My dream school

(Baonghean) - Children are the future of the country; however, in many poor and remote provinces across Vietnam, there are still children who live in deprivation in every aspect of life, and education remains a distant dream due to countless difficulties, not only from their daily lives but also from the conditions of their education: dilapidated schools, inadequate learning facilities, etc.

Simple dreams

Vinh Thanh Primary School, campus 2 (Nghe An province), was built in 1960 and has since deteriorated severely due to the heavy impact of prolonged floods during the rainy season. Students here constantly worry about whether they will still be able to attend school the next day when another storm comes, and about their future amidst the relentless floods. Despite countless difficulties and shortages, the students have never let down their teachers, parents, and the local government. On the contrary, Vinh Thanh students always strive to study hard and achieve high academic results, as well as participate in extracurricular activities. Sometimes, they still dream of a spacious school like the ones they see on television; they just want a school that doesn't leak, with sturdy walls and desks so they can write comfortably – that would be enough to make them happy.

According to plans, Vinh Thanh Primary School will be inaugurated at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.

Nurturing the future generation.

Sympathizing with the difficulties faced by people in Central Vietnam, and wishing to contribute to the development of primary education, ACE Life Insurance Company, through its Central Vietnam Disaster Relief Fund, has jointly sponsored 2.2 billion VND to build and upgrade Vinh Thanh Primary School, Branch 2, in Vinh Thanh Commune, Yen Thanh District, Nghe An Province, providing students with a better learning environment on their path to acquiring knowledge. This is the fifth school that ACE Life's "Together We Overcome Challenges" Fund has sponsored in the past five years.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Son – Deputy General Director of ACE Life, delivered a speech at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Being present at the groundbreaking ceremony revealed the immense happiness of the teachers and students, and the radiant joy on the faces of the local people. This year, their dream has become a reality, with the addition of a completely new classroom block built to national standards, featuring a two-story design with eight spacious classrooms, ensuring adequate learning facilities for the local students. Furthermore, this will serve as a safe shelter from storms for approximately 300 local residents during the rainy season. Similar to the four previous projects sponsored by ACE Life, the construction of Vinh Thanh Primary School's second campus will also be undertaken by the Central Vietnam Disaster Prevention and Relief Fund, designed to ensure the school's structural integrity in flood-prone areas, minimizing damage during the rainy season.

Construction began in early January 2014, and the project is expected to be inaugurated at the start of the 2014-2015 school year. Mr. Lam Hai Tuan, Chairman and CEO of ACE Life Vietnam, stated: “Caring for the future of the younger generation is a shared responsibility of the entire society. I believe that supporting educational activities is the most practical way to contribute to the community, creating conditions to help students complete their education and realize their dreams in life. Along with the opening of ACE Life's branch office in Vinh City at the end of 2013, the construction of Vinh Thanh Primary School, Branch 2, further strengthens our commitment to supporting and contributing to the local communities where the company operates.”

Teacher Tran Thi Nga, in charge of class 5B, shared, "This kind of care is a solid foundation that will ignite in the children faith in life and hope for a bright future."

Along with the commencement of the construction and upgrading of Vinh Thanh School's second campus, ACE Life has sponsored the construction and upgrading of four other schools, including Xuan Lam Primary School (Phu Yen), Trieu Do No. 1 Primary School (Quang Tri), Cat Chanh Primary School (Binh Dinh), and Quang Thanh No. 2 Primary School (Thua Thien Hue). Besides sponsoring school construction in disadvantaged areas, ACE Life's "Together We Overcome Challenges" Fund has also awarded over 1,200 scholarships to underprivileged students. To date, the "Together We Overcome Challenges" Fund has contributed nearly 13 billion VND to the construction of new schools and the awarding of scholarships.

We believe that with the new school built from compassionate hearts, the teachers and students of Vinh Thanh Primary School, Branch 2, will strive even harder in teaching and learning, achieve even greater success, and the students will have a brighter future.

PV