Standard Chartered Vietnam and VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide education in financial literacy, sexual health, legal rights, and leadership skills for female rural ethnic minority students.
Two Brighter Path Girls Clubs (BPGC) will be implemented over one year, from May 2022 to May 2023, to empower victims of social prejudice and gender inequality and transform them into agents of change.
The partnership between the two organisations started in 2021 and represents the dedicated collaborative commitments to serve Vietnamese communities.
VCF will carry out two BPGC models in two rural high schools, providing friendship mentoring and education for 160 ethnic minority high school students in Viet Nam.
In addition to the universal goal of encouraging female students to remain in school and postpone marriage, the BPGC is designed to create a safe and comfortable environment, encouraging female students to share their difficulties and learn from each other.
Financial experts and volunteers from Standard Chartered Vietnam will participate in consulting and organising for the clubs to learn about personal financial management and mentorship for ethnic minority girls.
“Our partnership with VinaCapital Foundation started in 2021. This is an extension of a multi-year partnership. Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam is fully committed to 'lifting participation' for communities of Viet Nam, providing initiatives that focus specifically on adolescent to professional growth and career advancement of under-represented populations to accelerate the pace of change, including coaching, mentoring and sponsorship," said Michele Wee, CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam.
"VinaCapital Foundation’s track record of dedication focusing on adolescent ethnic high school girls is a perfect partner to accelerate our efforts with."
Rad Kivette, CEO of VinaCapital Foundation, said: “Studies from around the world prove that in underdeveloped communities, educating girls in key topics is the best investment we can make to reduce generational poverty, improve health, build the middle class, and ensure women's rights."
“It is VinaCapital Foundation’s honour to partner with Standard Chartered Vietnam to provide quality education opportunities in ethnic communities for vulnerable, disadvantaged and often marginalised ethnic high school girls.
"With the generous support of Standard Chartered Vietnam, for which we are very grateful, this project will prepare and enable ethnic high school girls to become strong independent women who contribute substantially to the economic growth of Viet Nam.” — VNS