Since 1995, the Da Nang Care Centre for Street Children has given annually scholarships to poor pupils and students across the city.

Some of scholarship recipients at the Da Nang Care Centre for Street Children

The scholarship fund has been financed by 3 non-governmental organisations, namely the Love of Vietnam (the USA), the Le Don de l'Enfant (France), and the Yamaguchi University Education Fund (Japan), plus domestic generous donors.

Currently, a total of 400 pupils and students across the city are enjoying benefits from the programme.

Accordingly, each of the scholarship recipient receive between 200,000 and 600,000 VND every month, along with clothes, footwear, learning tools, and health insurance card.

In addition, the financial assistance is given to some recipents in very difficult circumstances to partly cover their medical treatment. They also receive bicycles, computers, and gifts in Tet, Mid-autumn and International Children’s Day festivals.

In particular, the scholarship receivers have the opportunity to take part in summer camps and many useful extracurricular activities annually. The intention is to help them enhance their teamwork skills, love each other, and to dispel their sadness about their difficult circumstances.

Over the past 23 years, the scholarship programme has facilitated thousands of poor pupils and students to pursue their academic dreams. As a result, hundreds of them are studying at universities and junior colleges, whilst the graduates have found stable jobs.

All scholarship recipients have considered the centre as their common home. After gaining success in their lives, many of them have given their whole-hearted support to the exisiting beneficiaries of the programme.

Mr Nguyen Van Thuong, 31, who is residing in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Nam Ward, has enjoyed benefits from the programme for 9 years. At present, he is a director of a travel agent in the city.

He recalled “When I was young, I had to look for cans and nylon bags in waste bins and then sold them for money to buy books. Since I was a Year 6 pupil, I have received the scholarships from the centre to help me pursue my academic dream.”