For Vietnamese Stature Foundation: A decade of dedication to children’s growth

An image of the Growing Up Together project (Photo: VSF)

Hanoi (VNA) – Before the "Cung Em Khon Lon" (Growing Up Together) project, it was heartbreaking to see children at remote schools having poorly nutritious lunches. Some had no food, went home, and never returned for the afternoon session,” said teacher Liem from a preschool in Quang Lam commune, the northern mountainous Cao Bang province.

Thanks to the project, children now enjoy well-balanced meals with meat, vegetables, and fruit. They have two main meals and an afternoon snack each day. “It means a great deal, especially for children in mountainous areas,” she said.

Growing Up Together is a long-term initiative by the For Vietnamese Stature Foundation (VSF), supporting semi-boarding meals and improving learning conditions for preschoolers in disadvantaged areas like Cao Bang.

An image of the Growing Up Together project (Photo: VSF)

An image of the Growing Up Together project (Photo: VSF)

An image of the Growing Up Together project (Photo: VSF)

Improving nutrition, supporting development

With every 1.7 million VND (over 65 USD) raised, one child receives an average of 360 nutritious meals during a school year, comprising one main meal and one snack per day. The project also promotes nutrition awareness among teachers, parents, and caregivers.

Before its implementation, 80% of children at Thach Lam Preschool skipped afternoon classes. In the 2023–2024 academic year, attendance reached 100%, and over 80% of pupils demonstrated progress in physical, cognitive, and language development. On average, each child was 4.1 cm taller and gained 2.2 kg compared to the start of the school year.

The project reflects VSF’s core values: advancing the stature of Vietnamese children, connecting communities, and nurturing compassion.

The Foundation was established under Decision No. 1288/QD-BNV by the Ministry of Home Affairs on December 16, 2024 and aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

Understanding enables sustainable transformation

Labour Heroine Thai Huong, Chairwoman of TH Group’s Strategic Council and Founder of VSF, believes understanding is the key to meaningful support. “Understanding is the beginning of change. It enables sustainable transformation,” she said.

Labour Heroine Thai Huong, Chairwoman of TH Group’s Strategic Council and Founder of VSF (Photo: TH Group)

Over the past decade, the Foundation has remained committed to enhancing the physical and mental development of Vietnamese people, particularly children during their golden growth stage. Scientific studies show that up to 86% of a person’s height is determined before the age of 12, making early investment essential.

The School Milk Model in the central province of Nghe An was one of VSF’s earliest large-scale projects. In collaboration with TH Group, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education and Training, and international experts, the model laid the foundation for the Government’s National School Milk Programme, which now mandates the use of fresh milk.

Images from the School Meals and School Milks projects (Photo: VSF)

Building on that success, VSF launched the pilot model of school meals, implemented in 10 provinces across all three regions and five ecological zones. The model, which incorporates standardised milk, serves as scientific and practical evidence for policy development on school nutrition nationwide.

Through the “Social Mothers” initiative, VSF mobilises community resources to provide milk and nutritious meals for disadvantaged children. Over the past 10 years, more than 110 million glasses of milk and 8 million meals have been distributed, regardless of economic background.

Hundreds of schools, toilets, and kitchens have also been built, improving education and hygiene infrastructure and expanding access to school nutrition.

Calling the National School Nutrition Programme “the gateway to happiness” for Vietnamese children, VSF’s founder believes that “social mothers” can help children nationwide step through this door.

Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thanh De, Director of the Department of Physical Education at the Ministry of Education and Training, praised VSF’s 10-year journey. “The Foundation has made meaningful and practical contributions to enhancing the physical development and stature of the younger generation,” he said.

An image from the Happy Schools project (Photo: VSF)

An image from the Happy Schools project (Photo: VSF)

An image from the Happy Schools project (Photo: VSF)

Empowering women and building resilient communities

To promote gender equality and economic empowerment, VSF has reached nearly 17,000 women, including factory workers, micro-entrepreneurs, and ethnic minority women, through targeted support programmes.

“VSF has been a close partner of the Vietnam Women’s Union in protecting women’s rights and promoting their development nationwide,” a union representative said.

Over the past decade, VSF has engaged more than 1 million volunteers and mobilised hundreds of billions of VND for community infrastructure. It has accompanied many humanitarian programmes not only with substantial contributions in cash and kind, but also by inspiring millions to take part in meaningful acts.

According to VSF Director Tran Hong Diep, the Foundation’s distinguishing feature lies in its “collective action” model, which combines charitable activities with long-term community development.

Charity work addresses immediate needs such as food, water, clothing, and emergency medical care while development projects focus on long-term and sustainable solutions including improving education, developing infrastructure, enhancing economic capacity, and life skills.

“These projects empower communities to break the cycle of poverty and reduce reliance on aid, enabling long-term improvements in quality of life,” said Diep.

An image from the project "For Mothers and Babies – For Vietnamese Stature" (Photo: VSF)

An image from the project "For Mothers and Babies – For Vietnamese Stature" (Photo: VSF)

An image from the project "For Mothers and Babies – For Vietnamese Stature" (Photo: VSF)

An image from the project "For Mothers and Babies – For Vietnamese Stature" (Photo: VSF)

VSF’s charity efforts feature building homes for disadvantaged families, offering cash and welfare gifts, covering healthcare expenses, awarding scholarships, and organising mobile clinics.

Its community development projects include "Happy Schools", which improves facilities and builds capacity for teachers, students, and caregivers in remote areas; "1,000 School Toilets", which upgrades sanitation infrastructure and personnal hygiene; and "School Health", which focuses on nutrition and wellbeing.

Other initiatives include the “Let’s orange with TH” campaign, the "Red Sails" project, and the "For Mothers and Babies – For Vietnamese Stature".

An image from the “Let’s orange with TH” campaign (Photo: VSF)

An image from the “Let’s orange with TH” campaign (Photo: VSF)

With proud achievements over more than a decade, VSF has been received numerous national and international honours, affirming its pioneering role and effectiveness in sustainable development and education.

Notable accolades include the Best Non-Profit Organisation of the Year (2019) at the Asia Philanthropy Awards, the Asia-Pacific Distinguished Social Organisation Award, a certificate of merit for contributions to education and training (2014–2024), and other awards from both domestic and international institutions./.

The VSF has made meaningful and practical contributions to enhancing the physical development and stature of the younger generation (Photo: VSF)