Olympia students and school counselors win National second prize with mental health project

Sometimes, positive change does not begin with something grand. It can start with a simple conversation, a friend who knows how to listen, or a safe space where someone feels comfortable sharing their emotions without fear of judgment. Inspired by this belief, 20 Olympia students from Grades 7 to 12 joined forces with the School Counseling team to develop The Ripple Project.

More than just a mental health initiative, The Ripple Project is a journey led by students who aspire to foster stronger connections within their school community. Through wellbeing circles, student-created support tools, and various peer-support activities, the project has helped create an environment where everyone can feel heard, understood, and a true sense of belonging. After more than three months of implementation, the project has demonstrated meaningful positive impact. Among participating students, 78.3% reported feeling more connected to their peers, while 91.3% said they felt safer and more comfortable expressing their emotions.

These “ripples” of positive change also earned the project the National Second Prize in the Secondary School category of the AIA Healthiest Schools Competition 2025-2026, along with a prize worth VND 125 million.

This achievement is a well-deserved recognition of the dedication and efforts of Olympia students and the School Counseling team in building a happy, safe, and empathetic learning environment. Olympia believes that meaningful change begins with small actions, and that the positive ripples created today will continue to spread throughout school communities in the years to come.