Companion Fund marks 15 years supporting Vietnamese students

Paris (VNA) – The Paris-based Companion Fund has presented 3,124 scholarships worth a total 260,000 EUR to students from disadvantaged backgrounds in Vietnamese universities during 15 years of operation, it was reported at the fund’s founding anniversary in Paris on September 24.

The fund was established in July 2001 by a group of Vietnamese students at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, who wanted to support their less fortunate peers back home. The fund’s first activity, a fundraising campaign themed “The right to dream” was successful beyond expectations, presenting scholarships to 17 students in Ho Chi Minh City.

Fifteen years later, the fund now has a network of 100 members and volunteers operating in France, Singapore and Taiwan. It also maintains ties with many lecturers and officials at universities in Vietnam.

The current President of the fund, Pham Thanh Trung said besides Vietnamese students and former students in countries and territory where the fund operates, the overseas Vietnamese community and many French organisations and individuals also donate to the fund.

Prof. Odon Vallet from the Sorbonne University, who himself runs the Odon Vallet scholarship fund, commended the Companion Fund for its fair selection of scholarship recipients. The professor also donates to the fund.-VNA