Khanh My’s brother worked in construction and tragically lost his life in a fall. A few months later, her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a family now reduced to three women, with an ailing mother and an elderly grandmother, Khanh My is now studying Korean at DTU and has become a beacon of hope in helping to relieve her family’s overwhelming adversity.
Since graduating from high school, Khanh My has a part-time job in a hotel - Photo: TAN LUC
My said: “I continue to work part-time to assist my mother in covering my tuition fees. I am committed to focusing on my studies and trying to become a pillar of support for both my mother and grandmother.”
When we visited My’s modest little house in Tay Giang village, in the Thang Binh district of Quang Nam province, we met her mother, Ms. Vo Thi Hoa. As she sat next to a rotting window frame, her gaze was fixed on Khan My’s Certificates of Excellence on the wall, and she began recounting her family story. She said that the tranquility of her family was shattered in the summer of 2021, when she heard that her eldest son, Hoang Tan Le, had an accident and died after 20 days in hopital, after selflessly abandoning his education to support his family,
Ms. Lien Thi Tru said tearfully: “My poor my grandson! He looked so handsome, pale and tall, but was unable to fulfill his duties to his parents.” This anguish was unrelenting, as yet another tragedy unfolded. Mr. Hoang Dinh Van, Khanh My’s father, always had stomach pains but never went to the hospital because of the cost. When the pain became unbearable, he finally went for a check-up and was diagnosed with end-stage colon cancer. He passed away shortly afterwards, and the cumulative pain left Mrs. Hoa in despair, contemplating suicide. Fortunately, Khanh My, dedicated herself to her studies, and finally inspired hope in her mother and grandmother.
When Khanh My first entered DTU, her mother sold her only asset, a bull, for 14 million VND to pay for her education. The bull was acquired in six months through a preferential loan of 10 million VND from the Women’s Union. Then, Mrs. Hoa borrowed another 50 million VND for her husband in hospital, by way of a loan policy covering the poor. Despite knowing that her husband’s cancer was incurable, Mrs. Hoa couldn’t ignore his suffering.
At the weekend, Khanh My rides her motorbike 60 kms back home to care for her mother’s potato garden. Since her father died, she has taken on the responsibility of looking after her family. On graduation from high school, during the summer holidays, while her friends enjoyed time off, Khanh My applied for a job in a hotel, earning 5m VND a month and, at the same time, still assisted her mother with farm work. She was never afraid of taking on any job to earn money, facing many challenges, without fear or shame. Khanh My constantly strives for academic excellence throughout her high school and now, in her university years.
A 70% Reduction in Tuition Fees
The leadership of DTU read about Khanh My’s family in the Tuoi Tre newspaper and offered Khanh My a special scholarship, with a 70% reduction in tuition fees for the entire program, in conjunction with Tuoi Tre and the “Giving a Helping Hand to Needy New College Student” scholarship program, which has made Khanh My’s journey through university less arduous.
Graphics: SONG UYEN
Giving a Helping Hand to 105 new students in Quang Nam – Danang
On October 15, a ceremony launching the 2023 “Giving a Helping Hand to Needy New University Students” scholarship program in the Quang Nam-Danang area was held in Hoi An.
This program is sponsored by the Tuoi Tre newspaper, the Quang Nam Youth Union, the Danang Youth Union, the Palm Garden Resort and the Quang Nam-Danang “Giving a Helping Hand to Needy New College Students” Club. The objective is to support 105 new students facing financial difficulties, in Quang Nam province and Danang, totaling 1.5 billion VND.
Each scholarship is worth 15 million VND, in addition to four special scholarships with a value of 50 million VND each. In addition, Nestle Vietnam will offer gifts to new students, while the Vinacam Study Promotion Fund will award three laptops for students lacking essential study equipment.
Eighteen years ago, the scholarships were first awarded to 42 new students and, since then, the club has assisted 2,315 new students, at a total cost of 22 billion VND. Quang Nam-Danang is the third region in the 2023 “Giving a Helping Hand to Needy New Student’ program, which is part of the 569th “For Tomorrow’s Development” program of the Tuoi Tre newspaper. Soon, the program will be extended into the Central Highlands, the Southeast, the Mekong Delta, and to Northern provinces and cities. In 2023, it will assist 1,200 new and underprivileged students, at a total cost of 19 million VND.
(Media Center)