School Director together with representatives of Dragon Capital, SCC and local authority were happy to openng the new school

On May 22, 2008, representatives of SCC, Dragon Capital and local authorities were happy to open a new primary school in Thanh Son Commune, Dinh Quan District, Dong Nai Province. The school was built by Saigon Children’s Charity (SCC) with US$ 12,702 in funding from Dragon Capital and with financial contributions from SCC’s partner – the Dinh Quan Education and Training Bureau.
In January 2007, Dragon Capital approved the sponsorship of a new school building for Lam Son Primary School, in Dinh Quan District, Dong Nai Province. The construction work started in November 2007 and by April 2008, the building was completed! Two new classrooms act as Lam Son Primary School’s satellite sites. This branch is located in the commune commonly known by local people as “Dao Ca” which means “Fish Island”. Most of the children studying at this branch come from very poor families who live on floating houses and raise fish near the school.
Prior to the generous sponsorship from Dragon Capital, students had to study in very poor condition; classrooms with corrugated iron walls and roof were seriously damaged and were only meant as temporary structures.
The children are now very excited to go back to school after this current summer vacation. Beginning in August 2008, they will study in new and safer classrooms. They will no longer have to deal with water leaking on rainy days nor scorching heat during sunny days. The two new classrooms will serve 50 children in the commune each year.
To carry out the project successfully, in addition to its financial contribution, our partner, Dinh Quan Education and Training Bureau has been responsible for day to day monitoring. They will also be responsible for the cost of running the school.

	Lovely children's performance at the beginning of the School Opening Ceremony

A delegation from Dragon Capital, led by Mr. Pham Nguyen Vinh, Business Development Director, and Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Mai, Corporate Communications Executive, traveled to Dinh Quan with representatives of SCC for the opening ceremony. The ceremony was attended by representatives from the local government, media agencies, as well as teachers and children with their parents.
We were very impressed by the children’s notable performance at the beginning of the ceremony. We therefore all hope the new classrooms will be a new home for children in “Dao Ca”, where they will come to receive proper education and where they can reach their full potential.
This is the first school building project carried by the partnership between SCC and Dragon Capital. As a financial corporation opened in Vietnam in 1994, Dragon Capital not only focuses their work in the Vietnamese capital market but also has a commitment to support the long term development of Vietnam. For those reasons, Dragon Capital is always very positive and willing to participate in social and charitable activities with a focus on educational and environmental development.
SCC runs many other projects, in which corporate sponsorship is needed, and has a trustful relationship with Dragon Capital. So this year, Dragon Capital has also sponsored 20 children in Binh Phuoc through our Scholarship Programme and donated funding to provide 129 bicycles to our 2008 Bicycle Appeal. Moreover, our partnership will continue to strengthen through our next project, building a bathroom or perhaps a fence for Lam Son Primary School.  

Through the School Building Programme, the new classrooms of Lam Son Primary School are the 14h that SCC has built during 5 years working in Dinh Quan. SCC has also provided scholarships to 343 children in this area. Our wish is to help the local community and to bring a brighter future to all children in Dinh Quan.