Established by the family of the late Đỗ Hồng Căn, a former military medic, the fund provides 9-10 million VND (about USD 360-400) per student each year. Since its creation in 2016, it has awarded roughly 40 scholarships to high-performing students facing economic hardship at Trần Quốc Tuấn High School and Võ Văn Kiệt High School.
The fund is sustained entirely through voluntary contributions from Căn’s widow, Vũ Thị Minh Nguyệt, and their five children, all of whom have stable careers after overcoming hardship themselves through education. Upon Căn’s passing, the family donated all condolence money to launch the scholarship program, naming it after his Buddhist name, Thiện Duyên.
Beyond financial assistance, family members offer guidance, career advice and long-term mentorship, particularly for students pursuing medicine, a field they hope to bolster in the local community.
One of the most notable beneficiaries is Kpă H’Thảo, an ethnic Jrai student whose two younger siblings suffer from congenital hydrocephalus. Supported with 10 million VND (USD 400) annually throughout six years of university, she completed her General Medicine studies at Danang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy and is now interning at Gia Lai General Hospital. She says the fund made her medical education possible.
Another recipient, Trần Thị Xuân Thi, a top student at Trần Quốc Tuấn High School, currently receives 9 million VND (USD 360) a year along with academic guidance on school choices and future career paths.
Teachers say the fund has become an essential lifeline for students in need. According to Nguyễn Thị Thanh Sen of Trần Quốc Tuấn High School, each year the school identifies disadvantaged but high-achieving students and submits their cases for consideration.
She says the initiative has opened doors for many young people: “This meaningful support gives disadvantaged students a stronger foundation to pursue their academic dreams, opening up a brighter future”.
The scholarship program has also inspired a cycle of giving. Some former recipients who now have stable jobs have returned to offer gifts and encouragement to younger students, reinforcing the family’s vision of a community built on sharing and compassion.