The way to go home of a hundred poor students
in Thu Duc District of Ho Chi Minh City has seemed to become shorter with less
sweat on their faces when they were donated each a new bicycle and a helmet to
keep them going to school today morning.
The
gifts, each worth VND1.7 million (US$82), come from the international NGO Loreto
Vietnam Australia Program (LVAP) and other individual sponsors, hoping to
extend their common wish to help the students pursue their school programs.
“In
Vietnam, a bicycle is more than a toy. It is a vital mode of transportation to
school, the marketplace, or to visit relatives… A bicycle in Vietnam enables
families to determine their own schedules,” said Trish Franklin, CEO of LVAP.
“And a
student who has a quick, reliable way to school is less likely to drop out of
school at an early age to assist with family chores or to care for siblings.
This is especially true if the child lives far away from the school. Time spent
traveling to and from school can leave a child with little time for studying or
helping out at home.”
The
orphan Tran Quoc Nghia, 12, a student in Binh Chieu Ward in Thu Duc, said, “For
me, the bike will help me go further on streets to sell more lottery tickets
every day.
“But I
may not ride it to school as my school is just 10 minute walk from home and I
am afraid of losing it. I want to keep the bike stay with me longer and
longer.”
Nghia
is now living with his grandmother and they earn their living by selling
lottery tickets.
Ms. Le
Thi Que Anh, officer in charge of gender equality and children’s affairs of
Linh Xuan Ward People’s Committee, admitted that Nghia is one of many cases
that desperately needs support from agencies and individuals, especially when
his grandmother is now in her 70s.
Since
2005, LVAP has given ongoing support to poor families by providing over 1,000 new
bicycles and helmets worth approximately VND1.7 billion. In 2011 alone, it
funded VND4.5 billion for projects to construct learning rooms, kindergartens
and schools in Vietnam.
LVAP is
dedicated to the reduction of poverty through beneficial, qualitative and
responsive educational opportunities for underprivileged and disabled students.
MINH
PHAT
TUOI
TRE
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