Frequently asked questions about "Growing up with mountainous students" project in 2025-2026 school year

VSF sincerely thanks all those who have joined forces with the project. Thanks to this collective effort, "Growing up with mountainous students" can provide underprivileged children in mountainous areas with nutritious semi-boarding meals, contributing to their comprehensive development and helping them grow up to be more confident.

To promote transparency and continue building trust with our sponsors, VSF has compiled and answered the most-asked questions related to the project's operation and implementation.

1. How long will the "Growing up with mountainous students" project run?

The "Growing up with mountainous students" project is a long-term initiative by VSF with the goal of providing nutritional support to children throughout their preschool and primary school years. This support aims to improve the status of stunting and underweight among children. VSF will make every effort to mobilize resources to sponsor semi-boarding meals (including lunch and additional meals in the evening) for children studying in the project’s school sites.

2. How much can I contribute and what are the donation methods?

Sponsors can choose to donate ANY AMOUNT or sponsor one or more children for 2 million VND/child/year.

Regarding donation methods:

• Donate through the DONATE FEATURE on For Vietnamese Stature Foundation website (Link in the comments section)
• Transfer to For Vietnamese Stature Foundation:

Account Name: QUY VI TAM VOC VIET

Account Number: 003001060001222

Bank: Bac A Bank, Ha Noi Headquarters

Transaction Note: Full name_Phone CEKL

Note: Please include your full name and phone number. If you wish to remain anonymous, please use the following note: Anonymous_CEKL.

3. Why has the contribution amount increased from 1,700,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND/child/year, starting from the 2024-2025 school year?

Starting from the 2024-2025 school year, the support amount was adjusted from 1,700,000 VND to 2,000,000 VND/child/year to ensure the quality of the semi-boarding meals. This means the daily meal cost per child will increase from 8,500 VND to 11,000 VND, which covers one lunch and one additional meal in the evening.

4. How will the 2,000,000 VND/child/year sponsorship be used?

This amount will be used to cover the semi-boarding meals (including lunch and afternoon meals) for each child at a rate of 11,000 VND per day throughout one school year (9 months).

5. What are the benefits for sponsors participating in the project?

• At the end of each semester, sponsors will receive a comprehensive project report. Each sponsor will also get a specific report on the child they are sponsoring.
• At the end of the school year, sponsors will receive an annual activity summary report and the project's financial report.
• Sponsors will receive a sponsorship confirmation from VSF.
• Sponsors will have priority to visit the students in person once a year and participate in exchange activities with the sponsored children, covering their own expenses.

6. When will I receive information about the child I sponsor?

After fundraising for the new school year is complete, VSF will match children with their sponsors by late August or early September. We will then send you information about the child you are sponsoring via the email address you provided.

7. Can I co-sponsor a child with another person?

Yes, you can co-sponsor together with 1 or more people to support 1 or more children.

8. Can sponsors choose the children to support?

• Sponsors will be randomly matched with children.
• For sponsors who participated in the previous school year, you will have priority to continue supporting the same child in the 2025-2026 school year, unless you wish to sponsor a different child.
• If a sponsored child has graduated, VSF will match you with a new child.
• If you wish to be matched with a specific child, please contact VSF directly.

9. Who will cook the children's lunch, and how are the cooking staff costs covered?

The schools can hire their own cooks, who are often local residents or parents of students. For schools with 50 or more children, the monthly cooking fee is 2.6 million VND, and this cost is covered by the Department of Education and Training. For schools with fewer than 50 children, the monthly fee is 1.5 million VND and is contributed by the parents.

The school is also responsible for supervising and ensuring food safety and hygiene for the children's lunches.

10. How are the project's monitoring, evaluation and reporting conducted?

• VSF is responsible for monitoring and evaluating the project's outcomes.
• Every month, the schools will provide VSF with updates on the project's implementation, including photos and videos of the children's lunches.
• At the end of each semester, the schools will report to VSF on the project's results, including changes in the children's weight, height and overall health. VSF will then send a comprehensive project report to all sponsors. In addition, each sponsor will receive a specific report about the child they are supporting.
• The project is also monitored by local authorities.

11. What will happen to any remaining sponsorship funds at the end of the year?

If there is any remaining budget after the school year, the remaining funds will be used for improving students' learning conditions, such as buying additional school supplies, bookcases or upgrading the school's facilities such as installing lights, fans or blankets…

12. Will the children receive information about the sponsors? Can I exchange letters or send gifts to the child I sponsor?

The children will receive information about their sponsors and are encouraged to express their gratitude annually through drawings or crafts.

Sponsors are welcome to exchange letters or send gifts to the children they sponsor. However, all gifts and correspondence must be sent through VSF.

If sending a gift or letter isn't feasible or isn't in the child's best interest, VSF will discuss the matter with the sponsor to find a mutually agreeable solution.

13. Can groups/organizations/businesses sponsor meals for an entire school site?

VSF strongly encourages groups/organizations/businesses to sponsor a whole school site. VSF can survey and implement the project in a specific location based on the partner's needs.

To ensure the continuity and stability of the children's nutrition, sponsors who commit to an entire school site are required to do so for a minimum of three consecutive years.

14. When sponsoring the "Growing up with mountainous students" project, can I get a tax deduction?

According to Clause 1, Article 20, Section 1, Chapter 2 of the Law on Personal Income Tax, issued by the National Assembly on November 21, 2007, it is stipulated that:

"Donations for charity and humanitarian purposes shall be deducted from income before calculating tax on income from business, salaries and wages of resident individuals, including:

a) Donations to organizations and establishments that care for and nurture children in especially difficult circumstances, people with disabilities, and the elderly without a home.

b) Donations to charitable funds, humanitarian funds, and study encouragement funds."

Therefore, sponsors who contribute to the "Growing up with mountainous students" project and other charitable projects and activities by VSF will be provided with a Sponsorship Confirmation Report to proceed with their tax finalization procedures.

For direct donations via the website: There is a dedicated section for sponsors to fill in their information, allowing VSF to issue the necessary personal income tax deduction documents.

For donations made via bank transfer to VSF's account, please note:

• Clearly state your full name and phone number in the transaction note. (VSF will only provide a Sponsorship Confirmation Report for donations where the name on the transaction matches the name on the ID or citizen card provided by the sponsor. If the transaction note is left blank, please provide a bank statement or a screenshot of the transaction that clearly shows the donation.)
• Please contact us via email at lienhe@vitamvocviet.vn within 90 days from the date of your donation and provide the following information: [Full name, ID or citizen card number (including date and place of issue), personal income tax Code, address, phone number, amount donated].