Every neighborhood, every stretch of land is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered. These treasures manifest through various facets of life: social interactions, rituals, ceremonies, historical and cultural sites, local stories, and folk music. They are also present in the daily rhythm of local people—through their life journeys, the meals they cook, and the way they treat one another and nature.
However, we are gradually forgetting this wealth—a richness that exists in many forms beyond mere financial value.
Vcil Community have been residents of Da Nang for many years. We believe that Da Nang's learning potential goes far beyond its popular tourist attractions. This city is a potential treasure that can foster human development, knowledge, and ecology. With the spirit of building a new lifestyle and connecting the community while exploring more of Da Nang's potential, Vcil Community and Vcil Living Lab - Da Nang have co-created the community event: Da Nang - The Learning City.
This event leverages the diversity and richness of the community to transform the entire city into a Learning Festival—a place where learning is spread, nurtured, and open to all. Learning will not be confined within four classroom walls or limited to a single method, and knowledge will not come from just one teacher. Learning happens anytime, anyone can be a teacher, and wisdom comes from the community as much as from schools. Every location becomes a learning campus.
This is a monthly event. To stay updated with the latest information, please visit the Vcil Living Lab - Da Nang Facebook page.
This event will apply the “Open Space Technology” from the Art of Hosting, a body of work that facilitates group processes. This tool originated from a core question: How can we maximize the learning potential of a collective with minimum structure?
We believe that every person in the community has unique treasures such as knowledge, skills, life experience, and passion. Therefore, people from all walks of life and generations can create their own learning journey together. Manish Jain, a pioneer in alternative education in the world, called this tool "Open Sacred Treasures." that sounds closer to Eastern culture.
The festival will be an exciting opportunity to harvest collective wisdom, where learning happens naturally, freely, and is driven by the intrinsic motivation for discovery within each individual.
This festival aims to create a learning and networking space in Da Nang with the following specific objectives:
To build a community of learning and connection towards a happy and regenerative space in Da Nang. To connect with local people and explore new areas of the city.
To open up a free and inclusive learning space for everyone. To foster a proactive learning spirit, encouraging peer-to-peer learning, and promoting inner motivation, self-directed learning, and community-based learning.
To cultivate a "gift economy" culture, encouraging community members to share their resources—from knowledge and experience to living spaces—in order to enrich the community.
Imagine, on the same day, numerous learning activities taking place in various corners: from private homes to public spaces (parks, beaches, rivers, mountains, forests); from the Vcil Community office to the Living Lab; or from traditional craft villages to the Da Nang Museum. People from all generations and all walks of life participate together. That is a true Festival!
Register now to join this vibrant learning atmosphere with us!
Following our initial activities, "Learning City" festivals have begun to emerge in other cities, inspired by the original "Da Nang - A Learning City" concept. We have recorded activities happening simultaneously with the festival in Da Nang. Currently, Vcil Community members in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau are working with us to turn their homes into cities of learning, connection, and gifting!
You can follow the Go Live Love Fanpage to attend events in Vung Tau, and the Hồ Chí Minh - Thành Phố Học Tập fanpage for events in Ho Chi Minh City.
We invite you to participate in one of two roles:
1. The Flower - HOST: As a Flower-Host, you are the one opening up a "treasure" for the community to discover. You will organize and facilitate activities to welcome interested participants. Hosts have complete freedom to choose their topics, activities, methods, and venues. You are also welcome to attend other sessions before and after your own. Learn more about the Host Spirit [here].
BENEFITS:
