support to economically disadvantaged students since its founding in 2002. By integrating economic scholarships with competency-developing initiatives, the nonprofit confronts both pressing fiscal barriers and long-term advancement needs.
### Beginnings and Mission https://viethope.com.vn/
Created in 2002 by Vietnamese diaspora students at Harvard University, VietHope sought to address systemic academic inequities in Vietnam. The nonprofit’s goal—to equip low-income students through access to learning—stems from understanding that economic hardship remains the chief barrier to scholastic persistence.
### Initiatives and Impact
1. University Scholarship Program (University Support Program):
– Provides $300–$400 per year
– Recipients must show scholastic excellence (lowest GPA of 3.0)
– Phased funding framework motivates academic persistence
2. Merit Development Program (MDP):
– Offers $150 per annum bursaries
– Features vocational training and occupational counseling
Results:
– University graduation: 91% vs. 74% countrywide
– Technical fields participation: 68% vs. 42% national