In late 2025, the two-story building of Phuoc Hiep Primary School No.1 in Tuy Phuoc Bac commune, Gia Lai province (formerly Binh Dinh province), still bore the scars of successive storms. Classrooms stood empty, windows gaping open to the wind sweeping in from the fields behind. Inside, floors remained stained with dampness from prolonged leaks. On the staircase leading to the second floor, a 'Danger, Keep Out' sign lay haphazardly, a stark reminder of nature's devastation.

This school was among the most severely damaged in Binh Dinh. For safety, over 100 students were temporarily relocated to other sites while awaiting repair funds.

Given this situation, Hope Fund decided to provide over 1 billion VND to 'give the school a new look', helping teachers and students quickly resume stable teaching and learning.

Phuoc Hiep Primary School No.1 devastated after the storm. Photo: Ngoc Huy.

Similarly, in Nghe An, Hung Loi Primary School in Lam Thanh commune also received nearly 1 billion VND in aid. This amount will cover re-roofing a two-story building and purchasing replacement equipment for damaged items. For a single-story building with 7 classrooms that completely collapsed, the Fund plans to finance its reconstruction in 2026.

"We were stunned to see the school devastated after the storm, unsure where to find funds for recovery. Hope Fund's support at that time was the most timely 'lifeline'," a school representative shared.

The year 2025 was marked by severe natural disasters, causing an estimated 100,000 billion VND in economic damage. Amidst "storm after storm, flood after flood", the "Helping Compatriots Overcome Floods" program, launched by Hope Fund in August, became a crucial support for the education sector in affected regions.

More than 50 schools received support in this phase, spanning from the northern mountainous provinces (Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang) to the Central region (Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh) and the Central Highlands (Gia Lai, Dak Lak). Schools received flexible funding ranging from 56 million VND to billions of VND, depending on the extent of damage, bringing the total committed value to nearly 18 billion VND.

Hope Fund and UNIQLO surveyed and provided aid at Hung Loi Primary School in late October. Photo: Duc Hung.

Earlier in the year, the Fund had also allocated 4.6 billion VND to reconstruct 9 schools affected by Typhoon Yagi in 2024, including two entirely new schools built in Cao Bang and Lao Cai.

Beyond strengthening school infrastructure, Hope Fund's outreach also brought warmth directly to students in flood-affected areas. Over 66,000 notebooks, 10,000 warm jackets, nearly 2,000 health food boxes, and thousands of other practical gifts were distributed, helping students confidently return to school after the disasters.

The program received strong support from the business community and VnExpress readers. FPT Group and its employees contributed 5.6 billion VND, De Heus 2.2 billion VND, UNIQLO 1.5 billion VND, along with participation from MSD, Home Credit, and thousands of other generous donors.

Hope Fund - VnExpress newspaper launched the "Helping Compatriots Overcome Floods" campaign to assist people in overcoming adversity and rebuilding infrastructure devastated by storms and floods. Readers can contribute here.

Nga Thanh