Cargill boosts closing in on school building target for Vietnamese students

Kicked off in 1997, Cargill’s Vietnam School Project was created to build schools across rural and remote villages to make a positive impact on local communities at a time of economic and social transformation in Vietnam.

To date, 99 schools have been built, with the company realising its goal of building 100 schools in the country by 2020 when it inaugurates the final school in the central province of Nghe An next month.

With this, Cargill has achieved its objective of increasing access to education, improving enrollment and teacher retention and supporting stronger learning environments in Vietnam, according to an independent impact study published by Think Through Consulting. The investment in education across Vietnam directly translates into improved employment, health, and nutrition for the country’s students and their families.

Cargill Vietnam is creating a lasting impact through education for more than 15,000 students in 50 provinces nationwide

Nguyen Ba Luan, country president for Cargill in Vietnam, said, “At Cargill, supporting local communities is fundamental to fulfilling our purpose. In Vietnam, we have focused our efforts on improving education facilities to those who had no or limited access to it.”

“We are grateful to see the impact it has created already and will continue to create for future generations. Spanning three decades, the objectives of the project continue to be relevant in the current context, addressing the infrastructural gaps and challenges to support quality in education,” he added. “In the 99 schools inaugurated to date, we see the future of Vietnam in the faces of the 15,000 school children we reach each year. Cargill is committed to continuing our support of Vietnamese communities, creating jobs and remaining an integral part of the culture and success of this country for years to come."

Sin Ngoc Tien, principal of Che La Primary School in the northern province of Ha Giang, spoke at the inauguration ceremony of the 94th Cargill Cares school on June 27, “With the help from Cargill, our longing for safe and conductive school facilities for Coc Cang commune has been realised. We are grateful for this kind support from Cargill and we will ensure the best use and maintain the school so that it can best serve the children in the long term, helping them improve their early education and access for a better life.”

Cargill's Vietnam School Building Project has made some positive results. For example, it has increased access to education. For those living in rural communes, accessibility to schools is low due to rugged terrain and lack of transportation. The School Building Project has built 99 schools across Vietnam and ensured improved access to education for children in those areas, especially for female children.

In addition, the project has also improved the learning environment. Through the project, Cargill has built a larger classroom with modern concrete structures, ventilation systems, as well as natural sunlight. These classrooms are safer, require less maintenance and repair due to reduced wear and tear. In addition, the project also focused on building gates, playgrounds, and green patches in several schools.

In addition, the project has also increased teacher effectiveness and retention and had a positive impact on employment, and health and nutrition.