Our Sister School program connects local Vietnamese schools with foreign schools, international schools and companies to provide funding that dramatically improves the state of poor, rural Vietnamese schools. In Vietnam, funding for education is not solely a state enterprise. Instead, it is mostly paid for by the families of the students. Consequently, the level of education received can be extremely low in some districts where the families are themselves too mired in poverty to afford to be able to fund the school’s necessities.

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Since 2003 HSCV has connected dozens of schools. Recently, funding partner The Right Hands supported a primary school. Prior to being selected for our sister schools program, the school lacked basic equipment and teaching resources. Although the government had funded the building of basic infrastructure, there was no money left for textbooks, stationary or even a kitchen to provide the children with food at lunch time. As such the quality of the education received was greatly hindered by a lack of materials and proper nutrition.

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We were able to raise sufficient funds to install a new kitchen and a new library complete with bookshelves, cabinets and lots and lots of colorful books to pique children’s interest in reading. Since the building of these two important facilities, the school has seen improvements in the children’s overall attendance and academic achievement. The school is trying to further its achievements by implementing a mobile library so that children all through the village have better access to education and can further their own creative outlets.

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Through the Sister School Program donors are connected to schools and students through photos, letters and videos. In some cases, donors travel to the schools in Vietnam to present their donations and volunteer time. Funds raised for the school will be invested into the school’s priorities and biggest needs.

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