Project No. 39 – Construction of a new boarding house for Chim Vàn commune primary school (Sơn La province, Northwest Vietnam).
Status June, 2022: On June 11th, 2022, a team of LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung// Isabelle and Stephan Müller) visited – on own expenses and not on the expenses of the foundation – the commune of Chim Vàn, Bắc Yên district, Sơn La province (Vietnam).
Sơn La is a remote province in the Northwest region of Vietnam. It borders Laos to the south. The province covers an area of 14.123 square kilometers and has a population amounting approximatively 1.250.000,00 people. Sơn La is subdivided into 12 districts.
Bắc Yên district is a particularly difficult rural district of Sơn La province. Most locals belong to Black Tai or White Tai ethnic minorities. The majority of the students come from poor households. The distance to the main school in Bắc Yên town is 27 kilometers. The terrain is difficult and the roads are in very bad conditions.
In order to reach Chim Vàn commune, people first have to use a boat on the Da river, drive about 90 minutes to Ta Khoa bridge and then continue their way by foot or motorcycle. Children have to continue walking to school if their relatives cannot bring them further by motorcycle. This is a reason why many children have to stay during the week in a boarding house on the school site.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Völker_Vietnams
The main school has 12 classes for 360 students (190 boys, 170 girls, school-year 2021-2022). There are 6 subsidiary school points. The longest distance from the subsidiary school to the main school is about 15 km. The furthest distance from home to school of some students is 25 km, going by boat and by foot.
The total number of students staying at the central school site amounts 157 students (89 boys, 68 girls), including students from 3rd, 4th and 5th grade at subsidiary schools coming to eat, study and stay at the main school.
Until now, the school has 1 semi-boarding house with 3 rooms accommodating about 60 children. The remaining boarding students have to spend the rest of the day in the classrooms and overnight there temporarily.
Looking towards the future, Chim Vàn commune primary school is in need of following:
- 1 additional semi-boarding house with 4 rooms (about 96 square meters) with adequate lighting and ventilators for the hot season. A piece of land with 120 square meters is available directly on the school site. Overall funds needed: approx. USD 20.000,00
- 16 double bunk beds: Overall funds needed: approx. USD 1.600,00
Total amount of both positions (1 building and 16 double bunk beds: approx. USD 21.600,00
As a turnover foundation, the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) can provide help directly. We would like to carry out this project, but are dependent on every financial donation. We remain optimistic that we will be able to collect the necessary funds.
In cooperation and in continuous contact with our Vietnamese partners, we will as always supervise and guide this project personally and on site. We will report on the progress regularly.
We would be delighted if you were to provide us with moral and financial support in this endeavor. Thank you very much!
Status January/February, 2023: The construction work in Chim Vàn started shortly after the Tet holidays. The building material was brought ashore in a small boat and taken to the site by truck. The foundations have been finished and the first walls have been raised.
Status March/April, 2023: We kept receiving a few videos from Chim Vàn. The building is finished. In June, 2023 we will inspect it personally and hand it over officially. We are very happy for the children of this commune!:)
Status June, 2023: On June 1st, 2023, I visited together with my Vietnamese volunteer team the primary school of Chim Van commune in Son La province. Mrs Truong My Hoa, (Former Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and President of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund) and her delegation honored us with their presence.
The official handover ceremony for the new dormitories took place on this day. The new building is very beautiful. The bunk beds were delivered on time and the rooms lovingly decorated. As part of the handover ceremony, the school facility also received donated children’s books (Project No. 38, “Books for a better future”), which we handed over directly to the children. Ms Vu Thi Yen, Mrs Binh Do Thanh and many of their supporters, whom we would like to thank deeply, carefully ensured that a wide selection of age-appropriate books could be collected. The joy of the students and the teachers was huge!:)
Now the primary school children will have better living and learning conditions. We wish the children and teachers of this commune all the best and much success for the future!:)
