What happens when a child stays in school? Ask Thủy from Vietnam
Growing up in a one-room home on the outskirts of Da Nang, Vietnam, Thủy dreamed of going to school and building her mother a new house.
Her father died when she was three, leaving her mother to raise three young children alone. “Our family was very poor,” recalls Thủy, who is now 29. “My mother could not afford to send all of us to school.”
But thanks to the Family Strengthening Program of SOS Children’s Villages Vietnam, Thủy could stay in school, attend university, and build her career.
Vietnam has made positive strides in providing education for all. Today, nearly 98 percent of children are enrolled in primary school, and girls now make up slightly more than half of university students. Yet challenges persist for rural and low-income families, where high school completion rates are significantly lower and the extra costs for uniforms or tutoring are out of reach.
SOS Children’s Villages has addressed these barriers by supporting more than 1,300 children in Vietnam with scholarships and mentoring. According to the program coordinator, Hải, about 5% of participants pursue a university degree, 10% complete college or vocational training, and 60% go on to secure a job with a stable income. These are strong outcomes in a context where many young people face barriers to finishing school and finding steady employment.
A childhood marked by loss
Thuy’s family struggled after the father died. Her mother worked long hours in a brick factory, often eight or nine hours a day. “She came home tired but still cooked for us,” Thủy said.
The turning point came in grade five, when Thủy began receiving the scholarship from SOS Children’s Villages in Da Nang. The monthly allowance covered school costs until she completed university.
“I felt very happy because I could go to school and join activities with my friends,” she says. “The support also reduced the stress for my mother. The scholarship meant she could worry less about fees.”
Three degrees, one family
Against the odds, all three siblings went to university. Thủy’s brother studied economics, her sister became an IT teacher, and Thủy earned a degree in tourism.
When COVID-19 shut down tourism, Thủy quickly pivoted to work in an industrial zone. Today, she is a planning officer with a German shoe company, managing production schedules and using her English daily.
Thủy sees confidence as the biggest hurdle for young job seekers. “Many students are not confident to apply to foreign companies because their English is not good and they don’t know how to write a CV,” she says. “At university, we are not taught these skills.”
She also highlights the barriers women face at the hiring stage. “Some companies don’t want to recruit women who are pregnant or may soon become pregnant. That should change,” she says.
Now married with a son and a baby daughter, Thủy is determined to give her children better opportunities than she had. “I can buy them fruit, yogurt, send them to extra classes, even swimming or English lessons,” she says. “I want them to develop all their skills.”
Her story shows how educational support not only changes a child’s life but can transform an entire family. As Thủy puts it: “Without education, most people can only do manual labour. With it, we can show our abilities.”
A mother’s pride
Thủy says her greatest source of inspiration has always been her mother. She always confided in her when she experienced challenges. “She had faced many troubles herself, and she gave me advice that helped me find success.”
For Thủy’s mother, her daughter’s chance to continue studying was a source of great relief. “When Thủy received the scholarship, I was so happy. Without it, I could not have managed. Thanks to the scholarship, my daughter could continue studying and achieve what she has today.”
In 2019, after all three children had graduated and started working, they pooled their resources to expand and modernize their mother’s home, where she now enjoys entertaining family and her five grandchildren.
“It was always my dream to help my mother build a new house, and in 2019, we did it,” Thủy says.
“I am very happy,” her mother adds.
Why your support matters
Thủy’s journey shows what’s possible when families are supported, and children can realize their right to education. SOS Children’s Villages Family Strengthening Programs help families overcome hardship, keep children in school, and build brighter futures, one success story at a time.
Your support helps make this possible.