The Blackboard on the Wall and An Phúc’s Dream
In a small temporary house built on a relative’s land, Nguyễn An Phúc remains focused as he solves math problems on a special blackboard. The blackboard is not part of a complete study corner with a desk and chairs. Instead, his father attached it to the wall because the house is too small to accommodate a separate study desk for the children.
An Phúc is currently a Grade 3 student at Ngô Sỹ Liên Primary School in Đức Linh, former Bình Thuận Province. He comes from a family that values education, with four siblings who are all of school age. The family does not own residential land and currently lives in a temporary house. His father works as a carpenter, but his work is unstable, while his mother is a low-paid factory worker. Every month, the parents must cover living expenses and the educational costs of their four children while also trying to repay a bank loan.
Despite their financial difficulties, An Phúc’s parents are determined not to let their children’s education be interrupted. Unable to afford a study desk, his father made use of a section of the wall and installed a blackboard himself so that the children could study every evening. On this simple blackboard, the children practice writing, solve math problems, and review lessons they did not fully understand at school.
The blackboard is more than just a place for learning. It is a symbol of a father’s love and sacrifice, and of his determination to protect his children’s future with everything he has.
Hardship Cannot Stop An Phúc from Loving Learning
An Phúc particularly enjoys Mathematics and currently maintains good academic performance. His cramped living conditions and limited learning resources have not taken away his joy of studying.
An Phúc’s story reminds us that sometimes children do not need anything extraordinary to continue nurturing their dreams. They simply need books, uniforms, school supplies, and the belief that education can open the door to a better future.
An Phúc is one of many disadvantaged students in the project areas of Thien Chi Center. Many families depend on hired labor, farming, or seasonal work, with unstable incomes. When a new school year begins, the cost of books, uniforms, and school supplies becomes a significant burden. As a result, although they desperately want to attend school, many children continue studying in difficult conditions and face the risk of having their education interrupted.
192 Scholarships – 192 Opportunities to Stay in School
In the second round of the 2026–2027 scholarship program, with support scheduled for October 2026, Thien Chi Center hopes to work with the Heo Đất MoMo community and Trái Tim MoMo to raise VND 134,400,000 to provide 192 scholarships to disadvantaged primary and lower-secondary students in Lâm Đồng Province. Each scholarship is worth VND 700,000.
The support will help cover part of the costs of books, uniforms, school supplies, and other essential educational needs at the beginning of the new school year. Although 192 scholarships cannot solve all the difficulties faced by these families, they will provide meaningful encouragement and remind the children that they are not alone on their journey to school.
Small Contributions, Bigger Futures
An Phúc’s wall-mounted blackboard is made from simple materials, but on it, great dreams are being written. When parents refuse to give up on their children’s education and the community comes together to support them, children like An Phúc have greater opportunities to learn, grow, and gradually transform their lives.
Thien Chi Center sincerely hopes for the support of the Heo Đất MoMo community and generous donors through Trái Tim MoMo. Every contribution can help An Phúc and 191 other disadvantaged students have better opportunities to continue their education and confidently move forward in the 2026–2027 academic year.
About Thien Chi Center
Thien Chi Center is a social organization that has been working in community development since 2005. The Center implements various programs to support disadvantaged people in Lâm Đồng Province, including livelihood development, scholarships, employment opportunities for women, school health care, sex education, environmental protection, and support for children with special educational needs.
Each year, the Center supports more than 2,000 households in developing sustainable livelihoods and provides 1,000–1,500 scholarships to students at different educational levels. With more than 20 years of experience working alongside local communities, the Center is committed to selecting the right beneficiaries, providing scholarships directly, monitoring outcomes, and ensuring that donor funding is used transparently and for its intended purposes.
