Carry love to the mountains

TOWARDS STUDENTS IN DIFFICULT AREAS

Ky Son border district is one of the poorest districts in the country with 179/191 villages in the whole district being in extremely difficult conditions. The lives of ethnic minorities such as Mong, Thai, Kho Mu are still full of difficulties; many villages have not yet built sustainable livelihoods for the people...

Understanding that, in recent times, TH Group has implemented many social security programs aimed at people, especially students in this remote land. In particular, at the event on March 3 in response to the program "March Border 2022" organized by the Central Youth Union, the Central Vietnam Youth Union in coordination with Nghe An province in Nam Can commune (Ky Son), the For Vietnamese Stature Fund under TH Group and Bac A Bank donated 20 "Toilet for Children" projects with a value of 60 million VND each. These projects will be implemented at schools in difficult border areas of Nghe An province, including Ky Son district.

Receiving this joy, Comrade Vi Hoe - Secretary of Ky Son District Party Committee said that in the 2021 - 2022 school year, Ky Son has 22,797 students from 71 kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools. In recent years, the infrastructure at schools has been improved a lot, however, compared to the general standard, there are still many shortcomings. Therefore, when TH Group supported the implementation of the program, the local Party Committee, government and Education sector were extremely grateful.

Representatives of the Central Youth Union, the For Vietnamese Stature Fund under TH Group and Bac A Bank presented 20 "Toilet for Children" projects at the "March Border Month 2022" program.

That joy did not only come to the mountainous districts of Nghe An because TH Group had previously donated 10 “Toilets for Children” to Lao Cai province and 20 to schools in Son La province. In the following years, it is expected that about 100 toilets will be built each year to achieve the goal of completing 1,000 toilets by 2031.

It is known that this is a project sponsored by TH Group, Bac A Commercial Joint Stock Bank and For Vietnamese Stature Fund with a total value of 60 billion VND through the "Wish for Children" Program. "Wish for Children" is a program launched by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam in April 2021, calling on the whole society to join hands to support students and teachers in difficult areas, remote areas, and ethnic minority areas. In the first phase, the program focuses on supporting 6 groups of "wishes" including: Supporting investment in building schools, public houses, and classrooms for schools in areas with special socio-economic difficulties; Supporting the construction or renovation of toilets; Supporting the installation of electricity and clean water systems; Supporting lunches for boarding students to improve school nutrition; Supporting equipment, learning and living supplies for students; Supporting equipment to improve physical fitness for students.

TH Group's realization of the dream of 1,000 school toilets in 10 years promises to bring significant improvements in school hygiene for hundreds of thousands of students in thousands of kindergartens and primary schools in border areas, islands, ethnic minorities, and remote areas across the country. Choosing standard, safe, friendly toilets with clean water as gifts for teachers and students in disadvantaged areas has the meaning of promoting a civilized lifestyle for children, improving school hygiene from the most urgent needs.

SPREADING PRACTICAL PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL HEALTH

In addition to building 1,000 toilets or building schools, TH Group also implements many programs aimed at difficult areas such as building schools, building bridges for children in mountainous areas, calling for support for school lunches for disadvantaged children. However, Ms. Thai Huong, founder of TH Group, said that these are only urgent tasks in the short term. The longer-term goal that TH Group pursues is to initiate and contribute practical actions to a larger program with more comprehensive meaning: the "School Health" program.

The "School Meals" model is widely deployed.

TH Group is currently working with the Ministry of Education and Training to implement the pilot model "School meals ensuring proper nutrition combined with increased physical activity for Vietnamese children, pupils and students" - a national-level study to build a policy foundation for school health. The program has the participation of experts from the National Institute of Nutrition, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and nutrition and physical fitness experts from universities.

The model implements early intervention solutions by building balanced and nutritionally appropriate meals, ensuring food safety and hygiene in parallel with physical activities to improve knowledge about proper nutrition, health, disease prevention and development of children's stature and intelligence. In particular, the model focuses on the participation and close coordination not only of teachers and nutrition staff but also of parents.

Up to now, the pilot model has been deployed in 10 provinces and cities in the 2020-2021 school year. Recognizing the positive results that the model brings, the Ministry of Education and Training continues to replicate the model to 20 provinces and cities in the 2021-2020 school year. School meals are approached in the direction of: using completely natural foods, based on the agricultural advantages of the region. Schools have used menus to have nutritionally balanced meals at reasonable prices for children, and pure fresh milk is scientifically included in the meal ration.

The pilot model of "School Meals" ensures proper nutrition and increases physical activity in schools and is implemented according to Decision No. 41 of the Prime Minister.

TH Group's support for School Health does not only stop at School Milk, School Nutrition combined with increased physical activity, but is also associated with many other notable programs such as: Sponsoring school sports activities such as the National Running Race for students S Race 2020; communicating about drowning prevention through the "Happy and Healthy Summer" campaign, accompanying the Government and Vietnam Television through the program "For Vietnamese Stature" broadcast in prime time right after the 7pm news program of VTV1 from 2016 to present, with the goal of raising awareness of school health for the whole population.

That is proof of the affirmation of Ms. Thai Huong - Founder of TH Group before Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the event "Wish for Children" that: "The School Health Program can be said to be the greatest "wish", not only for children in disadvantaged areas, but also for the young generation of Vietnam, aiming to help them become civilized and internationally integrated citizens in the future".