Empowering the next generation

On October 12, impressive swings, and even aces, another term for a "hole-in-one", are expected to be seen at Kings Island Golf Resort in Hanoi, signalling the soaring impact and widespread significance of the event.

Empowering the next generation. Photo: Huong Lien Kindergarten

According to Vo Hong Phuc, former Minister of Planning and Investment and president of the annual charity golf tournament, the event has created opportunities for foreign investors, diplomats, and domestic enterprises to meet, exchange information, and build relationships. At the same time, the tournament raises funds to support disadvantaged students through contributions from the business and investment community.

“This connection aligns with our emphasis on corporate social responsibility. From the very beginning, the tournament has received strong support from leaders, businesses, and investors,” Phuc shared.

Le Trong Minh, VIR's editor-in-chief of VIR and head of the Swing for the Kids annual charity golf tournament, announced that the tournament continues to receive enthusiastic support from BRG Group and SeABank, with their long-term commitment as co-organisers.

Samsung Vietnam has been a Diamond sponsor for many years, while Vingroup remains a Platinum sponsor. Other familiar names include Kinderworld Education and PetroVietnam as Gold sponsors. Vietnam Beverage Co., Ltd., VINAMIKA Vietnam Co., Ltd., and EveryGolf JSC continue to support as Silver sponsors.

Additionally, this year’s tournament will feature new sponsors such as VinFast, Vietnam Golf Group, and GolfBeer, participating as Hole-in-One sponsors.

During a visit in late September to Columbia University, Party General Secretary and President To Lam emphasised the importance of the younger generation, quoting US President Franklin Roosevelt. “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future.”

Supporting and empowering young generations is the foundation for realising the nation’s aspirations to move forward in this era of growth.

During the pre-season period, accompanying VIR to personally deliver gifts and scholarships to students at Thai Do Primary and Secondary School, Tran Kim Nga, general director of Vietnam Beverage Co., Ltd., could not hide her emotions as she watched the children excitedly use the new computers. “Love, when given to those who truly need it, multiplies in value many times over,” she said.

While computers have opened vast doors of knowledge, now common in urban areas, statistics published after August from the International Communication Union and the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund show that nearly 2.6 billion people worldwide still lack access to the internet. Half of them are children, mostly in developing countries and remote rural areas, potentially left behind in the rapidly advancing digital age.

At the 2023 Swing for the Kids golf tournament concluded with heartfelt moments, the gala awards ceremony celebrated outstanding golfers and featured a charity auction. A Bruno Sohnle women’s watch was auctioned to raise funds for educational equipment for Chut ethnic minority students, one of the smallest ethnic groups in Vietnam, who are attending a combined class at Huong Lien Kindergarten in Rao Tre Village, Ha Tinh province.

This charity auction, a new initiative, saw bids escalating quickly, stopping at slightly over $2,900, more than 2.5 times the starting price. Combined with contributions from golfers and company representatives present at the awards ceremony, nearly $5,900 was raised. The ceremony became a bridge, connecting philanthropic hearts with children in schools along the border. The funds were swiftly sent to the school to improve learning conditions.

Throughout Vietnam, many schools still lack essential resources, and countless children strive daily to overcome hardships and achieve academic success. After 16 tournaments, with the support of donors, golfers, and sponsors, Swing for the Kids has aided tens of thousands of students by providing full scholarships, and donating bicycles, computers, and equipment.

In 2023, the 16^th annual Swing for the Kids charity golf tournament raised stable funding from sponsors and player fees. From this fund, over 1,000 scholarships were directly awarded to disadvantaged students who excelled academically in seven provinces.

In addition to cash donations, scholarships for restaurant service training, sponsored by Kinderworld, were granted to 30 students, giving them practical skills for their future careers. Collaborating with other sponsors, the scholarship delegation also funded computer labs for Phong Huy Linh Secondary School and Thai Do Primary and Secondary School in Thai Binh province, amounting to $6,250. These labs, consisting of 20 computers, arrived just in time as the school moved to a new facility, replacing an old, deteriorated, and unsafe building.

Swing for the Kids scholarships delivered to underprivileged students in Ha Tinh Sixty Swing for the Kids scholarships were awarded to disadvantaged students in Ha Tinh city’s Dai Nai ward, in the central province of Ha Tinh, who excelled in their studies, on President Ho Chi Minh's 134th birthday.

VIR's Swing for the Kids golf tournament set for Hanoi For the past 17 years, VIR has awarded a series of scholarships to disadvantaged children through its Swing for the Kids charity golf tournament.

Swing for the Kids scholarship motivated by beneficiary’s kindness and maturity The Swing for the Kids scholarship beneficiaries invariably go on to carry out meaningful volunteer work, which in turn serves to inspire the organisers of the charity golf tournament, now in its 17th year.