Hanoi (VNA) - Steadfast in its mission, the “Vi tam voc Viet” (For Vietnamese Stature) Foundation, which turned 10 recently, has implemented numerous practical programmes that have gradually contributed to improving the physical growth, health, and intellectual development of children, as well as creating sustainable changes for individuals, communities, and society as a whole.
On this occasion, Tran Thi Nhu Trang, Chairwoman of the Foundation’s Management Board, granted an interview to the VietnamPlus e-newspaper about the 10-year journey of understanding, compassion, and action to foster meaningful changes.
Reporter: Let’s begin the conversation with the Foundation’s identity. Could you please explain the meaning behind the Foundation’s logo and the significance of the prominent pink colour used in its activities?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: The logo of the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation was designed by its founder herself - Hero of Labour Thai Huong. The logo consists of two parts: the word “true” in pink at the top, and a rainbow-coloured ribbon underneath.
The word “true” holds two meanings. First, the Foundation wishes to bring genuine happiness to the community through understanding and dedication. Therefore, we always conduct thorough surveys and evaluations to fully meet the real needs and desires of our beneficiaries.
Second, “true” also represents the Foundation’s dedication and sincerity in every community-focused activity. It reflects the “real” people doing “real” work to spread a spirit of humanity throughout society.
The rainbow-coloured ribbon in the logo symbolises diversity - that among beneficiaries regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, or region. It also represents the diversity of approaches used, mobilising various social resources and implementing a wide range of projects through different methods such as communication campaigns, training, financial and in-kind support, infrastructure assistance, and providing nutrition products tailored to different groups.
The pink colour signifies compassion and sharing, embodying a warm spirit. Pink is both gentle and strong, conveying the Foundation’s determination to fulfill its commitments.
Reporter: Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has remained steadfast in its mission for Vietnam’s stature, specifically contributing to the physical and mental health care of the community, especially children. This is a grand and noble mission but also full of challenges. As the one who has led the Foundation from the very beginning, how would you assess the achievements it has made over the past 10 years regarding this mission?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: After 10 years of operation, we believe the Foundation has created positive and significant impacts on the community, particularly on children.
Caring for children is a long journey. According to statistics, nearly 1.5 million children are born in Vietnam each year, and we continuously strive alongside the Government to promote equitable education and access to proper nutrition for children, especially in disadvantaged areas.
In addition to direct support activities for children, we also carry out communication and training programmes aimed at caregivers, and communities surrounding them such as Women’s Unions at the commune/ward level, schools, and broader community initiatives focusing on gender equality, nutrition care, health, and positive discipline. Furthermore, we support the construction and renovation of community infrastructure projects such as bridges, roads, and schools. We believe that children can be safe and develop comprehensively when the communities around them are equipped with knowledge and skills, and are ready to accompany them on their development journey.
In terms of numbers, we are proud to have provided more than 110 million glasses of milk and 8 million nutritious meals to children in difficult circumstances; awarded scholarships worth over 100 billion VND (3.82 million USD) to talented and poor students with outstanding learning performance; and allocated 138 billion VND to build community infrastructure projects. To date, more than 5 million children have benefited from the Foundation’s programmes.
As late President Ho Chi Minh once said “For the benefit of ten years, plant trees; for the benefit of a hundred years, cultivate people,” caring for and nurturing the younger generation - the future owners of the country - is not a short-term matter but a key, long-term mission for the entire nation, every organisation, and individual. The For Vietnamese Stature Foundation is very honoured to contribute a small part to this cause.
Reporter: Many governmental and non-governmental organisations are involved in protecting and promoting the comprehensive development of children. What sets the Foundation apart, in your opinion?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: The first key difference lies in our ability to mobilise participation from a wide range of social resources. We actively seek financial and in-kind support from domestic organisations and businesses, and international organisations, and especially the invaluable and crucial companionship of the business sector. This creates a sustainable and diversified funding base, ensuring the stability and longevity of our projects.
We also call for a diverse network of accompanying experts, including senior journalists, communication specialists, trainers, preventive healthcare professionals, and social activists, to advise the Foundation on activities for children and youth.
Additionally, the Foundation has successfully built a network of individuals who collaborate on our projects on children, contributing both financially and through their efforts. As of 2024, the Foundation had received the involvement of over one million volunteers in its activities.
The second major difference is that the Foundation has created a significant “push” in raising public awareness and mobilising society-wide engagement in various child support initiatives. A prime example is the School Milk Programme. Beyond its role in initiating and promoting the nationwide implementation of the programme, the Foundation has provided milk to children from poor and near-poor households, helping them access essential nutrition during their most rapid development phase (ages 2–12). It has also conducted hundreds of nutrition training sessions for teachers, caregivers, and communities to promote proper nutrition practices.
The "School meal ensuring proper nutrition combined with increased physical activity" model, jointly implemented by the Foundation in 10 provinces and cities in the 2020-2021 school year, is encouraged by the Ministry of Education and Training to be replicated and serves as a basis for the ministry to make recommendations on policies on school nutrition.
Meanwhile, the “1,000 School Toilets” project that aims to build toilets in schools in disadvantaged areas across the country, provides equitable access to school health for children.
The Foundation also strongly promotes physical activity among students, most notably by supporting the nationwide S-Race running event for school and university students. This event encourages a healthy lifestyle and comprehensive physical and mental development. It also inspires a spirit of humanity and solidarity among the participants, as every step they run contributes to a fund that supports treatment for children with motor disabilities of the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation.
And what we are most proud of is that many organisations and businesses have continued to carry out vibrant social activities after participating in our programmes. We understand that every organisation has limited resources and cannot take on all relief work or community development projects. Therefore, helping to spread awareness among other entities about the importance of school health, child protection, and collective action is our greatest success.
Reporter: The For Vietnamese Stature Foundation was founded by Hero of Labour Thai Huong. Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has increasingly attracted the collaboration of many different businesses. In your opinion, what has enabled the Foundation to expand its network so effectively?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: Hero of Labour Thai Huong is not only the founder but also the one who laid the foundation and shaped the strategic direction of the Foundation. She is a powerful source of inspiration in the community for her spirit of selfless dedication and commitment. That created the groundwork for us to receive attention and trust from the very beginning.
However, it is our dedication, professionalism, and transparency that have enabled us to maintain that trust and steadily grow our network over the past 10 years.
In the past, many international organisations operated in Vietnam and provided significant support. However, as our country has progressed to middle-income status, many of them have scaled down or withdrawn their activities. This is precisely the time when the involvement of large, responsible domestic enterprises becomes crucial.
We believe that mobilising domestic resources is a necessary and long-term strategy. No one understands or cares for a community more deeply than those who live and work within it.
A vivid example is how the Foundation’s meaningful projects have attracted numerous individual, organisational, and corporate sponsors from within Vietnam. These diverse partners have not only contributed significantly to our funding sources but have also helped expand the scope and depth of our projects, creating greater positive impact for the community.
Reporter: The Foundation has won many national and international awards in a relatively short time. This shows that it operates in a very methodical and professional manner. Could you share how the Foundation has managed to operate so steadily and professionally so quickly?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: From the very beginning, the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation was committed to building a transparent, efficient, and trustworthy organisation for the community. To achieve that, we have always prioritised financial transparency and a well-structured management system.
The Foundation strictly complies with all regulations issued by state management agencies regarding the operation of social and charitable funds. We submit regular financial and activity reports to our supervisory body - the Ministry of Home Affairs - as well as to other relevant state agencies. We also maintain ongoing communication to promptly address any questions or receive guidance to ensure effective and compliant implementation.
In addition, the Foundation maintains close relationships with partners, organisations, and sponsors. We actively exchange information and provide regular updates on project progress to ensure our partners feel confident in the Foundation’s transparency and effectiveness. This is a key factor in helping it attract and maintain long-term relationships with many domestic and international partners. Thanks to these strong connections, our funding has not only remained stable but has grown year by year, and the support we receive in terms of human resources and expertise has also become increasingly diverse and abundant.
Recently, the idea of checking charity donations online has gained strong public support. At the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation, we’ve enabled our donors to check real-time donations by themselves for quite some time. Donors can simply visit our website, select the fundraising programme they wish to support, and contribute any amount. Once the donation is sent to the Foundation’s account, their contribution immediately appears on the public donation list in real time.
Another key factor is the Foundation’s open-mindedness and willingness to learn. Our staff are constantly encouraged to improve their capabilities through training programmes and by learning from both domestic and international experts. It is precisely this dedication and sense of responsibility from every team member that has allowed the Foundation to achieve today’s results, and to build strong trust with communities and partners both in Vietnam and abroad.
Reporter: In its operations, the Foundation always emphasises “understanding.” How is this value applied and reflected in the Foundation’s activities?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: Understanding is a core value in every activity of the Foundation, because we believe that only by putting ourselves in others’ shoes, truly understanding their needs and challenges, can we create meaningful and lasting change.
All of the Foundation’s initiatives are carefully surveyed, implemented, and evaluated to ensure they genuinely reflect the needs and bring value to the communities we serve. We work closely with local authorities and community organisations to gain comprehensive insights and ensure timely monitoring and adjustments.
It is through this deep understanding that we continually strive to design and carry out programmes that lead to real improvements in people’s lives, especially for vulnerable groups. We firmly believe that genuine understanding leads to real transformation.
Vietnam is rising and achieving an increasingly prominent position in the region and the world. However, the society still faces many challenges. We understand these difficulties, as well as the limited resources of each individual and organisation. Therefore, we have chosen the most important and decisive link in developing the country’s future and addressing social issues — the “human factor.” We focus on education and healthcare for the younger generation, including both physical and intellectual development, along with child protection, as strategic goals for building our action programmes.
Reporter: In many of your statements, you have mentioned that the Foundation focuses on contributing to the development and implementation of policies related to public health and child care. The Foundation’s programmes and projects are not purely charitable activities. Does this mean the Foundation also aims to influence social governance policies?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: Over the past 10 years, steadfast in our mission “For Vietnam’s stature,” we have implemented numerous programmes to gradually realise the aspiration to improve the stature, physical strength, and intellect of Vietnamese people, with the top priority given to school-age children, a golden period that determines 86% of a person’s maximum height.
The School Milk Programme in Nghe An was one of the first and ongoing major initiatives that the Foundation and TH Group initiated and accompanied alongside the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, and independent international experts. This programme laid the foundation for the Government to roll out the National School Milk Programme.
Building on that foundation, the "School meal ensuring proper nutrition combined with increased physical activity" model, was jointly implemented by the Foundation and other units in 10 provinces and cities, representing the three regions and five ecological zones. This serves as a scientific and practical basis for scaling up the model nationwide, aiming towards proposing the making of a Law on School Nutrition.
Reporter: Currently, Vietnamese families generally have different eating habits, depending on preferences and circumstances, without a unified “philosophy” or nutritional standard. What is your view on this observation?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: Nutrition plays an extremely important role in the comprehensive development of each individual. However, as you have noted, the current diets of many Vietnamese families often lack balance and are not based on scientific nutritional foundations. This affects not only health but also physical and intellectual development, especially among school-age children.
This is why the Foundation and its partners have implemented the school meal model in coordination with more than 10 provinces and cities, offering 400 scientifically developed menus. These menus are nutritionally balanced and comply with the Ministry of Health’s nutritional standards, ensuring adequate nutrient and energy supply for the holistic development of students. The positive results from this model serve as a basis for making recommendations on policies on school nutrition for students.
In addition, we firmly believe that the decisive factor to address nutrition imbalances is raising awareness among the people, including children themselves, their caregivers, and each family, about proper nutritional practices. Every individual needs to understand and know how to manage their own nutrition in the best way.
Therefore, we continuously carry out communication activities targeting these groups on relevant topics; and strive to promote community awareness about nutrition and health care for children during the first 1,000 days of life, for adolescents, and for children in the critical growth age (2–12 years old). Our hope is that from those closest to children to the wider community surrounding them, everyone recognises the importance of school nutrition and is motivated to change for the better development of children.
Learning from the experience of countries that have successfully built a scientific nutritional foundation for students, the Foundation recognises that legalising standards for school milk and school meals is especially important. We believe that with proper investment and standardisation, we can create good, scientific eating habits, gradually improve public health, and help build a correct nutritional “philosophy” for the Vietnamese people.
Reporter: The method that the Foundation is pursuing to improve the stature of Vietnamese children through school meals reminds me of the story of the Japanese. After World War II, they set a goal to increase the height of the Japanese people. Their approach was to adjust the nutrition of school lunches. Students ate nutritionally balanced lunches at school to help strengthen their physical development. However, the deeper meaning behind this was that through these lunches, the children were also educated to eat properly during their other meals, creating a generation with scientific eating habits, even influencing the previous generation.
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: The Japanese school lunch model is a clear example of strategic vision in developing national stature and physical strength. They did not stop at simply providing nutrition, they created a healthy eating culture that had a lasting impact on the habits and awareness of many generations.
Through its school health programmes, the Foundation aims not only to improve children’s health but also to help build an educational foundation about nutrition, so that every child understands the importance of healthy eating. When children form good habits from an early age, it not only helps improve their physical condition, height, and overall health but also contributes to building a generation that is conscious of nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. Each child will become a “catalyst” who creates change within their own family and local community. This is the key to solving the issue of Vietnamese stature in a long-term and sustainable way.
However, we understand that to realise this goal requires the collective effort of the community and all-level authorities, both central and local, so that together we can build a proper nutrition model for Vietnamese children, thereby creating generations that are fully developed in both stature and intellect.
Reporter: In the coming years, what advantages and challenges will the Foundation face?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: Over the past 10 years, the Foundation has continuously learned and accumulated valuable experience through implementing community activities, ranging from small-scale programmes to larger projects. This maturity has helped the Foundation build a more complete and professional operational system.
Moreover, the Foundation has established a certain level of credibility in the community development sector, contributing to a trustworthy image and a wide network of partners, from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, businesses, to individuals who share a vision for the community. These are important advantages for the Foundation to continue expanding the scale and scope of its projects, as well as to seek new resources to support more beneficiaries in the future.
However, the Foundation also faces challenges in a context where society and the economy are experiencing many fluctuations. The recent COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, epidemics, and other issues, have caused widespread difficulties not only in Vietnam but globally. Consequently, financial resources and support from donors have become more limited, and the selection of implementing partners, projects, and funding decisions have become more stringent and cautious.
This will be a significant challenge but also an opportunity for the Foundation to continue developing, improving, and strengthening its position in social activities.
Only through professionalisation, transparency, and standardisation of organisational and operational processes, along with consolidating trust from the community and new partners, can the Foundation overcome these challenges.
Reporter: Could you please share the Foundation’s short-term and long-term plans for the future?
Tran Thi Nhu Trang: From 2025 to 2034, the goal of the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation is to become Vietnam’s leading social fund operating in the fields of school health care, child protection, and women’s development.
Charitable funds are often understood as “emergency relief and aid.” With the social fund model, while we still carry out relief activities, we aim for longer-term and more universal results. The difference between a charitable fund and a social fund is often described as “giving a fish versus giving a fishing rod.”
To achieve this “giving a fishing rod” approach, the Foundation will continue to maintain and enhance the effectiveness of its targeted programmes and key projects. In particular, the Foundation will actively promote policies related to developing school health and Vietnamese nutrition, contributing to the realisation of the objectives of the National Nutrition Strategy for the period 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2045.
We will effectively fulfill the role of a bridge among stakeholders to mobilise and manage resources efficiently, bringing positive and sustainable impacts to the community, especially vulnerable groups. We also aim to connect networks at regional and international levels to learn advanced models in community development activities and to raise funds from both domestic and international sources.
Reporter: Thank you for this conversation. I wish you and the Foundation great success in implementing your plans!/.
