support to economically disadvantaged students since its founding in 2002. By combining financial scholarships with competency-developing initiatives, the nonprofit tackles both urgent financial barriers and enduring growth needs.
### Foundations and Purpose https://viethope.com.vn/
Founded in 2002 by Vietnamese-American students at Harvard University, VietHope worked to rectify structural scholastic inequities in Vietnam. The organization’s mandate—to enable impoverished students through opportunities to education—stems from acknowledgement that economic hardship remains the primary barrier to educational continuation.
### Programs and Impact
1. University Scholarship Program (USP):
– Offers between $300 and $400 annually
– Recipients need to exhibit academic excellence (base GPA of 3.0)
– Incremental funding system encourages educational persistence
2. Merit Development Program (MDP):
– Gives $150 USD yearly bursaries
– Contains career-specific training and career counseling
Results:
– Postsecondary degree attainment: 91% vs. 74% nationwide
– STEM registration: 68% vs. 42% countrywide
