teacher as well as a learning facilitator for the students. In the teaching process, she applied a STEM approach that integrates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to develop students’ critical thinking skills. The method was adapted to the students’ age groups to ensure learning remained effective and enjoyable. For preschool students, learning activities were conducted through interactive methods such as playing, singing, and reading English storybooks. She also engaged students in making simple traditional foods while practicing English instructions such as “mix,” “stir,” and “pour.” “Children learn not only from theory, but also from direct experience,” she noted. Meanwhile, for older students up to the high school level, the learning approach was more structured. She trained their writing skills through simple topics to essays and encouraged them to engage in discussions in English. Methods such as role play and listening exercises were also used to build students’ confidence in using English in daily life.
While in Hai Phong City, she was impressed by the students’ enthusiasm for learning and their respect for teachers. Despite language barriers, this did not diminish the students’ eagerness to participate in learning activities. “Even though there were language limitations between us, their enthusiasm became a great motivation for me to keep giving my best,” she said.
In addition to teaching, she was also active in cultural exchange activities by introducing Indonesian culture to the local community. In one event, she performed the Tor-Tor dance while wearing kebaya and ulos. The performance received a warm response from participants, who even joined in dancing. She also introduced the meaning of ulos and shared traditional foods such as nastar with the local community. During the program, she had the opportunity to visit the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Hanoi and held discussions with Made Santi Ratnasari, who serves as Minister Counsellor. The meeting covered various issues related to education and Vietnam’s development in recent years. She also gained new perspectives on the relationship between education, the economy, and national development.
This experience also broadened her perspective as a Political Science student. She admitted that previously she had only studied theories about communist states in class. However, after witnessing life in Vietnam firsthand, she found that the people have a strong sense of pride in their country. The experience helped her understand that international relations can also be built through everyday interactions among individuals from different cultural backgrounds.
She believes the Global Volunteer program provides significant benefits not only academically but also in personal development. The program encouraged her to become more independent, adaptable, and open to new perspectives. “This program truly pushed me out of my comfort zone and taught me to adapt to a different environment,” she said.
Through this experience, she hopes that more FISIP USU students will have the courage to take part in international programs. According to her, every opportunity can become a valuable experience for personal growth. “Don’t be too selective about opportunities. Take every chance that comes as long as it is positive,” she advised.
Author: Jemima Frieda Lumbantobing