RTCCD Conducts Fieldwork in Dong Khanh Son Commune to Contextualize Childcare Materials for the Raglai Community

From 13 to 16 July 2026, the RTCCD program team conducted a field visit to Dong Khanh Son Commune to work with health workers at the Dong Khanh Son Commune Health Station. The field visit was not only an opportunity to engage with local health workers, but also to live alongside community members and gain a deeper understanding of their needs, perspectives and lived experiences, particularly those of parents and caregivers.

During the visit, the RTCCD team sought to immerse themselves in the daily lives of the Raglai community to better understand local culture, customs and practices, as well as observe and learn about how families care for and raise young children. These insights will help determine which components of the Early Journey Program can be retained and which need to be adapted to ensure they are culturally appropriate and responsive to the local context.

The team stayed with and participated in daily activities across three households, representing different target groups: a household with a pregnant woman, a household with a child under two years of age, and a household with a child aged 2–5 years. During their stay, RTCCD staff shared meals, accommodation and everyday activities with the families, allowing them to gain deeper insights into their daily lives, cultural practices, customs, and approaches to childcare and parenting.

This fieldwork forms part of the process of contextualizing and standardizing the program’s materials and video resources on early childhood care, nurturing and development. The information and insights gathered will help ensure that communication content is culturally relevant to the local context, making key messages more relatable, accessible and effective for the Raglai community.

Beyond generating valuable practical insights, the field visit also strengthened the connection between the program and the local community, contributing to the shared goal of ensuring that children have a healthy start in life and the opportunity to reach their full developmental potential.