The Hope Foundation launched the School Hygiene Project in late 2025, targeting five primary and junior high schools across the communes of Kong Chro, Ya Ma, Cho Long, and Chu Krey in Gia Lai province. This initiative received funding from the FPT Group.

Three of these five schools lacked any restroom facilities. The other two had small, dilapidated structures that failed to meet student needs, particularly during peak hours or the rainy season.

Teachers reported that the absence of proper restroom facilities negatively impacted student health and created significant daily inconveniences, particularly for female students.

The new restroom facility at Tpol village school, Yang Nam ethnic boarding primary and junior high school. *Quynh Anh*

The Hope Foundation funded the construction of these facilities, which feature six separate stalls for male and female students, totaling 900 million VND. These new restrooms now serve the daily needs of more than 1,000 students across the schools.

The project also benefited from the collaborative efforts of the Central Youth Union and the Central Youth Council. Nguyen Chi Hieu, Deputy Secretary of the Gia Lai Provincial Youth Union and Chairman of the Gia Lai Provincial Youth Council, noted that while many organizations had previously surveyed school restroom construction in Kong Chro district, few projects materialized.

"These facilities hold significant value," stated Hieu. "A proper restroom system for hundreds of students at each school is invaluable. It not only enhances the infrastructure but also fosters students' awareness of personal hygiene."

Students at the school happily wash their hands at the new restroom facility.

Additionally, the FPT People for Community Fund, through one day's salary contributions from its staff, donated 6 55-inch televisions and 145 gifts to students at Yang Nam ethnic boarding primary and junior high school.

Nguyen Le Hong Minh, Business Director of FPT Shop in Gia Lai for FPT Group, expressed, "We hope these contributions in facilities and equipment will enable the school to progressively enhance learning conditions, fostering a safer and more conducive environment for students to continue their educational journey."

On March 4, the Hope Foundation, in collaboration with Anh Van Hoi Viet My (VUS), also broke ground on two classrooms with enclosed restrooms and auxiliary facilities at Dak Jo Ta Kindergarten in Ayun commune, Gia Lai province. The kindergarten serves over 150 students, predominantly Bahnar ethnic children. Historically, a shortage of classrooms forced some students to study in temporary homes two km away. While all students are now at the main campus, some still use the physical education building due to insufficient dedicated classrooms.

The project's total funding exceeds 955 million VND, with Anh Van Hoi Viet My contributing 500 million VND.

Groundbreaking ceremony for the two classrooms and auxiliary facilities at Dak Jo Ta Kindergarten.

Mai Thanh Chung, Vice Chairman of Ayun Commune People's Committee, explained that Ayun is a particularly disadvantaged Zone III commune with numerous impoverished households and limited educational investment. "The support for building two classrooms and a concrete yard offers immense encouragement to teachers, parents, and students, helping the community gradually address educational challenges," Chung remarked.

Dang Quoc Vu, Manager of the Anh Van Hoi Viet My VUS Gia Lai branch, clarified that the sponsorship came from the collective contributions of the unit's teachers, staff, and teaching assistants. "We believe that when many hands work together, positive impacts are amplified," Vu stated.

Both the recently inaugurated and groundbreaking projects fall under the "School Light" program, initiated by the Hope Foundation in 2018. This program aims to enhance infrastructure for schools in remote and underserved regions. To date, "School Light" has supported the construction and renovation of nearly 600 schools across Vietnam, improving teaching and learning conditions for hundreds of thousands of students and educators.

Readers can support the program here.

Program name: Ten cua ban - School Light

Program ID: 195961

Quynh Anh