Connections from the heart create miracles

(NLDO)- More than 345 students overcoming difficulties in Ho Chi Minh City received the 1&1 Scholarship for the 2025-2026 school year with a total cost of more than 1.7 billion VND.

The last Sunday of October each year has become a special occasion for underprivileged but academically优秀 students in Ho Chi Minh City. This year, 345 students were further motivated when they received the Talent Encouragement Scholarship – the 1&1 Scholarship – awarded by the Ho Chi Minh City Education Promotion Fund.

Scholarship recipients speak

The Talent Promotion Scholarship – 1&1 was initiated and implemented by the Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Promotion of Learning since the 1999-2000 academic year. This is a deeply humane scholarship model, based on the principle of "one benefactor accompanying one student" throughout their university journey. Therefore, the program is also known as a "scholarship from the heart," conveying a spirit of sharing and belief in the students' perseverance.

Over its 25 years of formation and development, the program has become the most widespread fundraising campaign for scholarships in the city.

Organizations and individuals at home and abroad, through voluntary contributions, have accompanied the Ho Chi Minh City Education Promotion Fund to support studious students.

As a result, the program has secured sustainable resources, making a positive contribution to human resource training and the development of a learning society.

From the initial 5 students sponsored by 5 benefactors, the 1&1 scholarship program has now been awarded to 2,888 students with support from 684 individuals and 57 businesses and organizations.

The total financial support provided throughout the 4-6 years of university education amounted to over 29.6 billion VND. Notably, 2,346 students have graduated and become doctors, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, and administrators in various localities.

Many of them went on to pursue master's and doctoral degrees, and were honored as outstanding young citizens, outstanding young teachers, or outstanding young doctors.

In 2025 alone, the program continued to support 345 disadvantaged students with a total budget of 1.781 billion VND. Of these, 99 students received scholarships for the first time, including 10 students from impoverished households; many achieved high scores in university entrance exams, some even gaining direct admission; and some belonged to ethnic minority groups such as Hoa, Cham, and Khmer. Simultaneously, 246 students continued to receive scholarships in their second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth years.

Scholarships are not just about financial support; they also foster strong and lasting relationships. Many benefactors treat students like family, offering encouragement and emotional support; some families maintain their sponsorship for decades.

Students who have graduated from the scholarship program return to support their juniors, forming a meaningful tradition of "following in their footsteps." This is also a culture of compassion that contributes to the program's reputation.

The program also receives support from many large organizations such as JX Mekong Company, Lawrence S. Ting Community Support Fund, Singapore Business Association in Vietnam, Thien Long Group, and many other associations, groups, and philanthropists. This silent contribution has sustained the 1&1 model in districts, wards, and communes throughout Ho Chi Minh City.

For many years, the 1&1 Talent Promotion Scholarship model has been highly appreciated by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, and the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Learning , considering it a powerful initiative that contributes to training human resources for the city and the country.

The Ho Chi Minh City Association for the Promotion of Learning hopes that the program will continue to take deep root in the community, connecting more compassionate hearts to sow the seeds of knowledge. The 1&1 scholarship will also be a launching pad for academic dreams to soar high and far in the journey of building "Ho Chi Minh City into a learning city".

Source: https://nld.com.vn/nhung-ket-noi-tu-trai-tim-tao-nen-ky-tich-196251026165539592.htm