“I’m happy to come to our class because I have time to play with my friends. I want to try to study reading and writing so that I can help my mum. My mum did not go to school, so she does not know how to read and write. My dream is to become a doctor because my mum works very hard, and she is not very well,” Kim said.
Ten-year-old Kim was among the first students to participate in the Vinh Loc Learning Support Program, an initiative launched by the Loreto Sisters in Vietnam in 2020. Now funded through the generosity of Mary Ward International’s donors, the program continues to provide children who missed out on school with access to basic education, personal development, and nutritional support.
Vinh Loc, located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City, is home to many residents who migrated from rural areas in search of work. Education is not a priority for many families, as parents (like Kim’s mother) didn’t attend school themselves. Financial constraints and a lack of formal documentation also prevent children from enrolling. Some of the children have special developmental needs.
As of March 2025, 32 students aged 6 to 16 attend classes in the new two-story building, which offers more space with classrooms on both floors. Children are grouped according to their learning levels, and the added room gives them a safe area to play both indoors and outdoors.
The Vinh Loc Learning Support Program aims to improve the emotional well-being and nutrition of the children, particularly those who come from families facing challenges. In addition to their studies, students enjoy games, crafts, and celebrating birthdays and festivals together.
Each student receives two sets of uniforms with the school logo, which they proudly wear. “Now we have a uniform with a logo, just like students at big schools,” they say. This small change has greatly strengthened their sense of belonging.
The Vinh Loc project started as a pilot program providing children from marginalised backgrounds with basic literacy. Its impact has gone beyond this goal – children like Kim now have a safe place to learn, play and spend time with each other, creating opportunities to live their lives with dignity and hope.
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