On the 19th of April, 2023, the commencement ceremony of the Hieu Tu C primary school construction project took place at Hieu Tu commune, Tieu Can district, Tra Vinh province. With financial support from BASF and partners (MKVN, Nippon Paint, Phuong Nam Panel, Sam Chem Sphere, Tam Tran, Viet Duc JSC), other donors, and reciprocated funds from the local government, this construction project is part of Saigon Children’s Charity’s ‘School Building’ programme to improve the learning environment of children in underserved communities.


Hieu Tu C primary school is in an area where there is a large number of people of ethnic backgrounds. The school has one main site and three satellite sites. This construction project will take place at O Trao, one of the three satellite sites.

The project – expected to be completed in October – involves building two new classrooms and remodeling the 200-square-metre playground to ensure students have a spacious and – most importantly – safe environment to learn and play.

This O Trao satellite site currently has only four classrooms but is the learning space for 162 students, of whom 159 are from ethnic minorities. One class can have up to 40 students, which is too many to ensure the best outcome in teaching and learning. Built only as a temporary structure, the school is now in a state of severe deterioration. Inside the classrooms it’s hot during the dry season, and noisy during the rainy season, making it even more difficult for the children to concentrate and learn.

Like every school building project of Saigon Children’s Charity, the design and construction of the classrooms are following the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training. Saigon Children’s Charity will also establish a people’s supervision committee including parents, teachers, and locals to coordinate in supervising the construction, as well as preserving and maintaining the facilities in the future.

