The First Brushstroke

by Lê Ngọc Hồng Anh

Today June 4th marked the official start of our work camp journey - a day full of excitement, challenge, and color. The road to the school was rough and bumpy, taking us around two hours to travel, but the moment we arrived, all the tiredness faded. My library team and I felt a mix of nerves and motivation as we looked at the empty space that would soon become an inspriring and welcoming reading space for students.

In the morning, we began with the first essential step: cleaning the walls and sketching outlines in pencil for the mural decal. It was quiet work, but there was something special about imagining how these bare walls would soon turn into something bright and meaningful. As a team leader, I felt proud seeing how we coordinated and supported each other, even though it was just Day 1.

The afternoon brought a splash of excitement - we started painting! Just a few areas were colored today, but seeing those first patches of paint brought our vision to life. It wasn’t much yet, but it gave all of us hope. Each brushstroke felt like a small promise - that we’re creating something lasting and beautiful together.

Overall, Day 1 was a productive and inspiring start. We’ve laid a strong foundation, and the library team is ready to keep building on it in the days to come.