500 students of CapitaLand Hope Schools in Vietnam receive new schoolbags

To mark the start of the new school year, the volunteers gave out schoolbags and stationery, which was sponsored by CapitaLand Hope Foundation, the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand, to around 500 students. Besides that, the children also received lanterns, cakes and candies from the volunteers, who also created a festive ambiance with interactive games, toy-making sessions and food preparation.

In addition, CapitaLand Hope Foundation also funded scholarships with the total value of VND100 million ($5,000), to all students in Grade 5 to support them for their last grade of primary school as they prepare to enter into secondary school.

“CapitaLand, through CapitaLand Hope Foundation, is committed to support underprivileged children through its community development efforts in countries where it operates,” said Chen Lian Pang, CEO of CapitaLand Vietnam. “Beyond building Hope Schools, we are committed to giving time and attention to the schoolchildren through volunteer initiatives as well. As such, students and teachers of the two existing Hope Schools have grown familiar with CapitaLand Vietnam and Ascott staff. We hope that the schoolbags donated today will give the students at the two Hope Schools a head start in life and bring them the joy of learning.”

CapitaLand has built two Hope Schools in Vietnam for 500 students, Nang Yen Primary Hope School in the northern province of Phu Tho and Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School in the southern province of Long An. This year, the company is also identifying the location for a third Hope School in Vietnam.

According to Ho Hai Yen, principal of Nang Yen Primary School, in May 2011, CapitaLand helped to build a new two-storey school building as well as to upgrade the existing school facilities. Since then, CapitaLand’s staff have returned back to visit the school’s students very regularly. Recently, on March 2016, over 50 CapitaLand staff volunteers and senior management embarked on a five-day volunteer expedition to Nang Yen Primary Hope School to help build more toilets and sheltered walkways to cater to the growing pupil population, cemented damaged walls, and refurbished the library with more shelves.

“We greatly appreciate CapitaLand’s effort in supporting the development of education for our children and we believe that this event marks the continuation of a lasting relationship between CapitaLand and our Hope Schools,” said Vo Thi Ngoc Giau, vice principal of Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School.