Loreto Vietnam Australia Program (LVAP) , the international non-government organization, yesterday inaugurated a VND1.6 billion (US$76,200) kindergarten in Khanh Binh Tay Commune of Ca Mau Province’s Tran Van Thoi District.
With six classrooms, a hygienic toilet area, a safe electricity system and a refined water system, it can receive as many as 210 students of pre-school age to provide them early education.
All equipment of the facility as learning tables and chairs, playground equipment , organs for musical education and classroom furniture worth VND208 million ($10,000) were donated by Park Hyatt Saigon.
Addressing at the opening ceremony on Thursday in Ca Mau, Loreto CEO Trish Franklin said her agency is proud to give local children the chance of fun and wisdom through education.
“Early childhood education can be the single greatest difference between success and failure in society,” she said. “Early childhood education in the long term measures the issue of economic growth and productivity of any family and community.
“The construction of this kindergarten will also have an indirect impact on the families in this community, allowing them to have more time to work and advance their family income.”
Next week, LVAP will also inaugurate another kindergarten in Son Thanh Dong Village in Phu Yen’s Son Thanh District. With three classrooms, hygienic toilet areas, a kitchen, storerooms and function rooms, the VND1.35 billion ($65,000) project is a significant gift to the less advantaged children in the poor locality.
With the motto of “lifting learners into the future”, LVAP has reached out to over 10,000 children through its projects since 1997, giving them support in various forms to foster an encouraging learning environment.
In 2011, LVAP funded its projects and other less advantaged education-based areas with more than VND4.5 billion ($214,300).
Students of Khanh Binh Tay Kindergarten in Ca Mau bid farewell to Trish Franklin (C) of Loreto Vietnam Australia Program and other sponsors on March 1, 2012 (Photo: Hanh Tam)