A project brought to life. Supporting the academic journeys of Vietnamese sponsored students in 2025 

This project provides financial support and personalised guidance to students facing economic challenges, ensuring they can pursue their higher education or vocational training without setbacks. We are deeply grateful for your generosity.  

Why is the project essential?

In Vietnam, thousands of students face financial difficulties that threaten their hopes of higher education. High tuition fees and living costs force many to abandon their studies, keeping them trapped in a cycle of poverty.  

How does Children of the Mekong aim to respond?

Children of the Mekong aims to help every sponsored student earn a degree and pursue a career that matches their talents, breaking this cycle of poverty and becoming a role model for their country. Some students, however, face challenges beyond their control, which sponsorship alone cannot solve. Through this project, they receive financial support and tailored guidance, giving them the chance to complete their studies and achieve their ambitions. 

Who benefited from this project?

In 2025, 472 young people benefited from this project, continuing their higher education or vocational training thanks to your support. Most were young women (62.5%), with young men making up 37.5%, and 17% coming from ethnic minority backgrounds. 

Our sponsored students are pursuing a rich and diverse array of courses, reflecting both their ambitions and the country’s needs. Engineering leads the way, followed closely by foreign languages and medical studies. Many are also exploring economics, finance and banking, as well as business and management, while pharmacy and IT attract a strong cohort. Others are training in teaching and education, science and technology, communication, and nursing. Beyond these, a wide spectrum of subjects rounds out the picture, from law and the arts to geology and agronomy. 

This year, 39 young people successfully completed their courses, each achievement a clear demonstration of the difference your support makes. And the impact goes far beyond the graduates themselves, as this student support project continues to create meaningful, lasting opportunities for all those pursuing higher education or vocational training. 

This project opens the door to higher education for young people who never imagined it would be possible, while allowing others to cut back on their work hours and dedicate more time to their studies. By providing financial support to those facing the greatest hardship, it helps reduce debt and gives students the security they need to fully focus on their learning and achieve their ambitions. 

“At first, I thought I would have to leave school so that my father could prioritise my younger sister’s and brother’s education. I was so sad because I truly wanted to carry on with my studies. When I heard about the charity’s scholarship programme, I felt a real sense of hope, knowing I had been given the chance to continue.” 

“To take some of the pressure off my mother, I began working in my first year at university. I now have two jobs: I work in a small convenience store and also give private tuition. Even so, what I earn is still not enough to cover my tuition fees and living costs. Working long hours inevitably means less time to study, and trying to balance everything can sometimes be exhausting.” 

39 GRADUATES THIS YEAR! 

Among the 472 students supported by this project, 39 completed their studies this year, including 8 from ethnic minority backgrounds. It’s truly inspiring to see more young people from these communities getting the chance to continue their education. 

For 7 students who received the special scholarship, your generosity gave them the extra encouragement they needed to graduate. Thanks to your support, they overcame the final hurdles and reached this milestone. We are so proud to celebrate the achievements of all our scholarship graduates this year. 

Support our scholarship programme for 2026!