Scholarship students celebrate their certificates of merit

For the last 16 years, VIR has awarded a series of scholarships to disadvantaged children as part of its Swing for the Kids charity campaign, a golf tournament designed to raise money for scholarships for disadvantaged children.

Thai Hoa High School is located in the northwest of the central province of Nghe An, more than 90km from Vinh city. Students here have been beneficiaries of the scholarships for many years.

Early one morning, I remember arriving at the school in the atmosphere of the flag-raising ceremony on Monday at the beginning of the week, some time in 2018. The school appeared very spacious, and filled with the joy and excitement of the 60 students, who were shining examples of overcoming circumstances and achieving good academic achievements. But in reality, despite a lot of passion and effort, the learning path is still full of hardships and challenges for many people,

With an elegant appearance and a bright face, Nguyen Thanh Hung, a student of Thai Hoa High School at that time really stood out. Hung, was truly a smart and hard-working student. He also made his teachers and classmates proud of his achievements in provincial excellent student exams for many years in a row.

However, Hung lost both his parents in a traffic accident and at the age of five, he was living with his 66-year-old grandmother.

Luu Cong Linh, then principal of Thai Hoa High School, at that time, was moved to share Hung's story. While his peers only knew how to live and study, and their parents pampered and cared for them. Hung had to struggle in life. Every day, after school, he went to work as a tutor to earn extra income. However, his academic achievements are truly remarkable.

Many years have passed and from a shy and sad orphan boy, Hung has overcome everything to become an adult and stand firmly in life. Hung is currently a second-year student at the Faculty of Information Technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology.

Extraordinary energy behind the certificate of merit

"The most meaningful thing I realised is that the Swing for Kids scholarship in 2018 has given me invaluable spiritual motivation throughout the years," Hung said. "At school, I try to be worthy of that noble certificate. Up to now, I am on the right path that I have set for a good future. And on that arduous journey, the presence of the Swing for Kids scholarship was a memorable thing, motivating me to succeed in life."

Another student with tough circumstances at Thai Hoa High School also made an unforgettable impression on me: Nguyen Thi Hoa. She was born and raised in the western region of Nghe An, with enough love from her parents, but in 10^th grade, she found out she had lung cancer.

Tran Van Hung, the teacher in charge of Hoa's class at that time, said that Hoa was a quiet student, a girl with extraordinary courage and determination. In school activities, she always participated enthusiastically.

For 12 consecutive years, Hoa was an excellent student and won many excellent student awards at the provincial level in maths, chemistry, and biology. When they learned about Hoa's situation, her friends and teachers loved her even more. Hoa tried to live her life to the fullest with her passion for learning.

Many years have passed, the good news is that the students of Thai Hoa High School who received the Swing for Kids scholarship from VIR have all grown up and now have good lives.

“The students who received VIR scholarships that day all achieved good results in their high school graduation exams and passed into prestigious universities and top colleges in the country. Among them, Hung is a student far from home, studying in the capital of Hanoi," said Luu Cong Linh, principal of Thai Hoa High School. "As for Hoa, she is still struggling with her illness, but despite that, she has graduated from high school with honours. For now, she is still a girl with an optimistic spirit and a love of life."

VIR's Swing for Kids scholarship has brought an invaluable source of motivation to children in the western region of Nghe An, so that they can understand and appreciate their daily efforts in life, and their determination is known and recognised. Their future will become better, that is also the core value of VIR's scholarship fundraising and the companionship of sponsors.