The VinaCapital Foundation And Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund Launch Brighter Path Girls’ Club For Ethnic Minority Girls

On September 17, 2020, the Brighter Path Girls’ Club, jointly implemented by the VinaCapital Foundation and Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, has officially been launched in Thai Nguyen province with the participation of 60 female students from the Vietnam Northern Upland High School and Thai Nguyen Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. This is a pilot project combining scholarships and training for girls in high school to enlarge knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, financial management, and leadership skills.

The project is sponsored by HSBC Bank and assisted by the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP). The students are selected based on the criteria of ethnic minorities and disadvantaged families as well as their willingness to make the commitment to the project. Selected female students will receive 1,000,000 VND scholarships and participate in an after-school training program that lasts 12 sessions.

Madam Truong My Hoa, Former Vice President, Chairwoman of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, and Mr. Rad Kivette, CEO of The VinaCapital Foundation with officials and ethnic minority girls

In addition to the common goal of encouraging female students to remain in school, the Girls’ Club is implemented with the aim of creating a safe and comfortable environment, encouraging female students to share their difficulties and learn from each other. Together, they can develop the skills necessary to overcome the barriers in life.

Mr. Rad Kivette, CEO of The VinaCapital Foundation

Naming the club “Village Flowers”, the VinaCapital Foundation and the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund hope that the Brighter Path Girls’ Club will help ethnic girls improve their life skills, thereby developing themselves to become empowered women like strong flowers shining in the villages where they live.

Mr. Rad Kivette, CEO of the VinaCapital Foundation adds “Thanks to our partnership with Madam Truong My Hoa and the support from HSBC and CCIHP, our Brighter Path Girls’ Club is created to empower ethnic minority girls. Statistics have shown that investing in education for these girls is one of the best investments we can make to contribute to Vietnam’s growth. I strongly believe this project will enable our scholars to grow into strong independent women with bright futures, helping to reduce poverty, improving communities, and building the middle class of Vietnam.”

Madam Truong My Hoa gives scholarship certificates to ethnic minority girls

The project’s result will be the premise for improvements to other implementation models as well as the Girls’ Club program. After the pilot project goes successfully, the program will be replicated at the provincial level to assess and review the potential for national expansion.

The VinaCapital Foundation’s Brighter Path Program was created with the aim of empowering ethnic minority girls in difficult circumstances through education and training. Brighter Path Program, in partnership with Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, a Vietnamese non-profit organization chaired by Madam Truong My Hoa, Former Vice President of the State, locates the brightest ethnic minority girls who live in rural areas and provide them with 7-year scholarships, starting in the 10th grade, as well as teaching and training the necessary skills for them to further develop themselves.

Madam Truong My Hoa, Former Vice President, Chairwoman of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, and Mr. Rad Kivette, CEO of The VinaCapital Foundation with officials and ethnic minority girls

Before each school year begins, VCF organizes national Empowerment Workshops for all the female scholarship recipients to participate in lessons on topics that are beneficial for their personal development and learning including personal financial knowledge, sexual and reproductive health, leadership skills, and other essential life skills. These classes help the scholars increase their self-confidence, and provide resources and opportunities for them to access education and personal development, allowing them to take control of their own futures and become game changers who create positive changes for the community. The girls also have the opportunity to meet with role models of Vietnamese women for advice and inspiration. Monthly mentorship is used to help the girls with personal problems and regular encouragement.