The scholarships, worth 6 million VND (263.1 USD) each, were given to children who lost a parent to COVID-19 and whose families in difficult situation because of the pandemic during an event held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 30. Forty-eight of them were handed to those from HCM City, the hardest hit by COVID-19.

The worst-ever COVID-19 outbreak hit HCM City earlier this year, turning lives of local residents upside down, addressed former Vice President Truong My Hoa, who serves as President of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and head of the “For beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” club.

Illustrative image (internet)

Children were those hit the hardest by the pandemic, she said, noting that more than 2,200 children orphaned and tens of thousands of others whose families have been severely affected by the COVID-19. They need support from the society to be able to get back to normal life and continue pursuing education, she said.

Despite struggling with COVID-19 difficulties themselves, members of the ““For beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” club have worked together with the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund to provide aids to affected students, Hoa continued.

They have delivered some 3,000 gift packages to pandemic-hit students and families; and provided free ingredients for 30 volunteer kitchens which gave away thousands of free meals to people and frontline workers during the time HCM City was placed under social distancing order, she added.

She expected the scholarships, though small, can become a source of encouragement for the children in life. She pledged the two charitable organisations will continue their fundraising mission to deliver more scholarships and carry out more projects to support needy children and vulnerable people affected by the pandemic.

Founded in 1999, Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund has so far awarded over 90,000 scholarships to ethnic minority students. Launched seven years ago, the “For beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” club has presented nearly 20,000 scholarships to students whose parents are disadvantaged fishermen and naval soldiers and border guards.