On the morning of September 9, 2024, the handover of the boarding house repair project and exchange with ethnic minority students at Hiep Duc High School, Hiep Duc district, Quang Nam province took place with the participation of Representative of Hiep Duc District People’s Committee – Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Hoang Viet – Vice Chairman, Representative of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Quang Nam Province – Mr. Tran Van Em, sponsors from Rotary Organization and Children’s Organization Education Foundation (CEF) and the School Board of Directors.

Rotary Clubs from Da Nang and Maui (Hawaii) have come together to urgently upgrade dormitory and bathroom facilities at the remote Hiep Duc High School in Quang Nam Province.  The High School, which is the learning institution of some 780 students including 133 students from ethnic minorities Xo Dang and M’Nong communities, houses around 80 students in dormitory accommodation which had become seriously degraded and posed significant health and hygiene risks to the young occupants. 

Supported by Children’s Education Foundation – Vietnam, and WASH (Rotary program for water, sanitation and hygiene), the project will also provide training and education in hygiene to teachers at the school, who will in turn educate their young students.

Founding Director and In-country Manager of Children’s Education Foundation, Ms Linda Burn, said “These upgraded facilities are essential, not only providing a greater level of comfort for our young students, but also will improve their standard of personal hygiene, which will ultimately result in improved health and a better learning environment for them.  The support of the Rotary Clubs of Da Nang and Maui (Hawaii), are pivotal in providing this much needed new infrastructure for Hiep Duc High School.”

Charter President of the Rotary Club of Da Nang, and Chair (Special Projects) Ms Nguyen Thu Ha, said “The opportunity for Rotary to assist with essential projects such as the Hiep Duc project is very satisfying, as it not only provides assistance to disadvantaged students, but also helps communities in poorer regional areas of Central Vietnam.  Although our Club has only been chartered for around two years, we have found a number of worthwhile projects that Rotary International have been able to assist with through grants from the Rotary Foundation.  We will continue to explore ways to assist the disadvantaged and less fortunate people of Da Nang and Central Vietnam with Rotary support.”