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Finding family warmth when parents work far from home

date_range2026-08-24

For children living in the Mekong Delta, the warmth of family is not always found in their parents’ daily presence. Instead, that warmth is often felt through the modest sums of money sent home by a mum and dad working hard far away, and in the loving embrace of grandparents and relatives. Supporting nearly 2,000 students each year, saigonchildren’s Scholarship Programme has witnessed many such quiet yet profound forms of family intimacy, and T.’s story is one of them.

(Photo for illustrative purposes only)

T. is a diligent student in Tiền Giang Province. Since childhood, she has lived with her grandmother and a cousin. The adults in their family – her mum, aunt, and uncle – had all left their hometown to earn a living, saving up to send back around 1 to 2 million VND a month to cover the living expenses of the three left behind.

T.’s house is 6km from her school. Every day, she cycles there on a bike provided by the school, consistently maintaining her excellent academic results over the years. Returning home at midday, T. helps her grandmother with the cooking, washing up, and other household chores. For these two girls, their grandmother was the only adult at home, the one who took care of their every need, from delicious meals to a restful night’s sleep, acting as an anchor whenever they needed help.

(Photo: Parents’ meeting held by saigonchildren)

Her grandmother also stood in for T.’s parents during important educational milestones. Since Grade 7, when T. first received saigonchildren’s scholarship, her grandmother attended our annual parents’ meetings in the local area to stay updated. This support helps ease the family’s financial burden, giving T. the security she needed to continue her education.

However, in April, a heart-wrenching event occurred: her grandmother passed away right before T.’s second-semester exams. For T., the pain went far beyond the loss of a family member. With the love and care of her parents already restricted by geography, the closest person in her life, the one who had nurtured her since she was young, had suddenly gone.

At that time, their family bond took on a new form: the mutual care and protection of two cousins. Embracing her immense grief, T. kept looking forward. She studied hard, passing her end-of-term exams and the high school entrance exam, holding onto her hope of building a successful career in nursing. Furthermore, to prepare financially for the upcoming academic year, the two girls took on temporary jobs in Bình Dương Province (currently belongs to Hồ Chí Mih City) over the past three months.

(Photo: A glance at T.’s learning corner)

Now, the summer has ended with an emotional turning point. T.’s mum has brought her to live with her in another province, where they can spend more time together, giving T. a much greater sense of security as she resumes her studies and builds her life. Consequently, our Scholarship Programme will cease supporting T. from the next academic year. Yet, for social workers like us, this is a fond farewell. T. has grown increasingly persistent and resilient, and she has found the warmth of her mother’s love once again, laying a strong foundation for her to step confidently into the future.

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