Since its inception, the “Loving Thursday” initiative has provided 25–30 nutritious meals each week, helping ethnic minority and underprivileged students continue their studies.
Each breakfast, costing nearly 500,000 VND (about USD 20), is funded partly by Tai himself, with growing support from colleagues and former students.
Tai, 41, begins his day by buying fresh ingredients at the local market before preparing soups such as beef noodle soup, bánh canh, hủ tiếu, and dry phở.
At 7:45 a.m., when the first lesson ends, students line up at a small kitchen corner where he serves steaming bowls of food and asks about their studies.
“I want the students to have a nutritious breakfast so they can study better,” Tai said, noting that many used to skip meals to save money.
His effort, he added, comes from both compassion and his proximity to the school, only 300 meters from his home.
Initially self-funded, the project has since attracted contributions of equipment and funds.
However, limited resources mean Tai currently prioritizes meals for students from ethnic minority groups facing the greatest hardships.
Looking ahead, the school’s Youth Union plans to organize fundraising activities to expand the program, aiming to serve meals two or three times per week.
Beyond the meal initiative, the Youth Union, with approval from school leaders, also coordinated with Ia Ly Commune’s People’s Committee to provide free accommodation at the old kindergarten premises for 23 disadvantaged students.
The group additionally sponsors two students with monthly support of 500,000 VND (USD 20) and raises tens of millions of dong annually to award “Back to School” scholarships.
