Offering a future to disadvantaged high school students in Mang Yang, Vietnam

In the Central Highlands, in Gia Lai province, access to secondary school remains a real challenge for young people from ethnic minorities. To prevent these young people from Gia Lai from dropping out of school so close to their baccalaureate exams, Children of the Mekong has chosen to support them at the time when their education is most at risk.

What is the situation like for young people in Vietnam?

Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups, 53 of which are minorities. In the Central Highlands, the main groups are the Jarai, Bahnar, Rengao and Sedang.
These communities mainly live off agriculture and livestock farming through a subsistence economy. They have their own culture and language, but still suffer from severe social and educational isolation. Many adults cannot read. Their children have difficulty accessing a school system that is sometimes ill-suited to their reality.
Faced with academic difficulties and poor grades, many young people become discouraged and drop out of school, reducing their chances of integrating into a rapidly growing Vietnamese society.

Vietnam Map

Why is the project necessary?

In many rural and mountainous areas of Vietnam, particularly in the Central Highlands, in Gia Lai province, access to secondary school remains a real challenge. Yet it is at this key moment that everything is decided.

Unlike primary school, secondary school is not compulsory. Many young people, especially those from ethnic minorities, therefore drop out of school. There are many reasons for this:

The geographical distance from schools,
The cost of education (uniforms, supplies, transport),
The language barrier (education in Vietnamese for young people whose mother tongue is not Vietnamese),
Economic and family pressure,
The lack of educational guidance from parents, many of whom did not have the opportunity to attend school for long periods of time.

How has Children of the Mekong responded?

To prevent these young people from Gia Lai from dropping out of school so close to their baccalaureate exams, Children of the Mekong has chosen to support them at a time when their education is most at risk. We encourage these secondary school students to live in a home close to general and vocational schools, where they benefit from:

a stable and secure living environment,
an environment conducive to study,
tutoring and daily educational support,
academic and career guidance,
activities that promote their human and personal development.

By covering their accommodation and school fees, we ease the financial pressure on families and the host family and enable young people to focus on their studies and go on to obtain their school-leaving certificate and beyond.

Projects highlights

Targeted action at the most crucial moment: the project is implemented in secondary schools, where the risk of dropping out is highest.

Young people are welcomed into a home that offers them security, stability and personalised daily support, which are essential conditions for academic and, ultimately, professional success.

Comprehensive support, not just academic.

The project relies on a dedicated local teaching team with in-depth knowledge of young people and the issues at stake. The team is present on a daily basis.

Who benefits from this project?

Of the 156 high school students at this home, we chose to support a group of 20 young high school students, both girls and boys, all from ethnic minorities, selected from among the most deserving.

In 2025, 23 students from the home obtained their baccalaureate and returned to celebrate their success with the teaching team. Three of them are pursuing university studies, eight are enrolled in a university institute of technology, one student is pursuing vocational training, and the others are working in various companies (SMEs) where they receive personalised support with prospects for advancement.

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