BASF and partners launch fifth school in remote areas of Vietnam

The fifth school built by BASF and its customers as part of the long-term commitment to education in Vietnam

With a total area of 357 square metres, the project offers one new classroom, one toilet block, and one playground for Kim Dong Primary School at Hoa Long B site, located in Kinh Cung Township in Phung Hiep district. More than 90 students will enjoy new school facilities and an improved learning environment. Facilitated by Saigon Children's Charity, this project marks the fifth school jointly built by BASF Vietnam and its partners.

The co-sponsors, including MKVN, Tam Tran, and Nippon Paint Vietnam, donated cash and materials to renovate the school. For the fifth consecutive year, Nippon Paint Vietnam, a well-known paint and coatings manufacturer, provides low-odour products that meet Green Label Certification, made with BASF ingredients to reduce impact on human health environment. The financial sponsors include MKVN Chemicals, a distributor of care chemicals, nutrition, and health, as well as other functional products, and Tam Tran company, a company specialising in supplying and selling basic chemicals for paints, inks, and plastic, among others.

“Despite 2020 being a challenging year, BASF is still proud to manage and support this project with our valuable partners in order to help schoolchildren from remote communities get better access to quality education. With this fifth school, we want to help nurture Vietnam’s next generation and demonstrate our commitment to supporting Vietnam’s sustainable development,” said Erick Contreras, managing director, BASF Vietnam.

The project offers one classroom, one playground, and one toilet block to over 90 schoolkids

Before the renovation, the schoolchildren attended their classes in rundown facilities built in 1996 with basic structures and materials, negatively affecting the teachers’ and students’ health and safety. During the renovation period, one class of students had to switch to a temporary classroom in a local resident’s house. The new facilities will give them a safer and more comfortable place to learn and develop various skills through play.

Located over 270km from Ho Chi Minh City, Phung Hiep is one of the poorest districts in a province where 11 per cent of households are classified as poor. A study conducted by the Ministry of Education and Training showed that less than 50 per centn of primary schools in Hau Giang were built with proper concrete structures. Without stable foundations and a safe environment for learning, students’ safety is at risk. In 2017, BASF and its partners renovated two schools in the district, benefiting 140 students at Long Thanh 3 Primary School and Tan Long Kindergarten.

BASF Vietnam has been active in multiple community projects,including the partnership with Saigon Children’s Charity to renovate schools. Moreover, BASF has also provided scholarships to disadvantaged university students for their four years of studies and held its interactive education programme BASF Kids’ Lab for 5,000 primary school students since 2011. Additionally, BASF constructed four public playgrounds accessible to more than 12,000 children to promote a sense of exploration, inspire creativity, and develop different skills among children.