CapitaLand supports 600 students in Vietnam with new schoolbags and daily necessities
Ho Chi Minh City, 31st Aug 2017 - CapitaLand through its philanthropic arm, CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), is supporting 600 students across two CapitaLand Hope Schools in Vietnam through its My Schoolbag programme which started in 2013. Students of CapitaLand Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School in Long An province and CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School in Phu Tho province are presented with schoolbags complete with stationery and water bottles in preparation for their new school year.
The students received their new schoolbags during CapitaLand’s Volunteer Day whereby 130 volunteers from CapitaLand and its serviced residence business unit, The Ascott Limited, including board members, senior management and staff visited the schools to bring cheer to the children. The students also received lanterns, milk, cakes and candies, as well as enjoyed interactive games and learnt the craft of handmade toys from the volunteers.
For the second year running, CHF is also offering bursaries of about 100 million Vietnamese Dong to Grade 5 students of the CapitaLand Hope Schools for their final year in primary school. With the support of CHF’s bursaries last year, all Grade 5 students could complete their primary education and enter secondary school.
Ms Vo Thi Ngoc Giau, Vice Principal of CapitaLand Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School, CapitaLand’s second Hope School in Vietnam, said: “We greatly appreciate the efforts of CapitaLand and its volunteers in supporting the children’s development and educational needs. This spirit of charity and volunteerism will be a great inspiration for our students, and spur them to give back to the community in their own way.”
Mr Chen Lian Pang, CEO of CapitaLand Vietnam, said: “Since 2011, CapitaLand has built two Hope Schools and upgraded the facilities of other existing schools to provide students with a conducive learning environment. Beyond donations, we also give time and attention to the children through regular visits by our local staff and volunteer expeditions involving our overseas staff. Through these efforts, we hope to empower every child to fulfil their potential and create a better future. We remain committed to do our part for the community as we continue to grow CapitaLand’s business in Vietnam.”
In addition to CapitaLand Thanh Phuoc A Primary Hope School and CapitaLand Nang Yen Primary Hope School, CHF is building its third Hope School in Vietnam, a kindergarten located in Hung Yen province that will benefit 500 children aged one to five years old. This third Hope School is slated to be completed in March 2018.
My Schoolbag is CapitaLand’s key annual corporate social responsibility programme that reaches out to underprivileged children in Vietnam, Singapore, China, Malaysia, Japan and India. The programme provides the children with new schoolbags and basic school and daily necessities to prepare them for school. From 2009 to 2016, CHF donated around S$3.6 million to My Schoolbag, benefitting nearly 125,000 children across Asia.
CapitaLand has grown to be one of the leading foreign developers in Vietnam since its entry into the market more than 22 years ago. It has an established portfolio comprising 22 serviced residences, nine residential developments and a prime commercial property across Hanoi, Halong, Hai Phong, Danang, Binh Duong, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City.