EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS
VESAF has established several scholarship programs to provide financial assistance to high-performing students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Foundation strongly believes that education is a critical component for breaking the cycle of poverty. We provide the means for gifted students to continue their schooling, by easing the immediate financial pressures and hardships on their families that might otherwise curtail their opportunity for a strong education. Without this much-needed financial support, many of these students would have to drop out of school to work to assist their families financially.
The VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Hearts for Hue, VESAF’s local partner, work with school administrators to identify students in need of financial assistance. These students all come from underprivileged families that are experiencing severe financial and/or medical hardship. Each scholarship awardee has demonstrated outstanding scholastic potential and a desire to excel.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT HUE UNIVERSITY (Ongoing Program since 2018)
Hue, Thua Thien Hue province
The VESAF scholarship program at Hue University was established in 2018. About 40 students participate in the program each year. Each scholarship awardee receives $400 USD per year. They will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support annually until graduation, as long as they continue to demonstrate a solid academic standing and good conduct.
Thus far, VESAF has provided scholarship support to a total of 223 students in various Schools of the University, including Agriculture and Forestry, Economics, Medicine and Pharmacy, Science and Technology, and Tourism.
12/22/2023: Representing VESAF in Vietnam, Mr. Trương Trọng Khánh, Hearts For Hue, in cooperation with Hue University delivered the VESAF scholarships to 42 needy students.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT ĐA NANG UNIVERSITY (Ongoing Program since 2021)
Da Nang
VESAF has established a scholarship program at Da Nang University, starting with the academic year 2021-2022.
The scholarship recipients, all of whom are from families experiencing severe financial and/or medical hardship, are awarded the scholarships for their strong academic performance. They will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support until graduation if they continue to demonstrate a good academic standing and good conduct in the following school years.
In the current academic year, VESAF has provided scholarship support to 36 students in various Schools, including Economics, Information and Communication Technology, Medicine and Pharmacy, and Science and Technology.
11/06/2023: The VESAF Representative in Vietnam, Hearts for Hue, and Da Nang University officials delivered the VESAF scholarships to these 36 students at the University.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT HÀ TRUNG HIGH SCHOOL (Ongoing Program since 2020)
Vinh Hà commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province
Starting with the 2020-2021 academic year, VESAF awards scholarships to 30 students each year at Ha Trung High School in Vinh Ha commune, Thua Thien Hue. Each student received $125 USD, which is sufficient to cover tuition, books, and school supplies for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout high school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a strong academic standing and good conduct.
10/06/2023: The VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Hearts for Hue, distributed the VESAF scholarship to the 30 deserving students, in collaboration with Hà Trung High School.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT NAM ĐÔNG HIGH SCHOOL
Khe Tre township, Nam Dong district, Thừa Thiên Huế province
Starting with the 2023-2024 academic year, VESAF provides scholarships to good students in need of financial help at Nam Dong High School in Nam Dong district, Thua Thien Hue province. Nam Dong district, a mountainous community, is about 50 km south-west of Hue City, with a population of 27,480 people, 43% of them being of ethnic minorities. Nam Dong High School has 730 students on two campuses.
On 01/24/2024, the VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Hearts for Hue distributed the VESAF scholarship to 30 needy students at the School. Each scholarship awardee received $125 USD, which is sufficient to cover tuition and school supplies for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout high school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a good academic standing and good conduct.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT VINH PHÚ MIDDLE SCHOOL (Ongoing Program since 2020)
Phú Gia commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province
Starting with the 2020-2021 academic year, VESAF awards scholarships to 40 underprivileged students annually at Vinh Phu Middle School in Phu Gia commune, Thua Thien Hue. Each scholarship recipient was given $100 USD, which is sufficient to cover tuition, books, and school supplies for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout middle school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a strong academic performance and good conduct in the following school years.
10/06/2023: In collaboration with Vinh Phu Middle School, the VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Hearts for Hue, delivered the VESAF scholarship to the chosen students at Vinh Phu.
VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT XUÂN LỘC PRIMARY & MIDDLE SCHOOL (Ongoing Program since 2019)
Xuân Lộc commune, Phú Lộc district, Thừa Thiên Huế province
Starting with the 2019-2020 academic year, VESAF provides scholarships to good students in need of financial help at Xuan Loc Primary and Middle School in Xuan Loc commune, Thua Thien Hue. Xuan Loc is a poverty-stricken mountainous community, with a population of 2,820 people, 85% of them being of Van Kieu and Ka Tu ethnics. Most of the local people earn their living by farming, and many do not have the ability to send their children to school.
10/06/2023: The VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Hearts for Hue distributed the VESAF scholarship to 40 needy students at the middle-school level. Each scholarship awardee received $100 USD, which is sufficient to cover tuition and school supplies for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout middle school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a good academic standing and good conduct.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS
TWO NEW CLASSROOMS AT HÒA AN KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL
(VESAF School Improvement 02)
Hoa An commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Brick and concrete construction over an area of 13 m x 20 m, fulfilling Hoa An Kindergarten School’s requirements and meeting national standards
Construction cost: 999,000,000 VNĐ (42,345 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (35%) and Hau Giang Provincial Budget (65%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Hau Giang (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Hậu Giang)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
04/08/2023: Groundbreaking
06/04/2023: Inauguration
MICROFINANCE
Economists and other social scientists know how hard the climb out of poverty is for poor rural people in developing countries. The many obstacles include the need to support a family while starting or expanding a business, acquiring needed business knowledge, access to markets for one's goods and/or services, the support of other community members, and above all, finding the financial capital to invest in the needed tools and supplies. Microfinance programs, which supply needy entrepreneurs with small loans ($400-900) after organizing them into local support groups, overcome the last two of these obstacles. The loans are repaid to the lending organization, which then recycles the funds into new loans to other similar individuals and communities. Such microfinance programs multiply the benefits of the invested funds to the benefit of the borrowers and their neighbors.
Since 2017, in an extensive and expanding microfinance program, VESAF has partnered with Hearts For Hue (H4H), a Vietnamese nongovernmental organization based in Hue, to grant microloans to needy families in the region. H4H, in collaboration with local People’s Committees, provides basic training to borrowers in financial literacy, savings techniques, and other necessary topics for financial management. Since the program’s inception, VESAF has provided microloans to 559 families in three communes of Thua Thien Hue province. By the end of June 2023, 375 families remain active ịn the program and 184 terminated after complete loan repayment. And as more loans are repaid and additional families participate, we can expect this to lead to a continued expansion of the program and its benefits. The funds have been used in a variety of productive ways: to expand supplies offered in rural retail stores and service establishments such as beauty parlors, sewing businesses, and repair shops, and to buy and plant pomelo trees and other agricultural products … to name a few.
Effective June 1, 2022, VESAF’s loan amounts are to be increased from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase, and to remain at 15,000,000 VNĐ in the second and third phases.
HƯƠNG VÂN PROJECT (Ongoing Project since January 2018)
Huong Van commune, Huong Tra district, Thua Thien Hue province
Hương Vân is one of the poorest communities in Thua Thien Hue province. Many of its people are skilled and motivated to work, but it is difficult for them to start their own businesses without start-up funds. H4H provides VESAF loans to individuals in need, enabling them to establish businesses and achieving financial independence.
As of June 2023, 355 households are actively participating in the Hương Vân project: 111 families in Phase 1, 70 in Phase 2, and 174 in Phase 3.
08/29/2023: Using available loan repayment funds, H4H provided new VESAF loans to 12 participants (15,000,000 VND each), who would like to continue into the second phase. Two participants in this initial group of 14 could not move further into this new phase of the program.
06/272023: Using available loan repayment funds, H4H disbursed new VESAF loans to 11 participants (15,000,000 VNĐ each), who would like to continue into the second phase.
04/28/2023: Using available loan repayment funds, H4H disbursed new VESAF loans (15,000,000 VNĐ each) to 20 participants who would like to continue into the second phase and 9 participants into the third phase.
PHÚ GIA PROJECT (Ongoing Project since July 2020)
Phu Gia commune, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien Hue province
The Phú Gia project was phased out on 10/29/2023. A new project is being developed for Quảng Phú commune, Quảng Điền district, Thừa Thiên Huế province, in 2024.
SOCIAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Since 2014, VESAF has been providing funds for community-development projects in rural Vietnam. Such projects have included the construction of bridges and roads to improve means of transportation, establishing clean water sources or water lines to deliver clean water to underserved communities, and building homes for families in need.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT:
CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL BRIDGES
PHÚ HIỆP BRIDGE
(VESAF Bridge 32)
Phu Hiep hamlet, Thanh Tung commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Steel-reinforced concrete; length: 24 m, width: 2.3 m
Construction cost: 144,000,000 VNĐ (6,091 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (70%) and Ca Mau Province Budget (30%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
02/27/2023: Groundbreaking
06/01/2023: Inauguration
TÂN DUYỆT BRIDGE
(VESAF Bridge 33)
Tan Duyet commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Steel-reinforced concrete; length: 35 m, width: 2.5 m
Construction cost: 350,000,000 VNĐ (15,054 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (70%) and Ca Mau Province Budget (30%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
04/05/2023: Groundbreaking
10/07/2023: Inauguration
AN KHƯƠNG BRIDGE
(VESAF Bridge 34)
Ta An Khuong commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Steel-reinforced concrete; length: 35 m, width: 2.3 m
Construction cost: 210,000,000 VNĐ (9,032 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (70%) and Ca Mau Province Budget (30%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
02/28/2023: Groundbreaking
10/07/2023: Inauguration
CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL ROADS
MỸ PHÚ ROAD
(VESAF Road 14)
Ta An Khuong commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 500 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 175,000,000 VNĐ (7,403 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Ca Mau Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
02/27/2023: Groundbreaking
06/01/2023: Inauguration
VIỆT BÌNH ROAD
(VESAF Road 15)
Ta An Khuong commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 1,500 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 525,000,000 VNĐ (22,826 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Ca Mau Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
12/28/2022: Groundbreaking
03/30/2023: Inauguration
TÂN DUYỆT ROAD
(VESAF Road 16)
Tan Duyet commune, Dam Doi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 1,100 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 385,000,000 VNĐ (16,559 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Ca Mau Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
02/27/2023: Groundbreaking
06/01/2023: Inauguration
KHÁNH HƯNG ROAD
(VESAF Road 17)
Khanh Hung commune, Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 1,500 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 525,000,000 VNĐ (22,350 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Ca Mau Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
04/03/2023: Groundbreaking
06/03/2023: Inauguration
VIỆT THẮNG ROAD
(VESAF Road 18)
Viet Thang commune, Phu Tan district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 650 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 227,000,000 VNĐ (9,664 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Ca Mau Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Ca Mau (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Cà Mau)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
02/27/2023: Groundbreaking
10/07/2023: Inauguration
VĨNH TƯỜNG ROAD
(VESAF Road 19)
Vinh Tuong ward, Long My township, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 1,000 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 495,000,000 VNĐ (21,145 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (50%) and Hau Giang Provincial Budget (50%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Hau Giang (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Hậu Giang)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
05/23/2023: Groundbreaking
06/06/2023: Inauguration
NINH LỢI ROAD
(VESAF Road 20)
Ninh Loi hamlet, Ninh Quoi A commune, Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province
Specifications: Concrete; length: 1,220 m, width: 1.5 m, thickness: 0.08 m
Construction cost: 287,140,000 VNĐ (12,146 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (70%) and Bac Lieu Provincial Budget (30%)
Coordination: Union of Friendship Organizations in Bac Lieu (Liên Hiệp các Tổ Chức Hữu Nghị tỉnh Bạc Liêu)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
03/04/2023: Groundbreaking
05/06/2023: Inauguration
CLEAN WATER PROJECTS
CLEAN WATER LINE IN HÒA AN COMMUNE
(VESAF Clean Water Project 07)
Hoa An commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Underground system; PVC D114x3.5mm (3,772 m), PVC D90x3.0mm (1,532 m), and PVC D27x1.9mm (1,968 m) (Công Ty TNHH MTV Thương Mại THANH DUNG, TP. HCM)
Financial support: VESAF [cost of materials: 362,306,000 VNĐ (15,417 USD)] and Hau Giang Water Supply & Rural Environmental Sanitation Company, HGWSRESC [Công Ty CP Cấp Nước và Vệ Sinh Môi Trường Nông Thôn Hậu Giang] (labor cost for pipe and water-meter installation)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) and HGWSRESC
The new water line, financed by VESAF and HGWSRESC, brings clean water from a HGWSRESC distribution center over a total distance of 7,268 m across Hoa An commune, delivering fresh water to all households in this underserved community.
03/03/2023: Groundbreaking
04/07/2023: Inauguration
CLEAN WATER LINE IN VĨNH TRUNG COMMUNE
(VESAF Clean Water Project 08)
Vinh Trung commune, Vi Thuy district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Underground system; PVC D90x3.0x4m ĐN (1,780 m) and PVC D27x1.9x4m ĐN (384 m) (Công Ty TNHH MTV Thương Mại THANH DUNG, TP. HCM)
Total cost of materials: 91,985,000 VNĐ (3,950 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (68%), local community (32%), and Hau Giang Water Supply & Rural Environmental Sanitation Company, HGWSRESC [Công Ty CP Cấp Nước và Vệ Sinh Môi Trường Nông Thôn Hậu Giang] (labor cost for pipe and water-meter installation)
Realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta) and HGWSRESC
The new water line, financed by VESAF and HGWSRESC, brings clean water from a HGWSRESC distribution center over a total distance of 1,780 m across Vinh Trung commune, delivering fresh water to all households in this underserved community.
05/19/2023: Groundbreaking
05/30/2023: Inauguration
BUILDING HOMES (NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG) FOR FAMILIES IN NEED
NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG VESAF 32 - 37
Tran Van Thoi district, Ca Mau province
Specifications: Brick structure, tiled floor, length = 9 m, width = 4 m, height = ~4 m
Construction cost: 63.000,000 VNĐ (2,740 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (68%), and local and family contributions (32%)
Coordination and realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
No. 32:
Recipients: Ms. Phạm Thị Lài
Ấp Rạch Lùm A, xã Khánh Hưng, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
02/28/2023: Groundbreaking
03/31/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 33:
Recipients: Ms. Trần Thị Nơi
Ấp Kinh Hằng C, xã Khánh Hưng, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
04/03/2023: Groundbreaking
05/01/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 34:
Recipients: Mr. Ranh Ri
Ấp Kinh Đứng B, xã Khánh Hưng, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
04/03/2023: Groundbreaking
06/03/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 35:
Recipients: Mr. Ngô Văn Thu
Ấp Kinh Đứng B, xã Khánh Hưng, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
04/03/2023: Groundbreaking
06/03/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 36:
Recipients: Ms. Mai Thị Yến
xã Khánh Bình Tây Bắc, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
04/30/2023: Groundbreaking
06/03/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 37:
Recipients: Ms. Đặng Thị Thúy
xã Khánh Bình Tây Bắc, huyện Trần Văn Thời, tỉnh Cà Mau
04/30/2023: Groundbreaking
06/03/2023: Handover ceremony
NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG VESAF 38 - 40
Hoa An commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Brick structure, tiled floor, length = 9 m, width = 4 m, height = ~4 m
Construction cost: 75.000,000 VNĐ (3,176 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (57%), and local and family contributions (43%)
Coordination and realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
No. 38:
Recipients: Ms. Nguyễn Thị Nương
ấp 8, xã Hòa An, huyện Phụng HIệp, tỉnh Hậu Giang
03/18/2023: Groundbreaking
04/30/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 39:
Recipients: Mr. Trần Văn Lợi
ấp Bàu môn, xã Hòa An, huyện Phụng HIệp, tỉnh Hậu Giang
03/22/2023: Groundbreaking
05/13/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 40:
Recipients: Mr. Nguyễn Hoài Thanh
ấp Bàu môn, xã Hòa An, huyện Phụng HIệp, tỉnh Hậu Giang
03/22/2023: Groundbreaking
05/13/2023: Handover ceremony
NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG VESAF 41 - 42
My Duc Dong commune, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province
NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG VESAF 43 - 44
Hoa My commune, Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Brick structure, tiled floor, length = 9 m, width = 4 m, height = ~4 m
Construction cost: 75.000,000 VNĐ (3,176 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (67%), and local and family contributions (33%)
Coordination and realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
No. 43:
Recipients: Mr. Nguyễn Hoàng Ân
Ấp 6, xã Hòa Mỹ, huyện Phụng Hiệp, tỉnh Hậu Giang
02/21/2023: Groundbreaking
04/15/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 44:
Recipients: Mr. Nguyễn Thị Phượng
Ấp Thạnh Mỹ C, xã Hòa Mỹ, huyện Phụng Hiệp, tỉnh Hậu Giang
02/21/2023: Groundbreaking
04/16/2023: Handover ceremony
NHÀ TÌNH THƯƠNG VESAF 45 - 47
Long My district, Hau Giang province
Specifications: Brick structure, tiled floor, length = 9 m, width = 4 m, height = ~4 m
Construction cost: 75.000,000 VNĐ (3,204 USD)
Financial support: VESAF (57%), and local and family contributions (43%)
Coordination and realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)
No. 45:
Recipients: Ms. Châu Hồng Linh
khu vực Thạnh Hiếu, phường BÌnh Thạnh, TX. Long Mỹ, tỉnh Hậu Giang
02/22/2023: Groundbreaking
05/15/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 46:
Recipients: Mr. Danh Phê
ấp 10, xã Lương Nghĩa, huyện Long Mỹ, tỉnh Hậu Giang
02/22/2023: Groundbreaking
05/15/2023: Handover ceremony
No. 47:
Recipients: Mr. Võ Văn Chính
khu vực An Hoà, phường BÌnh Thạnh, TX. Long Mỹ, tỉnh Hậu Giang)
03/04/2023: Groundbreaking
05/15/2023: Handover ceremony
SUPPORT FOR ORPHANAGES
ORPHANAGE “MÁI ẤM CHÙA QUANG CHÂU”
Hoa Chau commune, Hoa Vang district, Da Nang
03/09/2023: VESAF continued to provide support for MÁI ẤM CHÙA QUANG CHÂU (Orphanage at Quang Châu Pagoda). At present, this Center is home to about 90 orphans, ranging in age from toddlers to adolescents; most of them are attending neighboring schools. Our annual funding (7,000 USD/year) helps to subsidize the cost for their education, clothing, and school supplies.
