Embracing the celebration of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (3/2/1930 - 3/2/2025) and 30th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Student Association of HCMUE, the university made practical efforts to improve the quality of life and provide support for underprivileged students and international students during the celebration of the Lunar New Year 2025. With this, HCMUE hopes to educate students and members about the tradition of always remembering one’s own roots and looking after the less fortunate. On the evening of January 14th, 2025, the Standing Committee of the University’s Youth Union cooperated with the Secretariat of the Vietnam Student Association of HCMUE to organize the program titled “Uniting friends and Celebrating the Year of the Snake 2025”
Vice President Cao Anh Tuan attended and gave a directive speech. Also present at the event were representatives of leaders from the functional units at the university, representatives of sponsoring organizations along with key members of the grassroots Youth Union and Student Association, and more than 500 students and association members.
During the event, the organizer donated 122 gifts for the underprivileged students or those unable to return to their hometowns for Tet, among whom were 7 students from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic studying at HCMUE. The accumulated value of the donations from sponsoring partners from within and outside of HCMUE reached 2.641 billion, of which 2.4 billion were awarded under the form of English learning scholarships, while monetary contributions amounted to over 130 million VND and 1 million worth of bus tickets (82 tickets) support for underprivileged students to return home.
The organizing committee presented moving documentary footage about students facing difficult circumstances, along with heartfelt shares from the students themselves, in order to inspire and spread deep empathy within the community. On behalf of the students, Phan An Phu, a first-year student from the Geography Department, confided: "I am from Nghe An, my family is engaged in agriculture and belongs to the poor household category. As a first-year student, I always strive to study hard and save money to lessen the financial burden on my family. Studying far from home, I sometimes miss my family. This Tet, due to difficult circumstances, I planned not to go home for the holiday, but thanks to this program, the school has shown concern, shared, and supported students in difficult situations like mine. I feel comforted and excited because I will be able to return home to celebrate Tet with my family."
Speaking at the program, Dr. Cao Anh Tuan - Vice President - underscored the humanistic value that the university always strive for in taking care of the students. He affirmed that the university is always student-oriented and that the program is not only an annual voluntary activity but also carries a clear message, which is “no students are left behind”. In the meantime, Dr. Cao Anh Tuan also represented the leaders of the university to express his sincere gratitude to the units and organizations that had accompanied the university to organize such a meaningful event to welcome the New Year.
Some highlights of the event “Uniting friends and Celebrating the Year of the Snake 2025” implemented by the Standing Committee of the HCMUE Youth Union, the Secretariat of the Vietnam Student Association were: taking care of the students with difficulties and students in a wide range of groups who were unable to return home during Tet, while at the same time extending the activities at the Long An campus of HCMUE and with foreign students at HCMUE.
Embracing the core values of “Quality - Creativity - Humanity”, the program titled “Uniting friends” is a traditional activity organized every Tet holiday, bringing noble and good humanistic values to students at the University. This year's program has the support and company of: WESET English Center, Vietnam Oil Corporation - PV Oil, Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, An Phu Branch, Tan An Granite Joint Stock Company, benefactors, Ho Chi Minh City Student Support Center, School Parking Management Board, HCMUE Union, HCMUE Publishing House, Ho Chi Minh City University of Education Information Technology Center.
