On 30th August 2018, DHL-VNPT Express, in partnership with Saigonchildren, delivered 40 bicycles to disadvantaged children in Tra Vinh. Those who received the bicycles have been identified and selected by Saigonchildren under the Child Development Scholarship programme.

For nearly 10 years, DHL-VNPT Express have been working with Saigonchildren to provide disadvantaged children with bicycles to fufil a logistical dilema for many families: transportation to get children to school. This comes as part of DHL-VNPT Express’s commitment to education and sustainability, as a bicycle is a long term and more environmentally friendly solution.
In 2009, DHL-VNPT Express committed to contributing 20 bicycles each year until 2012 (inclusive). Since then, they increased their generous contribution to 25 bicycles each year for a further 5 years (2017 inclusive), and have now announced they wish to increase this further to 40 bicycles each year, between 2018 and 2022 (inclusive).

Thanks to DHL-VNPT Express’s generous contributions, over 250 children have already received bicycles, which will make a huge impact in overcoming the barriers to education. Many children in Tra Vinh live a long distance from their school, and often become demotivated from being required to walk long journeys every day. Therefore the chances of the child leaving education prematurely are increased. The independence of cycling to school can provide motivation, confidence, and a sense of achievement, encouraging the child to continue school. Furthermore, the bicycle provides the child with transport throughout their education, relieving the pressures of a strenuous journey, or the financial burden of a bus pass.
Alongside bicycles, Saigonchildren also provides school fees, textbooks, spectacles, uniform fees and rice-dependent on the needs of the child and their family’s situation. The programme criteria involves the family’s financial situation, ability to earn and individual circumstances. However also encourages parents and relatives to take an active interest in the child’s education, further reducing the chances of the child dropping out early.