Celebrating a Decade of Friendship: BIS HCMC and Thien Phuoc Foster Home

 As one of our longest-standing community partners, Thien Phuoc plays a deeply meaningful role in the life of our school. Our collaboration is grounded in shared values of care, dignity and inclusion, and it reinforces for our students what it means to be part of a compassionate, outward-looking community.

Since 2014, our playdate initiative has offered a warm, purposeful way for our children to learn, connect and grow alongside the children of Thien Phuoc. These interactions give our students authentic opportunities to practise empathy, develop social awareness and understand the richness of diverse experiences. At the same time, the children from Thien Phuoc benefit from engaging activities, new environments and friendships that extend beyond their daily routine. 

Partnerships like this are central to who we are as a school. They help us nurture confident, caring young people who recognise their ability to make a positive difference in the world. Through consistent, long-term collaboration, our students see firsthand how relationships built on respect and kindness can shape stronger, more connected communities. 

Over the past several weeks, all our Year 1 classes had the opportunity to participate in a series of playdates with the children from Thien Phuoc. These visits quickly became a highlight of the term, “showcasing the compassion and maturity of our young learners,” as Ms Crislet, EY&I Community Service Leader, described. 

A special moment this year was the involvement of our Year 6 Community Ambassadors, who joined one of the playdates to support the younger children. They encouraged the Year 1 students to join in, modelled positive interaction and helped create an inclusive, caring atmosphere. As the Y6 team shared afterwards, it was “a fantastic afternoon filled with joy, care and laughter amongst all the children.”

These successful interactions would not have been possible without the dedication of our teachers and teaching assistants, who carefully prepared the students for each session and supported them throughout. Their guidance ensured that every visit was meaningful, inclusive and safe for all children involved.

Our partnership grew further last week when new BIS staff members visited Thien Phuoc and led activities onsite. They were welcomed with warm smiles from both staff and children, and the afternoon was filled with play, connection and even karaoke — a lovely reminder of the strong relationships that have formed between both communities.

We now look ahead to celebrating Christmas at Thien Phuoc on 8 December, when gifts lovingly prepared by our Year 1 students and staff will be distributed. This festive visit promises to be another special moment of generosity and connection.

Reflecting on the wider impact, Ms Lian, Junior Community Service Leader, highlighted how proud she was to see both Y1 and Y6 students demonstrate the school values of care, respect and perseverance during the playdate. She noted that these moments “show our students supporting one another while building friendships with children from Thien Phuoc.”

Across the BIS community, parents, students and staff continue to play an essential role in nurturing this long-standing partnership. As Ms Crislet expressed, these contributions have “brought moments of joy and inclusion to children with disabilities” and strengthened the meaningful connection between BIS HCMC and Thien Phuoc Foster Home.

Together, we’re creating lasting memories and making a meaningful impact—within our community and far beyond—shaping a future that truly matters.