In the 2024-2025 school year, the program “CHIN-SU One Million Meals with Meat” in collaboration with the Fund for Poor Students in the Highlands continues its second year of supporting students in difficult circumstances.

Students eagerly wait in front of a giant pan of rice and meat. Photo: H. Van

With a total budget of 10 billion VND, the program is expected to provide more than 1 million meals with meat for students at nearly 100 schools in 9 provinces in the Northern mountainous region and the Central Highlands.

The need for solidarity

“CHIN-SU One million meals with meat” is aimed at supporting nutrition for children in disadvantaged areas, not only providing warm and loving meals to help them go to school more regularly, but also aiming at comprehensive development of physical strength, stature, and intelligence for children on their journey to find future literacy

“One million meals with meat” aims to comprehensively develop students’ physical strength, stature, and intelligence. Photo: H. Van

The 2020 National Institute of Nutrition survey report shows that although the national malnutrition rate has decreased, the stunting rate among ethnic minority children (31.4%) is still twice as high as that of Kinh children. In addition, the rate of underweight ethnic minority children is also 2.5 times higher (21%) than that of Kinh children (8.5%).

The above figures show that nutritional care is a special priority for the comprehensive development of children in mountainous areas and requires the contribution of businesses and the community.

The Journey of “Million Meals with Meat”

The Fund for Poor Students in the Highlands is a social charity fund, formerly known as the “Rice with Meat” Program. The fund operates on a non-profit basis, with the aim of supporting poor students in the highlands to have more nutritious meals in class, more warm clothes, school supplies, books, medicine, build schools, dormitories, kitchens, wells, etc.

The students who are supported with “rice with meat” are poor students whose houses are close to the school (less than 4km) and are not eligible for the state’s lunch subsidy. The children have to walk many kilometers of mountain roads to get home regardless of the weather, so the rate of returning to school in the afternoon will be very low.

The way to school for students in the highlands often requires them to walk many kilometers of mountain roads, through many hills and streams, regardless of sunny or rainy weather. Photo: H. Van

The meal with meat was created to encourage the children to stay at school to continue their classes in the afternoon, so that their knowledge would be more complete, their nutrition would be more complete, and they would have more moments of bonding and love, sharing difficulties with gentle, innocent smiles in the small kitchen filled with warm affection.

Not only does it provide care and support for children, “One million meals with meat” also provides meaningful spiritual contributions, encouragement and “fueling” the enthusiasm of teachers working in remote and difficult areas of the country.

Meals with meat at school not only bring joy and laughter, but also motivate children to go to school more diligently. Photo: H. Van

Mr. Quynh – Principal of Tan Tien Primary School for Ethnic Minorities, Ban Pe shared, “We feel like we are fueled by a meaningful program like “CHIN-SU One Million Meals with Meat” accompanying us. Thanks to the meals with meat, students are motivated to go to school more diligently, and classes are more complete. This is the greatest happiness for us teachers.”

“One million meals with meat” – Join hands to support the future buds

The project “One million meals with meat” is the beginning of a long-term journey for the community. One million meals is just the initial number, further, CHIN-SU hopes to bring millions of smiles, fostering millions of future dreams of children. Through meals with meat, CHIN-SU hopes to give more motivation for children to firmly step on the journey to light up their dreams.

Representatives of CHIN-SU brand and the Fund for Poor Students in the Highlands presented the symbolic board “One million meals with meat” with a total budget of 10 billion VND in the 2024 – 2025 school year at Tan Tien Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities and Primary School, Ban Pe village, Yen Lo, Binh Gia, Lang Son. Photo: H. Van

Ms. Dinh Hong Van – Senior Marketing Director, CHIN-SU brand representative shared: “With the program “One million meals with meat”, CHIN-SU and the Fund for poor children in mountainous areas not only want to bring nutritious meals but also want to give trust and motivation for children to strongly move forward on the path of learning to find letters to build their future. We believe that each meal is not only full but also warm, lighting up in the hearts of children the hope for a bright future.”

CHIN-SU “One million meals with meat” has created a meaningful activity, marking the journey of “Supporting students – Supporting teachers” on the memorable November 20th.

Journalist Nguyen Anh Tu – Vice President and Director of the “Poor Students in the Highlands” Fund said: “Over the past decade, the “Poor Students in the Highlands” Fund has received great support from the community. We are extremely grateful for the kindness that has been given to the students, becoming a great source of encouragement to help them firmly step on the journey of conquering knowledge. The companionship of CHIN-SU in the second year has further affirmed the value of sharing, marking a solid milestone in the solidarity of Vietnamese enterprises for the community, helping us continue to nurture the dreams of children in the highlands.”