“Wilderness Foundation (http://www.wildernessfoundation.co.za/) has brought the Asian International School a meaningful and practical activity, Entitled “Wild Rhino Competition – VietNam helping to keep the Rhino wild”
Singer, songwriter Thanh Bui – Ambassador of Wilderness Foundation, went to the Asian International School on Nov 21, 2014 to launch the Wild Rhino Competition. This is a launching campaign of Wilderness Foundation at international schools in HCM City.
Singer, songwriter Thanh Bui launching the campaign at the Asian International School
Receiving a hearty welcome from the Asian International School students, Thanh Bui and advocates of Wilderness Foundation made a speech on illegal trade and the use of rhino horn in Vietnam because some local people believe that rhino horn can cure various diseases. That is one of the main reasons why rhino in the world is in danger of extinction.
Thanh Bui and advocates of Wilderness Foundation get the message across to students
Currently, there are 4 kinds of rhino in the world. Africa is the continent with the largest number of living rhino in the world. According to Wilderness Foundation’s data, the number of killed rhino in Africa in 2013 is 1024. On average, 3 rhinos are killed each day, meaning 1 rhino is killed every 8 hours. With this trend, rhino is going to be extinct in 2021. Sadly, Vietnam and China are the 2 countries where rhino horn is used the most.
There have been many efforts and ideas to protect rhino such as injecting medicine into rhino horn, moving rhino to protected areas, enforcing imprisonment for acts of hunting rhino, but the problem still continues. So how do we increase people’s awareness? The “Wild Rhino Competition - Vietnam helping to keep the Rhino wild” contest is an initiative of Wilderness Foundation in order to protect rhino. Consciousness and solidarity of young generations are a hope for survival of the rhino now and in the future.
Students are ready to answer questions from the Ambassador of Wilderness Foundation
“Let the world know that we care about this issue. This is our chance to regain the image of our country in the eyes of the international community. The future of the rhino is in our hands" - singer, musician Thanh Bui stated.
With the practical meaning of the campaign, the Asian International School students quickly grasp the message of the competition and have an environmental responsibility and rhino protection. In Unison, Thanh Bui and the Asian International School students shouted out the message “Stop poaching Rhinos”.
The Asian International School students take a picture with Thanh Bui in the campaign “Wild Rhino Competition - Vietnam helping to keep the Rhino wild”
The Ambassador of Wilderness Foundation sign autograph to little fans
To be together with the world in protecting wild rhino, the Asian International School students are enthusiastic to participate in “Wild Rhino Competition - Vietnam helping to keep the Rhino wild” and to get the message “Stop poaching rhinos” across their families and to everybody.
Special Prize of the competition is a five day trip to South Africa for 2 best students of the contest. During the trip, the students will have a chance to experience the wilderness and touch rhinos living in protected areas.
Students’ feeling
Quan Tu Dinh – Class 8/26
“I am very happy because today I have a chance to meet Thanh Bui. Being an ambassador of Wilderness Foundation, he brought us a message on rhino hunting issue. I think I have to be more responsible for the wild environment. I will share this information with my friends and family so that everybody can protect rhino together”.
Bui Duc Tai – Class 10/19
“The speech of Thanh Bui and the advocates of Wilderness Foundation gave me an accurate view of the rhino hunting issue. I do not think rhino horn can cure disease as some people believe. I hope that I can convey the message on rhino protection to everybody through this competition”.
Tang My Nghi – Class 4/7
“This is the first time I have obtained much information about rhinos. Rhinos are gentle animals and I often see them when I go to the Zoo. I am very sad when people kill rhino callously. I will try my best to participate in the competition and be together with people in protecting rhino”.
Nguyen Thanh Nhan – Class 5/12
“I am very concerned when seeing that rhinos are poached for their horns. I do not want the rhino to be extinct. Therefore, I will participate in the competition and share the message on rhino protection”.
Information about the competition
* Participants:
- Students above 15 will write an essay of 500 words.
- Students below 15 will write a poem or draw a picture.
The topic is all about rhino protection and the text is in English.
* Prize:
- All participants will receive a gift from Wilderness Foundation.
- 2 students below 15 will receive 2 special gifts which are 2 Goody Bag bags from Wilderness Foundation.
- 2 students above 15 will experience a 5-day wilderness trip in South Africa, fully funded by Investec (https://www.investec.co.za/) and Wilderness Foundation.
* The duration of the competition:
- The competition will close on Dec 05, 2014. Winners will be notified on early 2015 and a trip to South Africa will be in June, 2015.
- A schedule for a trip to South Africa will be arranged to suit the school’s academic schedule.
* Submission:
- Students access the official website of the competition: http://www.wildrhino.org/
- All the tests (suggestion: use entries instead of tests) will be submitted via the website
The Group of Asian International Education (GAIE) includes The Asian International School, The Institute of Asian Studies (IAS) and The Saigon International University (SIU). Established in 1999, GAIE is one of the largest systems of education and scientific research in Vietnam with:
* 44,454 students from 24 countries studying at 14 campuses;
* 343 prizes for excellent students, 183 prizes in sporting competitions at district and city levels;
* 65 local and foreign companies supporting SIU's internship program;
* 2,200 Vietnamese and foreign teachers & staff members with Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, PhD, associate professorial level and professor level;
* 1,216 students abroad at 111 schools in 17 countries across 4 continents;
* Nearly 80% of students get a job and some of them even set up their own business offering jobs to other people. Over 20% of students continue higher educational levels, many of whom have successfully transferred to universities in countries all over the world.
* An educational member of The International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education IACBE - USA and The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business AACSB - USA.
* Co-operating with many prestigious institutions in the world like Suffolk University - Boston, Truman State University - Missouri and EF Education First - Boston, USA; James Cook University Brisbane, Australia; Ritsumeikan University and Asia Pacific University, Japan; Buckinghamshire New University and King’s College London, UK - ranked 19th in the world.