2022 Quoy Vuot Kho Report

The Covid-19 pandemic brought additional challenges to many students and their families in the university year 2020-2021.  The ten million residents of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) were affected by two prolonged and severe lockdowns, followed by flooding and landslides later in the year. As well as loss of life and livelihood, these disruptions posed significant difficulties to already vulnerable students.  

In response, Quy Vuot Kho offered several rounds of funding via online platforms in order to continue to support affected students. The Biology and Biotechnology Department at the University of Science, National University HCMC reviewed and selected 40 students for financial aid in August 2021. Quy Vuot Kho was able to offer 47.5 million VND to these students.  Following this, 33 scholarships were offered in November of 2021, with each scholarship worth 6million VND (approximately £200).

In a thank you letter from one scholarship recipient, they articulated

“Số tiền nhận được từ học bổng lần này với em nó thật sự rất quý giá, nó chính là ngọn lửa mạnh mẽ tiếp sức cho em vươn vang trên con đường học tập của mình” (How the fund enabled them to remain firm on their educational path), and that “Đôi vơi em đây không chi lamôt nguôn đông viên rât lơn về măt vât chât ma con la niềm an ui về măt tinh thân giup em co thê vươt qua nhưng kho khăn ơ thơi điêm hiên tai.” (explaining how the money was not only a significant financial aid but also a source of encouragement both materially and spiritually).

In total the value of scholarships offered for the 2021 period was equivalent to 198 million VND (approximately £6,000).

Following the floods and landslides of December 2021, Quy Vuot Kho was able to provide additional financial aid to six students, amounting to 21 million VND (approximately £700), with a further financial aid package later in the month to the value of3.5 million VND (approximately £120).

The organisation continued to support students and their families in the 2021-2022 period. A Fellowship Fund of 10 million VND (approximately £330) each was awarded to 33 students.

Some of the students supported by the Farrar Foundation.

This year also saw an increase in the school fees, with the economic circumstances for many families resulting in a great deal of stress for students, with one student articulating how the scholarship and support has made them feel “mentally assisted”. Contributions from The Farrar Foundation allowed the financial support of an additional 16 Fellows.

One of the great outcomes of the work from Quy Vuot Kho has been the network of alumni, a community, with many students emphasising their desire to ‘contribute’ to the organisation once established and expressing intentions to “assist others in the future”.

2021 saw the 15th Anniversary of Quy Vuot Kho, celebrating a decade and a half of financial support for students from across Viet Nam. As of 2022, Quy Vuot Kho has offered 495 scholarships equivalent to 2033.9 Million VND (approximately £67,000).  Among these, approximately 765 Million VND (approximately £25,000) was donated by The Farrar Foundation, funding 141 Fellows. We are also delighted to report that the gender balance of these Fellows was 67% female and 33% male, reflecting the gender distribution of applicants and remaining in keeping with the Quy Vuot Kho and the Farrar Foundation commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.