Poverty is a barrier to learning among poor and vulnerable children. The student financial aid program, Khanh Hoa Children's Fund has helped many children with their academic pursuits...
Poverty is a barrier to learning among poor and vulnerable children. The student financial aid program, Khanh Hoa Children’s Fund has helped many children with their academic pursuits.
Overcoming difficulties
In mid September, 19-year-old Dinh Nguyen Hoai Thuong, Phu Binh, Cam Phu Ward, Cam Ranh City got ready to join the Nha Trang National College of Pedagogy community. She lost her mom at the age of 2 and her dad died 3 years later. Since then, she has been living with her granddad and aunt. “I have a dream to become a nursery teacher but when I was at junior high school, my granddad died and my aunt was in great financial hardship. Sometimes I wanted to quit my study to work to help my aunt,” she says with her eyes dewed with tears. “My niece likes learning and she always gets good study results but my family is too poor to afford her schooling.Therefore, I thought of asking her to quit school sometimes,” adds Dinh Thi Thu Hau, her aunt.
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Ho Trong Tin, 20, in Lam Son Village, Ninh Sim Commune, Ninh Hoa Town became an orphan when he was in grade 8. He has graduated from high school but now he is unable to move up to university because of financial problems.
Though admitted to Nha Trang College of Tourism, Nguyen Thi Bang Chau, 20, has decided to take a short-term accounting course in Ho Chi Minh City. “My parents died when I was very young. Since then, I have been in the care of my maternal grandma and aunt. When I received the notice of acceptance from Nha Trang College of Tourism, I was reluctant because the study program is long while my family is poor, so I decided to take a short-term course instead so that I can get a job sooner to support my family,” she says. “We have no choice because of financial problems. We can’t afford her schooling for such a long time,” her aunt adds.
Helping with academic pursuits
Vietnam Children’s Fund has developed the student financial aid program since 2000 to provide long-term assistance for orphans or children with disabled parents. The assistance will last until the children reach the age of 16 or more depending on sponsors. In return, the children are required not to keep up with their class and make effort to get good study result. The aid is VND3-6 million annually. 1,467 children have been sponsored for a long term with a total grant of VND8.2 billion.
Reportedly, the three students mentioned above have benefited from the sponsorship program of Khanh Hoa Children’s Fund since they were at senior high school. “When I was in grade 10, my maternal grandma was too old and weak to pay my school expense. I was asked by my school to apply for the sponsorship. I’m so grateful for the aid, VND5 million every year. I have finished high school thanks to sponsors,” says Nguyen Thi Bang Chau.
Tin has got a job but he still remembers the hard time he has experienced and thus wanted to quit his school soon. “My teachers visited me and persuaded me to get back to high school, saying that I would have a grant to cover my study. I was so happy. Now, I have finished high school but I’ll try to earn enough money to get higher education,” he promises to himself.
Since 2016, 10 orphan and vulnerable children in Khanh Hoa have been sponsored for a long term thanks to Vietnam Children’s Fund raising donation from benefactors to help children until they reach 16. The assistance is dedicated to encouraging children to overcome difficulties and continue their schooling.
2 children still receiving the long-term grants include Phan Doan Dai Nghia, a parental orphan, in Dien Khanh Town and Nguyen Thi Nu Chi, a double orphan, living with her maternal grandma and uncle in Cam Lam District. “We hope the assistance will reach more children in need thanks to Vietnam Children’s Fund and sponsors,” says Luu Thi Ngoc Lien, Acting Director of Khanh Hoa Children’s Fund.
Thanh Truc
Translated by N.T
