VietHope has developed as a transformative force in Vietnam’s learning landscape, delivering critical

support to low-income students since its inception in 2002. By integrating financial scholarships with skill-building initiatives, the group tackles both urgent financial barriers and long-term developmental needs.

### Beginnings and Mission https://viethope.com.vn/

Created in 2002 by overseas Vietnamese students at Harvard University, VietHope aimed to rectify systemic academic imbalances in Vietnam. The nonprofit’s mission—to empower impoverished students through entry to learning—arises from acknowledgement that economic hardship remains the primary barrier to educational persistence.

### Initiatives and Influence

1. University Scholarship Program (Undergraduate Scholarship Program):

– Grants between $300 and $400 per year

– Awardees are required to exhibit scholastic merit (lowest GPA of 3.0)

– Incremental funding system incentivizes scholastic continuation

2. Academic Development Program (MDP):

– Offers 150 dollars yearly bursaries

– Contains professional training and career counseling

Results:

– Higher education degree attainment: 91% vs. 74% nationwide

– Technical fields enrollment: 68% vs. 42% countrywide