Each year, thousands of students face the risk of dropping out of school due to economic hardship, geographical isolation, and family crises.
- 36% of high school students in the Mekong Delta are out of school (the highest rate nationwide).
- 45% of youths from families classified as living in “poor circumstances” do not pursue high school.
- 56% of high-school-aged Khmer adolescents do not continue their education.
*Source: The 2022 MICS-EAGLE Vietnam Education Fact Sheets, UNICEF
Yet, behind these statistics are many children striving every single day for a chance to learn.
Over the past 34 years, saigonchildren’s Child Development Scholarship Programme (CDSP) has provided approximately 50,000 scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds in Vietnam.
Students are supported with scholarships each year, primarily in the South-East and Mekong Delta regions
Of students in the programme completed the 2024-2025 school year
Of beneficiaries shared that “the scholarship helps us have a better start in life” (2024 survey)
Of beneficiaries secured employment with a starting salary of 7 million VND/month or higher (2024 survey)
What support do students in the Scholarship Programme receive?
Educational expenses
A scholarship package provides financial assistance to cover tuition fees, health insurance, uniforms, stationery, and nutrition. This alleviates the financial burden on their families and allows students to focus on their education.
In specific cases, the support can also include 10 kilograms of rice per month, accident insurance, bus fares, and other essential items.
Skills, well-being, and personal development
We help students gain insights through tailored and age-appropriate skills training. Topics diversify regularly, including but not limited to personal safety, online safety, mental health, career guidance, and personal development, delivered through dedicated training and sharing sessions.
Moreover, annual events such as Tết celebration, Mid-Autumn Festival, and Summer Camp provide opportunities for students to engage with peers in the programme and explore new experiences.
Ongoing support for students, families, and communities
During their time in the programme, children receive continuous counselling and guidance from our social workers.
We collaborate with local authorities, schools, and families through in-person activities such as home visits and parents’ meetings to keep track with the child’s circumstances, promptly identify urgent family issues, and provide immediate assistance.
Long-term and emergency support
Once a child is admitted into the programme, we are committed to supporting them through to the end of their educational journey (university / college).
During this time, unexpected needs, such as a bicycle, prescription glasses, or sudden health and family crises, are addressed flexibly to minimise the risk of the student dropping out.
“It was in Year 8 that I found out about and was accepted into the saigonchildren’s Scholarship Programme. During those desperate times, the scholarship package provided by the organisation made me realise that there were still so many kind people in society ready to support me. It gave me an incredible amount of motivation and let me know that I was not alone.”
The journey from living in “the most run-down house in the neighbourhood” with four siblings and a family income relying entirely on their parents’ seasonal work in distant custard apple orchards, to earning an engineering degree from a top university was a long road paved with effort, determination, and mutual support.
Eight years after graduating from Bách Khoa University, Lợi has become a successful young professional and is now able to build a comfortable, proper home for his parents.
Read Lợi’s full story here.
It takes as little as $1 a day to change a child’s future through education
Scholarships funded for the 2026–2027 Academic Year
Choose how you would like to support
Sponsor a Future
Grade school and Vocational training: 300 USD / package / school year
University or College: 600 USD / package / school year
As a sponsor, you will:
– Witness the positive impact of your donation through updates on the child’s academic progress and the annual CDSP report.
– Receive details about your sponsored child and their circumstances.
– Have the opportunity to engage with your sponsored child at events such as Tết celebrations, the Mid-Autumn Festival, and more.
* Please note: In strict adherence to our Child Protection Policy, all personal information will be shared privately with the sponsor only once the sponsorship process is complete.
Donate monthly / flexibly
Consider making a monthly or periodic donation to our Scholarship Programme’s general fund if you are not yet ready to sponsor a full scholarship. We support students over the long term; therefore, gifts of all sizes combine to:
- Support students who are still on the waiting list.
- Provide emergency relief when students or their families face sudden crises.
- Fund skills and knowledge training activities for our students.
As a supporter, you will:
– Receive exclusive newsletters for monthly donors.
– Receive updates on the impact you and the community are creating.
Fundraise with family, friends, or colleagues
You can create your own fundraising page and invite your network to join you in supporting one or more scholarships.
Every donation will be displayed on your page, allowing you to easily track your progress and see the total amount your team has raised.
As a fundraiser, you will:
– Turn a personal or collective goal into a meaningful contribution to education.
– Spread the spirit of giving and inspire your community to support a worthy cause.
– Experience the power of collective action by directly contributing to a student’s educational journey.
We are committed to transparency for every contribution.
“Giving is happiness.
What impresses me most about saigonchildren’s Scholarship Programme is that they do not award scholarships based on academic merit. As long as a child still has the desire to go to school, the organisation will find a way to help them continue. That is a truly beautiful philosophy.
I hope that saigonchildren continues to thrive and receives even more support to carry out their mission, providing quality learning opportunities to all the children who deserve them.“
Frequently asked questions
How are children chosen for sponsorship?
Unlike many other scholarships that are based on academic merit, saigonchildren does not use a child’s school performance as a criterion for awarding a scholarship. We believe every child should have the same opportunity to access education. Furthermore, for children in remote areas, even one extra year of schooling means another year developing in a safe environment, which positively impacts their future prospects.
Our Scholarship Programme selects beneficiaries based on:
- The family’s financial situation (e.g., average income falling at or below the national poverty line, significant debts, or lack of assets).
- The family’s earning capacity, particularly if members have limited or no ability to work due to illness or disability.
- Family circumstances, such as the loss of one or both parents, or parents having to migrate far from home for work.
- A demonstrated commitment to education, meaning both the student and their family show a strong desire for the child to stay in school.
- A lack of, or very limited, support from other NGOs or the government.
What does my sponsorship mean to my sponsored child?
As a sponsor, you will help transform your sponsored child’s life. Our scholarship packages are tailored to the student’s educational level. For instance, university students receive financial assistance for tuition fees. Conversely, even at levels where tuition is free (like primary school), families still face costs for textbooks, uniforms, and health insurance. Our scholarships cover these essential expenses, and often provide 10 kg of rice per month during the school year.
Saigonchildren conducts home visits for every child to assess the family’s level of hardship and their suitability for the programme. We meet with the children regularly and their families whenever possible to continually assess and reassess their needs. Our social workers maintain close contact with each child, getting to know them individually to ensure they always have what they need to stay in school.
What makes saigonchildren’s approach unique?
We collaborate with individuals and organisations across every level of a child’s environment – family, community, teachers, and sponsors – to ensure the most effective and lasting impact. When families face unexpected hardships, saigonchildren has emergency funds available to help (e.g., covering medical bills or providing COVID-19 relief). We also work directly with the children to provide vital social services, such as counselling for those at risk of dropping out or support for those recently returning to education.
When will I have the opportunity to meet my sponsored child?
If you are a scholarship sponsor, you can engage with your sponsored child through:
- Periodic student gatherings (subject to the schedule of our social work team).
- Special celebrations, such as the Mid-Autumn Festival, Tết (Lunar New Year), or other extracurricular activities organised across our programme areas.
- Please note: In these instances, sponsors are responsible for their own travel and related expenses.
In strict adherence to our Child Protection Policy, all communication and interaction with children must take place in the presence of saigonchildren staff. Every visit is carefully prepared to ensure the utmost privacy, safety, and comfort for both the child and their family.
In which cases will a student not receive the full scholarship package for that school year?
For school-level students, the full package may not be provided if:
- The student drops out or ceases their education.
- The family’s financial situation improves sufficiently to cover the child’s educational expenses.
- The student or their family violates theprogramme’s regulations (for the second time).
- The student and their family move outside the project area.
For university or college students, the full package may not be provided if:
- The student fails to comply with the programme’s regulations (from the first instance), such as: failing to attend student meetings without a valid reason, failing to submit their student letter, or submitting academic transcripts late without prior notice or a valid confirmation letter from the university.
- The student completes their studies earlier than the standard duration (e.g., accelerated study or early graduation) or is enrolled in a course with a non-standard duration (e.g., 3.5 or 4.5 years).
Any undisbursed scholarship funds will be reallocated to the general scholarship fund to support other programme activities or students who do not yet have a sponsor.
How transparent is the Scholarship Programme, and how is it monitored?
– Targeted support based on true needs: saigonchildren regularly reviews and updates its scholarship packages to match the real-world needs of students across different age groups and circumstances. Before onboarding a student, we collaborate closely with schools, local partners, and families to ensure our support reaches those who need it most.
– Transparent and responsible management of funds: Mandatory expenses such as health insurance, and uniforms are prioritised and often paid directly to the schools to ensure funds are used for their intended purpose. Our social workers maintain regular contact with students and their families throughout the sponsorship period.
– Regular impact updates for sponsors: Sponsors receive their sponsored student’s basic information, annual academic progress updates, the Scholarship Programme’s annual activity report, and regular newsletters from saigonchildren.
– Financial transparency: saigonchildren’s financial activities are independently audited every year by KPMG. Our annual activity and financial reports are published publicly on our website for all interested parties to review.
Find out more at Child Sponsorship Info Pack.