Hope Foundation brings School Hygiene project to Yen Bai, Lai Chau provinces

March 8, 2024 | 12:00 am GMT+7 / Source: https://e.vnexpress.net/

By Vy An, VnExpress

With support from Sanofi Vietnam, Hope Foundation is to build 20 new toilets in Mu Cang Chai District in Yen Bai Province, and Tam Duong District in Lai Chau Province.

Under a sponsorship agreement for the "School Hygiene" project in 2024 between Hope Foundation and Sanofi Vietnam on March 6, 20 standard toilets will be built at primary and secondary schools in the two districts.

The project will also continue to carry out training and educational activities, raising awareness of students on school hygiene. It is estimated that about 8,500 people in the two districts will directly benefit from the project.

Representatives of Sanofi and Hope Foundation sign a cooperation agreement for the 2024 School Hygiene project on March 6, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

Mu Cang Chai, a mountainous district, is among 74 poorest districts in the country. All 13 communes of the district are faced with extremely difficult socio-economic conditions, with more than 91% of the population being Mong ethnic people, and a poverty rate of over 50%.

Tam Duong is also a disadvantaged mountainous district, with 85% of the population being ethnic minorities, and more than 40% of households being poor and near-poor.

According to a survey, many school sanitation facilities in these districts have been degraded and damaged after being used for a long time to serve a large number of students. Some schools only have makeshift toilets that are usually cramped, smelly with stagnant water supply.

In Mu Cang Chai, flash floods have damaged and swept away a number of school toilets.

Students use degraded toilets at schools in Mu Cang Chai District in Yen Bai Province and Tam Duong District in Lai Chau Province. Video by VnExpress.

At the signing ceremony, Truong Thanh Thanh, Chairwoman of the Management Board of Hope Foundation, said: "The project encountered many difficulties in financial and human resources, land and water resources... causing quite a delay in its initial stages. Sanofi Vietnam's long-term companionship in this project will come as a great help in realizing the desire for a better society, creating happier lives for future generations."

This is the third year Sanofi Vietnam has accompanied the School Hygiene project, aiming to improve the quality of life and build a better learning environment for children in the northern highlands. In 2022 and 2023, Sanofi Vietnam accompanied the building of 40 out of 100 constructions under the project, directly supporting 9,000 students and teachers in Van Ho District in Son La Province, and Dong Van District in Ha Giang Province.

Maria Valentina Sposito, Head of ASEA for Sanofi Consumer Healthcare, said: "I am very impressed by the project activities that have been implemented and the impacts that we bring not only to Vietnamese children but also to the community. With regards to the project that the two sides cooperate on, we share the same dream of building more toilets for children, bringing various changes to the community, especially in remote areas."

Old toilet at a school in Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Photo by VnExpress.

New toilet at a school in Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province. Photo by VnExpress.

Recently, Hope Foundation has also implemented the "School Hygiene" project in Song Ma District in Son La Province, Muong Nhe District in Dien Bien Province, and Hung Ha District in Thai Binh Province. In two years, 100 constructions, along with guidance and training activities have brought about clean, safe toilets and contributed to raising awareness regarding school hygiene for nearly 20,000 students and teachers in five districts.

The activities contribute to the achievement of three UN sustainable development goals: ensure inclusive and equitable quality education, ensure availability of clean water and sanitation, and reduce inequalities within and among countries. The project also responds to the school healthcare program for the 2021 - 2025 period approved by the prime minister, which aims to improve Vietnamese children's health. It strives to ensure that 100% of schools will have toilets, of which 50% of schools will have a sufficient amount of toilets for students according to regulations, and 80% of toilets will maintain hygienic conditions by 2025. Join us here.

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