Monsanto and Room to Read to intensify Tra Vinh social programme

Monsanto CEO gives presents to the student

In an effort to improve literacy rates and education for children in Tra Vinh, as well as better engage with the local community the two partners have visited the newly built library of Thuan Hoa Elementary School on September 22.

During the visit, CEO of Dekalb Vietnam (Monsanto) Narasimham Upadyayula said, “At Monsanto, we believe in improving lives by improving agriculture and empowering communities where we work and operate. We recognise the value of education as a key pillar of community development. During our visit today, I am very pleased to see that a large number of students are willing to come to the library to learn and have fun.”

Upadyayula added that with the immensely positive and encouraging results he encountered, Monsanto would continue its partnership with Room to Read for the next three years to help support educational initiatives in Vietnam.

Another priority area of the partnership is helping young girls learn life skills and reducing gender inequality. With this goal in mind, Monsanto and Room to Read have also visited the home of Nguyen Tran Bao Han, a middle school student in Tra Vinh. Despite her difficult economic circumstances, Bao Han remains committed to learning and has achieved excellent academic results.

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Monsanto and Room to Read visit Thuan Hoa Elementary School

Her father, Nguyen Van Teo, said, “My daughter has been able to benefit immensely from this program, and will be able to build herself a better life in the future. My hope is that my children will be healthy, well-educated and become university graduates.”

In response to the visit, Huynh Tan Minh, a primary education official at Tra Vinh Education Department commented that young people from the community, especially those of Khmer heritage, are restrained by linguistic and economic challenges. According to Minh, Monsanto and Room to Read’s initiative to open libraries has provided an open and friendly environment for students to improve their vocabulary and communications skills.

Announced in January 2015, the partnership between Monsanto and Room to Read has enabled the education and soft skills development of thousands of young girls, as well as enhanced literacy rates in the community.

For the next three years, Monsanto will collaborate with Room to Read to equip 175 girls from a low-income farming background with the support and skills necessaryto succeed in academics and life. The assistance package offered to these female students will include financial support, mentorship and training in soft skills, perhaps giving them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity..

At the same time, the Literacy Programme will also help primary school students further their language and communications skills and develop a love for reading through the establishment of eight school libraries and publishing new children’s books.