The facilities were inaugurated and handed over on 15-16/5, including the Ta Leng 1 school site of Pa Cheo Kindergarten in Ban Xeo commune, Lao Cai province, and the Na O school site of Thach Lam Kindergarten in Quang Lam commune, Cao Bang province.

The Ta Leng 1 school site features three newly built classrooms with attached restrooms, a kitchen, staff housing, a playground cover, a concrete yard, a gate, and a fence.

The Na O school site received two new, sturdy classrooms with attached restrooms. The two projects had a total cost exceeding 3 billion VND, with UNIQLO Vietnam and the Hope Foundation (along with VnExpress readers) contributing 2.7 billion VND.

Representatives from UNIQLO and the Hope Foundation, alongside local authorities, inaugurate and hand over the Na O school site in Cao Bang. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Representatives from UNIQLO and the Hope Foundation, alongside local authorities, inaugurate and hand over the Na O school site in Cao Bang. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The previous Ta Leng 1 school site, built in 2012, was small and cramped, lacking sufficient rooms for the growing student population. Teachers had to use staff housing as classrooms. The kitchen area was also dilapidated and did not meet semi-boarding conditions. A similar classroom shortage existed at Na O, where one class had to use the communal house for lessons.

Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ban Xeo Commune, stated that the Ta Leng 1 school site is located in an exceptionally difficult hamlet within the commune, where 100% of the residents are Hmong ethnic minorities. "Thanks to the support from various organizations, Pa Cheo now has a spacious school site, providing a better learning environment for the children. This brings not only joy but also tremendous encouragement to the school's staff, teachers, employees, and students", Thanh said.

The Ta Leng 1 school site was handed over on 15/5. Photo: Nam Nguyen

The Ta Leng 1 school site was handed over on 15/5. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Akiyama Naoki, General Director of UNIQLO Vietnam, shared that the funding for these two school sites was drawn from the revenue of the UT "Mickey Mouse in Vietnam" collection during the Fall-Winter 2025 Appreciation Week.

"For this reason, the two projects hold significant meaning for us, as the trust and support from our customers have been transformed into practical contributions to the local community", Akiyama added.

On the occasion of the inauguration, UNIQLO Vietnam donated 1,000 clothing items from its RE.UNIQLO program to teachers and students' families, and also presented UT Mickey shirts to all students at both school sites.

Na O students receive new shirts on the occasion of the school's inauguration. Photo: Nam Nguyen

Na O students receive new shirts on the occasion of the school's inauguration. Photo: Nam Nguyen

This initiative is part of the brand's ongoing partnership with the Hope Foundation through various community projects, including the construction of seven new schools and one bathroom, in addition to reconstructing schools affected by storms and floods. These activities fall under the "School Lights" program, implemented by the Hope Foundation since 2018 to improve learning conditions for children in disadvantaged areas. To date, the program has built and renovated over 600 educational facilities nationwide, providing safe, sustainable learning environments for tens of thousands of students.

Specifically in Lao Cai, the Hope Foundation and its partner organizations have built 25 new educational facilities and repaired or rebuilt 26 schools after storms. In Cao Bang, the foundation has built 11 new educational facilities and repaired 4 schools. Through these projects, the Hope Foundation hopes to continue collaborating with local communities, bringing more opportunities for better education to children in disadvantaged regions across Vietnam.

Readers can support the Hope Foundation here:

Program name: Ten cua ban - Anh sang hoc duong

Program ID: 22964

Quynh Anh - Thanh Nguyet