Nguyen Thi Thuy (18 years old) made it to the lecture halls of Da Lat University from a girl who used to scavenge for vegetables and collect bottles and plastic bags to earn money for her studies – Photo: MV
Nguyen Thi Thuy (18 years old, Ward 9, Da Lat) was born in Da Lat two years after her parents left Thanh Hoa to make a living there. Da Lat is beautiful, but life wasn't easy for the couple who started with nothing, no jobs, and no land. Twenty years later, Thuy's parents are still poor.
There's nothing shameful about studying and earning money at the same time.
Thúy was as small as a candy. Coming from a poor family, she was oblivious to the hardships of daily life. For twelve consecutive years, she was an excellent student, admired by her friends. Leaving her books behind, she followed her mother to collect discarded bottles and cans, and gathered wild vegetables from harvested gardens or abandoned land to sell at the market.
Ms. Bui Thi Lien (45 years old, Thuy's mother) said: "I heard people advising her to quit school and help with gardening to earn money quickly. She told me, 'Mom, helping you earn money is enough, why should I drop out of school?'"
During her school years, Nguyen Thi Thuy was associated with gathering vegetables and collecting scrap metal to sell to earn money for her studies – Photo: MV
Mr. Nguyen Quoc Van (44 years old, Thuy's father) recounted: "She went around collecting scrap bottles near the school. I felt so sorry for her. She innocently said there were many bottles near the school to collect. She said she would finish quickly so she could study and go to class. She didn't feel ashamed; she filled a whole bag, dragged it into a bush near the school, and left it there."
"My wife came to pick up our daughter and also brought back a bag of plastic bottles. The two of them took them to the market to sell before coming home. The next day, when she went to school, she brought a bag bigger than herself to school."
When Thuy heard her father's story, she laughed and said, "That's convenient, Dad. I'm studying and earning money at the same time, so what's there to be ashamed of?"
After saving enough money for tuition, Thuy stopped scavenging for vegetables or collecting bottles and cans. She switched to tutoring. This allowed her to earn money to pay for her two younger siblings' tuition while also allowing her to continue her studies.
Thuy single-handedly takes care of her mother, teaches her younger siblings, and always smiles.
Student Nguyen Thi Thuy (18 years old) at Da Lat University – Photo: KY PHONG
Ms. Truong Thi Lien (Ward 9, Da Lat), a resident of the neighborhood where Thuy's family lives, said: "Since Thuy's mother fell ill, she has taken on the role of mother to her younger siblings. Thuy single-handedly takes care of her mother, teaches her siblings, and sells vegetables at the market. She's so busy and caring. That little girl always smiles; she doesn't know what hardship is."
Ms. Lien is the person who lent Thuy's family a small plot of land to grow kohlrabi and amaranth to earn extra income for over a year.
Thúy sensed the deadlock in her parents' journey out of poverty. As a daughter, Thúy couldn't bring herself to say, "I will help you escape poverty." But in a letter to the "Supporting Students to School" program, Thúy expressed: "I want to work with my siblings to lift our family out of poverty, so we won't have to live in rented accommodation anymore, and there will be no more scenes of Dad scrambling to find money for Mom's medicine... Our family will finally have a home after so many years of Mom and Dad working far from home."
When Tuoi Tre newspaper announced that she had been awarded the "Supporting Students to School" scholarship for 2024, Thuy was so happy she almost cried. She said, "Since submitting my application, I've been waiting every day for news from the organizers. From now on, my siblings and I won't have to worry so much about tuition fees. The money we earn will go towards my mother's medication."
Student Nguyen Thi Thuy will strive to have the opportunity to support disadvantaged new students in the future – Photo: KY PHONG
Thúy said, "Consider it a loan from the 'Supporting Students to School' program to pay for my education. Later, when I start working, I will return the money so the program can help other young people in similar circumstances."
Nguyen Thi Thuy was admitted to the Law Faculty of Da Lat University with over 25 points. With this score, Thuy could leave the mountain town to study law at a specialized university in Ho Chi Minh City. Thuy confided: “I had this intention from the moment I submitted my application. But my mother can no longer work, and my father can't handle all the responsibilities. So I chose to study near home, to help my father take care of my younger siblings. When they grow up, I will study to become a lawyer in Ho Chi Minh City. I think there will be many opportunities there to gain experience and become a good lawyer.”
Dalat University provides support to student Nguyen Thi Thuy.
In an interview with Tuoi Tre newspaper, Da Lat University and TA. Development Company (South Korea) awarded a scholarship to new student Nguyen Thi Thuy under the "Overcoming Difficulties to Achieve Academic Excellence" program. On October 17th, Thuy received the scholarship of 500 USD (equivalent to 12.5 million VND).
Mr. Le Minh Chien, Rector of Da Lat University, said: “During her studies, if student Nguyen Thi Thuy achieves good academic and training results, the university will provide her with a scholarship. The university highly appreciates the student's efforts in her studies. With any difficulties in her life, the university will stand by her and help her overcome them.”
90 scholarships for 5 provinces in the Central Highlands region.
Today (October 27), Tuoi Tre newspaper, in coordination with the Youth Unions of Lam Dong, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum provinces, awarded scholarships under the "Supporting Students to School 2024" program to 90 disadvantaged new university students from the five provinces in the Central Highlands region.
The "Supporting Students to School" scholarship program and the "Nurturing Green Seeds of the Highlands" art exchange were broadcast live by Lam Dong Radio and Television Station, and rebroadcast on Dak Lak, Dak Nong , and Gia Lai Radio and Television Stations and Tuoi Tre Online (tuoitre.vn) from 9:30 AM.
The total cost of the program, exceeding 1.3 billion VND, was sponsored by the "Supporting Farmers" Fund (Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company), Viet Nhat Fertilizer Company, and Dai-ichi Life Vietnam.
Each scholarship is worth 15 million VND, including two special scholarships (50 million VND/four years).
In addition, the Vinacam Scholarship Fund (Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company) sponsored four laptops for new students facing extreme difficulties and lacking necessary learning equipment.
The Vietnam-America English Language Center is awarding 10 scholarships for IELTS preparation courses to new students in Lam Dong and Dak Lak provinces, while Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd. is donating backpacks to new students.
We invite you to join us in supporting students to attend school.
The Tuoi Tre newspaper's "Supporting Students to School 2024" program, launched on August 8th, is expected to award 1,100 scholarships with a total budget of over 20 billion VND (15 million VND for disadvantaged new students, 20 special scholarships worth 50 million VND each for the entire 4 years of study, plus learning equipment and gifts...).
With the motto "No young person should be prevented from attending university because of poverty," and "If new students face difficulties, Tuoi Tre is there for them" – this is a commitment to supporting new students throughout Tuoi Tre 's 20-year journey.
The program received contributions and support from the "Farmers' Companion" Fund - Binh Dien Fertilizer Joint Stock Company, the Vinacam Scholarship Fund - Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company, and the "Quang Tri Solidarity" Club, Phu Yen; the " Supporting Students to School " Club in Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam - Da Nang, Tien Giang - Ben Tre, and the Tien Giang - Ben Tre Business Club in Ho Chi Minh City, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam, Mr. Duong Thai Son and his friends, along with various businesses and numerous readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper…
In addition, Vinacam Group Joint Stock Company also sponsored 50 laptops for new students facing extreme difficulties and lacking learning equipment, worth approximately 600 million VND, and Nestlé Vietnam Co., Ltd. sponsored 1,500 backpacks worth approximately 250 million VND.
The Vietnam-America English Language Institute is sponsoring 50 free foreign language scholarships worth 625 million VND. Through the State Bank of Vietnam, Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank is sponsoring 1,500 books on financial education and financial management skills for new university students…
Businesses and readers who wish to support scholarships for new students can transfer their donations to the Tuoi Tre newspaper's account :
113000006100 VietinBank (Vietnam Industrial and Commercial Bank), Branch 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
Content: Support the " Helping Students Go to School " campaign for new university students, or specify the province/city you wish to support.
Readers and businesses abroad can transfer funds to Tuoi Tre newspaper:
USD account 007.137.0195.845, Foreign Trade Bank of Ho Chi Minh City;
EUR account 007.114.0373.054 Vietcombank Ho Chi Minh City
with Swift code BFTVVNVX007.
Content: Support the " Helping Students Go to School " campaign for new university students, or specify the province/city you wish to support.
In addition to providing scholarships, readers can also support new students with learning equipment, accommodation, job opportunities, and more.
Comment (0)