A new kitchen funded by De Heus through Hope Foundation at Branch 1 of Le Van Tam Primary School in the southern province of Tay Ninh began serving more than 400 boarding students on Oct. 14.
The kitchen in Tan Ninh Ward was built at a cost of more than VND580 million (US$22,400). Its enclosed design features separate areas for food preparation, cooking, meal portioning and food sample storage to meet food safety requirements.
Principal Bui Thi Ha said the school and parents built a temporary kitchen and dining area with a corrugated-iron roof in 2018 to serve about 50 students.
The number of boarding students has since increased significantly, exceeding 300 before the current school year, with another 100 students subsequently enrolled.
"From now on, the children will study, rest and eat meals prepared in a clean, proper space that meets all the necessary conditions for their care and nutrition," Ha said.
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Representatives of De Heus Vietnam, Hope Foundation, the school and local authorities cut the ribbon to inaugurate the new kitchen. Photo by Vy An |
Johan van den Ban, CEO of De Heus Vietnam and Asia, said improving students' nutrition and physical well-being was a key focus of the company's corporate social responsibility programs.
"I hope the new kitchen will help provide tasty, nutritious and hygienic meals so the children can study and grow with peace of mind every day," he said.
Nguyen Xuan Tu, executive director of Hope Foundation, said she hoped each project would meet genuine needs, be used effectively and deliver lasting benefits.
"Regardless of where they are born and raised, every child deserves the best possible conditions for learning, care and development," Tu said.
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Nguyen Thu Thuy, director of sustainable development at De Heus Vietnam, presents gifts to nearly 700 students at Branch 1 of Le Van Tam Primary School. |
The sponsors also donated 700 notebooks to students at the school branch. Interactive quizzes and gift giveaways introduced children to nutrition and healthy eating in an engaging way.
Over the past three years, De Heus Vietnam and Hope Foundation have worked together on school meal improvements, kitchen construction and school reconstruction following natural disasters. Their projects have covered areas including Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Tay Ninh, as well as flood-affected communities.
The two organizations said they would continue working to address immediate needs while improving children's living and learning environments over the long term.
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