Posted on 27/03/2018

Nguyễn Thị Thúy Quỳnh is the second of four children.  Her parents, both in their sixties, have a small rice field and keep chickens in Binh Dinh province. “My younger sister and brother are both at high school and my older sister and myself are at university.  It was always a struggle to find the fees we need to pay for the state schooling but when my father became ill six years ago it became very hard,” says Quỳnh.  “We often have storms and tsunamis and the soil is not good, so often we lose our crops.”

“When my sister was 5 years old she had an accident with boiling water and suffered severe burns – but we cannot afford treatment for this so she suffers a lot.  I work hard at university because I want to get a good job so I can support my family,” Quỳnh explains.

Annual state school fees cost between CHF 20 and CHF 100 a year, depending on the level.  Despite impressive government drives to reduce poverty, smallholder incomes remain low especially in provinces such as Binh Dinh and Tien Giang, at an average of US$ 19 per month.

For such as the Nguyễn family therefore, even just one scholarship of CHF 100 for one of the children has a significant impact.  SALTorg.net has launched a scholarship programme in collaboration with schools at elementary, secondary and tertiary level in the Binh Dinh and Tien Giang provinces.  Each scholarship covers state school fees, textbooks and at primary level also school uniform for one year.

At Bid for a Boss on  12 April we will raise funds for this initiative and hopefully be able to support many individuals, like Quynh and her siblings.  Do come and help – every little bit counts.