Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Our Journey is a program combines an reality game with a knowledge contest of Sustainable Tourism hosted by Center for Development of Initiative Community and Environment (C&E) in association with Hoa Sen University. The program was sponsored by SGS Sweden and SGS Vietnam and was held on Nov 24, 2012 at Hoa Sen University, Ho Chi Minh City. Our Journey attracted many young people with the passion for tourism, environment and the desire to act towards sustainable development. There were more than 30 teams applying for the program. After the interview round, the 5 most energetic, intelligent, suitable teams were selected. 8.30 am excellent competitors gathered at Hoa Sen University, No.2 Tan Vien Str. Five teams quickly made friend with their own supervisors who would support and supervise them along the journey.

5 teams and 5 supervisors

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Right after the opening speech, the 5 teams were given secret letters from supervisors to start the Journey.

Finding the secrets of letters to get started Finding out the key was Hoang Van Thu Park, 5 teams quickly get there and select their own means of transportation to travel along this imagine journey. Globetrotter Team including 11th grade students from Tran Dai Nghia High school for gifted students and Chan Tam Team from Foreign Trade University choose Plane to travel; they have to wear white paper angel wings. Early morning sunshine in Sai Gon makes their shadows look like beautiful dancing angels.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Meanwhile, Lua Xanh Team from Ho Chi Minh University of Education chooses Train as their transportation with lovely decorated carton train.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

The 2 other teams are Ban Tay Team from Hoa Sen university and Green Team from Ho Chi Minh Open University choose bicycle to travel. It is really difficult to walk around with tied legs but they seem to have lots of fun.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Teams in turn travel to the second station to go shopping and challenge themselves with remembering game. At the third station, they have to grow green trees to know more about sustainable development. The forth stations requires members in one team to understand each other. The last

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

station, the fifth one 5 teams have to find out the key to get back to Hoa Sen University. The knowledge contest in the afternoon begins with the performance of The Fan band. These songs warm the room up and make everyone forget the heavy rain outside.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Here are the delicates and representatives from Hoa Sen University, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City and SGS Vietnam.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Mr Vu Duc Thang Deputy General Director of SGS Vietnam to Mrs. Bui Tran Phuong President of Hoa Sen University, the two organizers of the contest.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Beginning with the First Round, the contest brings five interesting opening performances from five teams which reflects their teams characters

Chn Tm Team performs an amazing calligraphy

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Gangnam Style Dance from Green Team The audiences are deeply impressed by the performances of 5 teams. From a
lively dancing Gangnam Style of Green Team, to the simple beauty of Green Fire then a fun rap song performed by Ban Tay and followed by a deep repertoire of calligraphy from Chn Tm. Especially in this round, there is a lovely movie clip with the unique style designed by five environmental agents from the team Globetrotter !

The Second Round is the academic contest about sustainable tourism. Many answers are given out. Interestingly, the five teams somehow often made their choices the same as other teams. This round is a very meaningful one because it helps bring information and knowledge of sustainable tourism to all participants. At the end of the contest is the round in which the teams play many stakeholders roles -local people and authorities, tourists, tourism agents to deal with issues in real-life situation related to sustainable tourism. To the surprise of the judge board, the teams' performances are very unique and creative. Chn Tm impresses the audience with in-depth, sharp arguments while some of other teams choose to answer by performing a play (like Globetrotter Team) in which the youngest girls in the program act as village leader and villagers, and the team Green models a meeting of a tourism agency. The team Lua Xanh made a greatly persuasive performance as a people's representative while the team Ban Tay smoothly combined a play with creative, eloquent oratory. Not as hard as expected, the Stakeholder Round turns out to be very energetic, which helps to keep the audience effervescent.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

The girl from Globetrotter played as a village leader in their teams etiquette Through the reality game in the morning and the contest in the afternoon, the five teams have shown their strength in different aspects. In the end, Chn Tm excellently takes the 1st place, 2nd place is Bn Tay and the three 3rd places go to three other teams: Globetrotter, Lua Xanh and Green.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

3rd places: Globetrotter, Lua Xanh and Green

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

Chn Tm (red shirts - 1st prize) and Ban Tay (black shirts - 2nd prize) recieved presents from the Organizers.

Organizers representative hands out presents to delicates The virtual journey comes to an end at 6:00 PM and leaves every participants with a lot of emotion. Some were sad, some were happy, some smiled. The organizers hope that this would be a memorable and meaningful journey for all participants, the five teams, audiences and volunteers. Our Journey Sustainable Tourism is our life-style, is the way we act and behave that related to culture, society and environment. Lets live a sustainable life style, not only just for yourself but also for other people. There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. We are all crew. (Marshall Mcluhan)

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City

Center for Development of Community Initiative and Environment

Hoa Sen University

SGS Group

The joy and happiness of 5 teams, invited guests, audiences and organizing committee at the end of the contest.

Our Journey 24/11/2012 HoChiMinh City