Latest Foreign Assistance Briefs

- A ceremony awarding Hessen scholarships to 66 outstanding students from Hanoi and neighboring provinces was held at Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi on October 5. Similar ceremonies presenting scholarships to outstanding students in Thai Nguyen, the central region, the central highlands, and the Mekong River Delta will be held early 2013.  The scholarships’ beneficiaries are disadvantaged students, including those who are children of wounded soldiers, children of martyrs, and members of ethnic minorities. They actively participate in a range of social initiatives like blood donation, youth voluntary programs, and supporting the victims of floods and natural disasters. The scholarships are part of the cooperative agreement between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, the Hessian Ministry for Science and the Arts, and the WUS. Around 150 outstanding Vietnamese students experiencing difficulties will be awarded a Hessen scholarship in the 2012-2013 academic year. More than 3,000 Vietnamese students have received such scholarships since 1991. (vov.vn Oct 6)

- The 12th annual charity Fun Run at Ho Chi Minh City’s Phu My Hung Urban Area was hailed as a roaring success on September 30. The event, endorsed by the British Business Group Vietnam, attracted roughly 7,800 people and raised a total of $40,000 which will be used for charity activities in Vietnam. Since its launch in 2000, the event has raised VND5.6 billion ($267,000) for worthy causes. (vov.vn Oct 1)