Here is a first hand account of the condition of students as witnessed during the field trip in 2011 by our team member Phong Le. “Students belonging to the indigenous communities in central Vietnam are plagued by an endless cycle of poverty and hunger. Families subsist on farming and foraging, tend to have more than 5 kids and parents are unable to spend enough to keep the children in school continuously through the school years. Many families also face harder circumstances like failed crops, or a single parent raising 6 – 7 kids or having to prioritize food over school fees. For an entire village of a few hundred people in each indigenous community, hardly one or two students go on to complete post secondary education.” At One More Step, we strongly believe that education has the power to lift children from the vicious cycle of hunger and poverty, and shape them into empowered leaders of the future who can serve their entire communities. Scholarships given to selected students who have the willingness to study but are faced with challenging circumstances will greatly improve the chances of them completing school and benefitting their own communities in the future.
Selection Criteria:
The students are handpicked from a pool of applicants, and one of our team members in Vietnam visits their family home to ascertain the facts and circumstances in the application. Due to the small budget we operate in, we are currently only helping post-secondary students who are aspiring to become teachers, nurses or doctors. Our research also shows a high likelihood of these indigenous students returning to their native communities to serve.
2015 Scholarship Drive:
We are working to again raise $2500 towards the drive for next year’s Scholarship Fund. We are very hopeful that the last year’s recipients will continue to show great progress and qualify for the scholarship again in 2016. We will also be able to support a few new scholarship recipients in the coming year, based on how much we are able to fundraise.
2014 Scholarship Drive:
We raised $2500 towards the scholarship drive in 2014, monies which have been distributed for educational needs over 2015. We have seen great success with the program, and have positive updates to share from the students on their progress and their appreciation for the funds.
2013 Scholarship Drive:
The first batch of 13 scholarship recipients was vetted over the summer and scholarships ranging from 120$ – 150$ CAD have been awarded to each of these students. We will be profiling each of these recipient’s stories and progress on the website. Only those students who continue studies and show progress will receive further scholarships for the next year.
Recap:
Our long term patrons would remember the education funds we raised in 2010. Here is a snapshot of the successful fundraising page from 2010. As always, we are very grateful for your continued support. This education fund was initiated in 2009 in response to rebuilding the Hue and Binh Dien Schools for poor children in Central Vietnam, which were flattened by typhoon Ketsana in 2009. A part of the funds was used to rebuild the two schools, and you can read more about this past initiative here.
Here are the scholarship recipients of the 2017-2018 school year
K Lực
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has three other children, two are still in school.
Traditional Medicine
Lam Dong
New
H vinh H Rách
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has four other children, they are still in school.
Nursing
Phu Yen
New
K pá h Quyên
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has four other children, all are still in school.
Nursing
Phu Yen
New
K pá thị Hiền
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two other children.
Nursing
Phu Yen
New
K pá thị Hương
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two other children.
Nursing
Phu Yen
New
Ma Cẩm
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from fishing. The family has three other children.
Nursing
Phu Yen
New
Đặng t Mỹ Xương
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. Father passed away. The family has five other children, one is still in school.
Primary School Education
Ninh Thuan
New
Rơ Chăm H’Plih
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two other children, one is still in school.
Primary School Education
Gia Lai
2
Hờ thị Úp
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has three other children, one is still in school.
Primary School Education
Phu Yen
2
Đàng Ánh Ngân
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two other children, both are still in school.
Math
Ninh Thuan
New
Ya Thị Na
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The student has seven other siblings, three of them still in school.
Nursing
Ninh Thuan
New
Mang Thị Lài
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The student has three other siblings.
Medical Doctor
Phu Yen
2
Đinh Thị Nhân
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has four other children.
Nursing
Quang Ngai
New
Đinh Hinh
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. No other siblings.
Medical Assistant
Quang Ngai
New
Hồ Văn Đội
Student comes from a low-income family. The student is an orphan. The student has four other siblings.
Medical Assistant
Quang Ngai
New
Hồ Minh Dương
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has one child.
Nursing
Quang Ngai
New
Hồ Thị Chung
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two children, both are still in school.
Pharmacy
Quang Ngai
2
Nay H Vinh
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two children, both are still in school.
Nursing
Quang Nam
2
Nguyễn Tấn Tài
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has five children.
Nursing
Quang Nam
2
A Lăng Níu
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has four children, one is still in school.
Physics
Quang Nam
New
Hồ Thị Nhỏ
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has seven children, three children are still in school.
Social Work
Quang Nam
New
Hoàng Văn Mạnh
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The father has passed away. The family has two children.
Pharmacy
Gia Lai
2
A Ting Thị Cấy
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has five children, three are in school.
Pre School Education
Quang Nam
2
Hồ Thị Hoài
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has five children.
Primary School Education
Quang Nam
New
Hồ Thị Thanh Biếc
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has two children.
Nursing
Quang Nam
2
Bnướch Thị Apum
Student comes from a low-income family. The family’s main source of income is from farming. The family has six other children.
English
Quang Nam
New
Y Ngủi
This student’s father is a farmer. Mother has been diagnosed with uterine cancer. Family is in dire condition, but the student has the resolve to continue studying.
Teacher (Kindergarten)
Kontum
2013-2014, 2014-2015
Alăng Ton
Parents are farmer. Born in 1993, has 2 siblings in total. Poor households. Currently studying to become a kindergarten teacher. GPA – Good.
Teacher (Kindergarten)
Quảng Nam
2013-2014, 2014-2015
Alăng thị Ngơi
Parents are farmer. 2 siblings, both are attending school. Poor households. Currently studying physics.
GPA – Good.
Physics
Quảng Nam
2013-2014, 2014-2015
La thị Yến
Parents are farmers. Poor households. Currently studying physics.
GPA – Good.
Physics
Quảng Nam
2013-2014, 2014-2015
Phạm vănTriệu
Parents are farmer. Family is in difficult situations.
Student #: 1201151
Nursing
Quãng Ngãi
2013-2014
Phạm thị Thứ
Parents are farmer. Family is currently in a very difficult situation.
Due to traffic accident, Thu is injured and Thu’s sister just passed away. Therefore, Thu is taking a break from school for the school year 2012-2013.
Nursing
Quãng Ngãi
2013-2014
Đinh thị Tâm
Parents are farmer. Family is currently in a very difficult situation. Mother is ill, need caring. Tam is taking a break from school to take care of his/her mother.
Currently studying nursing.
Nursing
Quãng Ngãi
2013-2014
Phạm thị In
Parents are elder farmer, sick, family is currently in a difficult situation. Has 6 siblings. Currently studying nursing.
GPA – Good
Nursing
Quãng Ngãi
2013-2014
Zơ Răm Thủy
Father is a commune official and mother is a farmer. Poor households. Currently studying to become a kindergarten teacher.
GPA – Good.
Teacher (Kindergarten)
Quảng Nam
2013-2014
Nguyễn thị Hằng
Female, born in 1991, has 5 siblings. Parents are farmer, 2 siblings are currently attending school. Poor households. Currently studying to become a kindergarten teacher.
