Taiwanese charity helps Vietnam's school build new facilities

The Taiwan Fund for Children and Families (TFCF) said Tuesday that it has donated US$20,000, which enabled a primary school in Vietnam to build new facilities for its students.

The charity's director Wang Ming-ren said that facilities at the Duc satellite school of Nam Phong Primary School -- located at the Nam Phong commune in Hoa Binh Province -- were too old to provide students with a safe learning environment, so the TFCF decided to make the donation last year.

The construction of facilities -- which include one classroom, one function room and a playground -- was completed in April, Wang said Duc is one of the most remote satellite schools of Nam Phong Primary School, and the school once collapsed under a heavy storm in the rainy season, the TFCF said.

A student at the Duc school was quoted as saying that students were excited to receive a new school which is quite clean and spacious, and they really appreciate Taiwan's love and donation, according to the TFCF official.

Taiwanese people sponsor about 2,400 children in Vietnam --with NT$700 (US$22) donated every month for each child. About 600 of the sponsored children live in Nam Phong commune, the TFCF said.