Uniqlo allocated the funds for the two schools in central Vietnam from the proceeds of its "Mickey Mouse in Vietnam" UT collection.

Dilapidated and unsafe classrooms at Thon 2 school. Photo: Dac Thanh

Dilapidated and unsafe classrooms at Thon 2 school. Photo: Dac Thanh

One of the schools is Thon 2, part of the Chanh Cong Inter-Commune Preschool in Phuoc Son District, formerly part of Quang Nam province, now Da Nang. The original school, built in 2014, has three classrooms and one restroom. After years of use, it has deteriorated, with a subsiding foundation, cracked and peeling walls, unsanitary facilities, and a hazardous playground.

Most students at this school are from the Gie-Trieng ethnic minority. Their parents, primarily farmers, face economic hardship and have limited resources to support their children's education. "The new school will improve the learning environment and enable us to offer boarding facilities, something we've wanted for years," said principal Le Thi Kim Oanh. "This is a significant turning point, allowing teachers and students to focus on teaching and learning without worry."

In Bo Trach District, formerly part of Quang Binh province and now Quang Tri, some students at Con Roang, part of Thuong Trach No.1 Primary School, still attend classes in dilapidated, makeshift wooden structures alongside two newly built classrooms. The school lacks adequate staff rooms and facilities, and the gate and fence are also temporary bamboo constructions.

Makeshift classroom without electricity, constructed from wooden planks. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Makeshift classroom without electricity, constructed from wooden planks. Photo: Ngoc Phuong

Located deep in the mountains, the school has no electricity or phone signal, and access is difficult. Over 50 students, all from the Ma Coong ethnic group (part of the Bru-Van Kieu group), live scattered across the mountainsides, and most are from impoverished families. The lack of basic infrastructure significantly hinders the quality of teaching and learning.

"We were overjoyed to hear about the funding for a new school," said principal Nguyen Ngoc Phuong. "In the coming years, our children will have a proper place to learn, protected from the elements. They'll have a playground free of red dirt, and teachers will have the opportunity and resources to teach more effectively in this challenging environment."

Construction on the two schools began in late May and June, respectively, and is expected to be completed for the 2025-2026 academic year.

This is the third year Uniqlo Vietnam has partnered with the Hope Foundation to build schools using proceeds from its UTme! collection. Previously, they collaborated on three schools and a bathroom in Yen Bai (now Lao Cai) and Son La.

Uniqlo partners with the Hope Foundation to bring new schools to students in the highlands.

"At Uniqlo, we believe education is fundamental to children's development and nurturing the next generation," said a Uniqlo Vietnam representative. "By building these new schools, we hope to create a safer and better learning environment for students, in collaboration with teachers and the school administration."

In June, Uniqlo Vietnam and the Hope Foundation donated seven pieces of medical equipment, including infusion pumps, syringe pumps, and patient monitors, to Hue Central Hospital to improve pediatric care. They also donated 100 gifts, including UV protection jackets and discovery kits, to children receiving treatment there. The funds were drawn from proceeds of the "Hue Refined UTme!" collection launched in March.

Since 2021, Uniqlo has also donated tens of thousands of products to students and teachers in disadvantaged areas, as well as people affected by natural disasters, floods, and epidemics.

This educational support is part of the "School Light" program, an initiative launched by the Hope Foundation in 2018 to improve learning conditions for children in mountainous and disadvantaged areas. To date, the program has built over 420 facilities, including schools, restrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and libraries across the country.

Program name: Your name - School light

Program ID: 195961

Quynh Anh