Ia Grai "supports" poor students who love to study

(GLO) - Over the past six years, through the collaborative implementation of the "Adopted Child" Project, the Ia Grai District Youth Union and the Volunteer Association for Community Development ( Ho Chi Minh City) have supported 15 disadvantaged students in attending school. The project spreads positive values and connects compassionate hearts for the community.

Following Mr. Nong Hong Phong, Secretary of the Ia Grai District Youth Union, we visited the family of Dang My Duyen (11th grade, class 11A4, Huynh Thuc Khang High School) in Hamlet 1, Ia Kha town. Talking with Duyen, we felt even more sympathy for her. After the divorce, her mother took Duyen and her two sisters to live with their grandmother, who is over 70 years old, and then went to work as a factory worker in Ho Chi Minh City, only returning home once a year. Last year, Duyen's older sister passed the entrance exam to the University of Foreign Languages ( Da Nang University) but, due to lack of funds for tuition, she applied for a job at a textile company in Ho Chi Minh City.

So, Duyen has to shoulder all the household chores, take care of her grandmother and younger brother who is in 7th grade. Duyen grows organic vegetables in her garden to sell and earn extra money to cover living expenses. Despite the difficulties, she is very studious and always achieves high grades. In the past semester, her average grade was 8.3. She also recently won third prize in Geography at the provincial-level high school student excellence competition.

Ia Grai District Youth Union Secretary Nong Hong Phong presents a scholarship to Dang My Duyen. Photo: Minh Nhat.

In our conversation, Duyen expressed her gratitude for receiving 200,000 VND each month from the "Adopted Child" Project for the past six years of schooling. At the beginning of each school year, Duyen also receives support with uniforms, textbooks, and school supplies. Every summer, she and her friends participate in summer camps to hone their life skills through team-building activities, charity work, and visits to businesses and traditional craft villages.

"I am very fortunate to receive a scholarship from the project. Many activities have helped us gain valuable life skills and motivated us to excel in our studies," Duyen shared.

Meanwhile, Ms. Tran Thi Minh, Duyen's grandmother, emotionally expressed: "Our family is classified as a poor household, so the children are exempt from tuition fees, and various organizations provide monthly support to help Duyen buy more books and school supplies. This kind gesture is not only meaningful in terms of material support but also encourages Duyen to strive for excellence in her studies."

For the past six years, Doan Thi Nhi Thao (Class 12A1, A Sanh High School) has also received a scholarship from the "Adopted Child" Project. Her family is struggling financially, with little land for farming, so Thao's parents have to work as laborers to earn enough money to support their four children's education. Understanding her parents' difficulties, Thao always strives in her studies to have a brighter future. In the first semester, Thao achieved an average grade of 9.0 and won an honorable mention in Physics at the provincial-level high school student excellence competition. Currently, Thao is focusing on preparing for the 2023 high school graduation exam to achieve a high score and fulfill her dream of being admitted to the Auditing major (Academy of Finance).

“My parents have a large family and work very hard. Thanks to the support of the District Youth Union and the Volunteer Association working together for the community over the past 6 years, I have achieved the results I have today. I feel it is my responsibility to study hard to be worthy of the trust of the older students and volunteers,” Thao shared.

The "Adopted Child" project, founded in 2010 by the Volunteer Association for Community Development, aims to help underprivileged but academically successful students across the country. The project has supported 20 students in Ia Grai district since the 2017-2018 school year and is committed to supporting them from the time they begin school until they complete high school. The students supported by the project have achieved good or excellent academic results; many have achieved high scores in district and provincial-level gifted student competitions. Currently, the project supports 15 students; 5 students have dropped out for various reasons and are no longer included. It is expected that in the 2023-2024 school year, the project will continue to support 40 disadvantaged 6th-grade students in Ia Grai district.

Student Doan Thi Nhi Thao (Class 12A1, A Sanh High School) is studying to achieve high results in the 2023 high school graduation exam. Photo: Minh Nhat

Mr. Nguyen Tien Danh, Chairman of the Volunteer Association for Community Development and founder of the "Adopted Child" Project, said: "The Association's typical activities are geared towards sustainable development, such as building houses, bridges, and developing education . If we only support the children for a short period, the effectiveness will not be high. The project is implemented to provide long-term support, helping the children realize their dreams. The name "Adopted Child" aims to create a sustainable, long-term relationship between the giver and the receiver, like siblings in a family. From 2010 to the present, the project has supported 643 students nationwide."

Mr. Nong Hong Phong, Secretary of the Ia Grai District Youth Union: “The ‘Adopted Child’ project supports 6th and 7th grade students and commits to supporting them until they graduate from high school. Before each support period, the Project Management Board works with the District Youth Union on the criteria for selecting beneficiaries. In addition to funding from the Volunteer Association for the Community, the District Youth Union also directs grassroots Youth Union organizations to regularly assist 32 disadvantaged students. Hopefully, with this support, the path to knowledge will be less difficult for these children.”

MINH NHAT

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