At Phan Chu Trinh High School in Ia Tul commune, physical education teacher Võ Thái Hồng Nam has become the driving force behind the local volleyball movement. In 2019, he founded a volleyball club and a training program for youths aged 10 to 18, aiming to provide a healthy and dynamic playground for young people.
From just 15 initial members, the club has doubled to 30 and now serves as the core of the Ayun Pa volleyball team, which competes in the Phù Đổng Health Festival and provincial-level tournaments. To maintain momentum, Mr. Nam organizes two to three community tournaments annually, supported by local sponsorships.
“These events give young athletes experience, build resilience, and sharpen tactical thinking”, Mr. Nam said. Several of his students have advanced to compete at the provincial level, achieving remarkable success.
One standout is Ksor Rôta, a former trainee who is now studying at the University of Sports and Physical Education in Da Nang. Rôta helped the Ayun Pa ethnic minority men’s volleyball team win a silver medal at the 2021 Provincial Ethnic Minority Sports Festival and a bronze at the National Ethnic Minority Sports Festival a year later. In 2023, he joined Da Nang’s youth team for the National Youth Volleyball Championship.
“For me, every tournament is a chance to grow and pursue my passion”, Rôta said. “I owe my journey to Mr. Nam’s guidance and encouragement”.
Beyond school, Mr. Nam also provides technical coaching for volleyball teams from local agencies and businesses, reinforcing Ayun Pa’s vibrant volleyball culture. “Grassroots volleyball here is thriving”, he said. “Our goal is to build meaningful playgrounds for students and discover new sporting talents”.
Võ Thái Hồng Nam and Trần Minh Hiệp exemplify the dedication of physical education teachers. Despite limited facilities, they persistently maintain grassroots sports activities out of love for their profession and a commitment to helping students develop both physically and mentally. Thanks to their efforts, the sports movement in Ayun Pa has extended beyond school grounds and into the wider community.”
Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Dung – Director,
Ayun Pa Center for Culture, Sports & Communications
At Nguyễn Huệ Secondary School in Ayun Pa ward, Trần Minh Hiệp, another physical education teacher, is championing swimming as both a sport and a life-saving skill.
Alarmed by the high rate of child drownings, she has spent the past seven years running community swimming classes, offering lessons twice daily, from 5 to 6 a.m. and from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., to fit students’ schedules.
Every weekend, she provides free swimming lessons for disadvantaged children, valued at around VND 120,000 - 150,000 (USD 4.70–5.90) per session. She also works with local authorities and schools to raise awareness of water safety and drowning prevention.
To inspire her students, Ms. Hiệp funds and organizes annual swimming competitions, helping identify promising athletes for higher-level contests. At the 11th Provincial Phù Đổng Health Festival in 2023, her students won two gold medals in elementary school swimming.
“Swimming not only improves fitness but also teaches children how to protect themselves in dangerous situations”, she said. “My dream is that every student in Ayun Pa learns to swim so that tragedies from drowning will no longer occur”.
Through the dedication of teachers like Nam and Hiệp, Ayun Pa’s grassroots sports scene continues to grow, proving that passion and community commitment can turn small beginnings into lasting impact.