Present foundation for future changes Social movements are collective actions carried out to realize the anxiety or attention of those concerned. Social movements are a major vehicle for ordinary people's participation in public civil, cultural and political life (Charles Tilly 2004). Socialmovementsare currently based on shared values and maintain a link with a real and broad base in the community, thus laying the foundation for a long-term transformation in systems of power (Pastor and Ortiz 2009).

Social movements usually start with a general feeling that something is wrong in the society. Many people experience the misery, feel a sense of deprivation or unfairness due to the unjust power structure. When a solution is proposed and spreads, along with random/unexpected factors, movements are often launched, bringing radical and significant changes.

However, social movements come to success, sustainability and peacefully change the social nature only when they are based on the values of equality, tolerance and kindness. The changes must be accepted and maintained by the people, the government as well as civil and economic institutions. Therefore, extensive changes such as gender equality, the rights ofminorities and freedom of expression occur only when the value foundation is changed and shared by both the majority and the minority, by the powerful group and the marginalized group. It must become social norms and the law as well.

The Institute for Studies ofSociety, Economy and Environment (iSEE) has experience in sparking theLGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights movement, and the #Live with Kindness# movement, which promotes the values of kindness, tolerance and equality in the society. Thanks to thesupport from Oxfam, iSEE is currently building the platform for larger social movements in the future, aiming at substantial changes and promoting a Vietnamese society with freedom, tolerance and respect for human dignity.

This platform includes key elements necessary for the development of social movements. The first is a development school which acts as a space imbrued with the values of integrity, freedom, equality, tolerance, the respect for diversity and non-discrimination. The development school is a place to connect and create a group of young people whoare civic conscious, socially responsible and willing to participate in actions for the sake of the community. The second is to support youth and student groups in designing and implementing their activities based on the values of equality, freedom, justice, tolerance and democracy. These youth groups may work in different fields such as environmental protection, poverty reduction, street children or rural area bookization, but it is important that they all share the values of humanrights. Third, to build a platform to connect social, art, cultural and environmental initiatives with individual donors, businesses, non-governmental organizations and other donors. This activity aims to create a broad space where beauty, sharing attitude and community spirit are honored and spread. Fourth, research and policy, law and social advocacy aims at promoting freedom for civil society development and growth, which act as the basis for the formation and development of social movements.

iSEE is now carrying out the first and fourth actions with the support from Oxfam, Irish Aid and WB, in partnership with youth groups, NGOs, the media, experts and universities. This project is submitted to Oxfam to perform the second and the third actions with specific objectives and activities to be presented below.


2. Project objectives

- To support youth and student groups to implement their initiatives to solve environmental, economic, social, educational and cultural problems  based on the values of freedom, equality and tolerance

- To connect individual sponsors, businesses, non-governmental organizations and other donors with the initiatives of young people, students and artists, in order to mobilize resources, ideas and technology to solve social problems