WELE's Aspiration

I just watched an inspirational TED Talk and realized that "People don't buy what you do, people buy why you do it". The word "buy" here doesn't just mean "to purchase" but also to feel, to truly understand your idea. And it's true, I've never shared why I'm doing the activities I'm currently doing, and I've laughed out loud no fewer than 3 times receiving messages like: "I can't understand how you can be so passionate, what's your motivation?". In this note I'll explain why I've been maintaining and growing We EnJoy LearNing EngLish every single week for over 10 years now, and why the group's volunteer admin team keeps growing (it has reached 60 people at this point!!!), along with close to 10,000 members on facebook, as well as 20,000 members on www.wele-learn.com.

I've encountered the question "Imagine yourself in the future" many times, and the strange thing is, every time I close my eyes and imagine it, I don't see myself, but from some vantage point I see the whole country. I see a large, strongly-knit community, tightly connected with each other across all the provinces and cities in the country. In that community, everyone believes they are the master of their own destiny, and a face representing Vietnam to friends around the world.

I see members proudly strolling under the sun in a "I can speak English, how can I help" shirt, designed in a modern style with all of WELE's eye-catching traditional colors, one that any tourist from afar could recognize. WELE by then has become a trusted brand, and all tourists can feel at ease with any guidance given by our members.

I see that community protecting tourists when they come to Vietnam, ready to step in when tourists run into trouble buying and selling, or communicating with local people. At the same time, I also see that community going out on every street to spread the word about sustainable tourism development, I see that community opening English classes to teach the kids in the neighborhood, passing on to them a love for the homeland, for Vietnamese culture, and how tourism is done in other countries. Those children will be an important factor in persuading their parents to behave in a more civilized way toward foreign guests.

I see that community sponsoring foreign guests, so that in every case where a tourist's passport or wallet gets stolen, there will be a dedicated team to help. That community will advance money to help tourists while they're in Vietnam and get it back once the guest has safely returned to their country.

Members of that organization will be regularly trained by tourism experts, supported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to have the best, most up-to-date information about Vietnam, becoming the most grassroots tourism ambassadors. In the past, history had the policy of "ngụ binh ư nông" [keeping soldiers among the farmers] to strengthen military power; in the future, every citizen will be a tourism ambassador to strengthen economic power.

That organization will help turn Vietnam into an absolutely safe destination favored by foreign tourists. That organization will make tourists feel that in every locality there's something interesting to hear, as members tell captivating stories about where they live. Just imagine, if you set foot in a country like that, after you return home, how many friends will you tell about the trip?

Hanoi Free Tour Guides has done a very good job promoting the image of the capital, Hanoi; I've referred many of my colleagues, when they come back to Vietnam, to get in touch with HNFTG, and 100% of the feedback has been extremely positive. I really, really hope this model can be replicated across all the provinces and cities.

Not limited to promoting tourism, I also see that community bringing English to every region, every town and district. Anywhere there's an internet café, there will be a computer and internet, and there, you'll be able to learn English. I see that there, instead of playing video games, kids will be sitting open-mouthed listening to their older brothers and sisters telling stories about travel, about English, about countries around the world. Those older siblings will show them, using the very same computers they play games on every day, what they could be learning instead.

WELE's English program is free and so simple that it's hard for any student to make excuses like: I'm poor so I can't keep up. The only reason: you're lazy and lack determination. When it started more than 2 years ago, WELE had relatively high entry requirements, but as the days go on the program keeps proving that you can join WELE at almost any level.

I see in that community a great many people taking solid steps on the road to success: because they use English fluently, because they're willing to help others, because they believe they can do anything. Looking back at how they were when they first joined the group: lacking confidence, frequently giving up in the face of difficulty, and not thinking they could conquer a foreign language; and once they've conquered English, everything else becomes achievable, they've learned the formula for success, the "can-do attitude".

I see that community rebuilding faith for a great many people, faith in themselves, and faith that good people and good deeds are happening all around them. Close your eyes and try to imagine, what could that community accomplish?

Note: This Facebook note, originally titled "I have a vivid dream," was first posted in 2018 https://www.facebook.com/notes/1221245541580102/)