Supporting Scholarship: Girls Can Do Anything

Trâm was raised in a poor family in Vietnam’s Vinh Long province. Her mother was a housewife, and her father worked as a seasonal worker. Their humble thatched house couldn’t withstand the scorching heat or the rainy season. On hot days, the house felt like an oven, and on rainy days, everything—including their bed, books, and belongings—became drenched. Despite the hardships, Trâm never gave up on her dream of getting an education. 

Her childhood was spent with reading old books and walking long distances to school every day. She understood that her family couldn’t afford much, so she never asked for anything extra. She would say to her mother, “I’m fine,” “I don’t need that,” “I don’t like that, please don’t buy it,” or “I’m full, don’t worry.” These words reflected her sacrifice and the deep awareness of the scarcity around her. Sometimes, seeing her friends with new books or clothes made her feel a little sad and envious, but she knew that to move forward, she had to work harder than anyone else. 

Trâm remembered the words from her neighbors and villagers who said to her parents that girls didn’t need much education. After finishing high school, girls would just get married and help their husbands, and university was too expensive for her poor family. These words felt like daggers in her heart, making her cry silently at night and motivating her to ask her parents for permission to continue her education despite the prejudices and challenges ahead. 

When she received the news that she had been awarded The Asia Foundation STEM University scholarship, Trâm couldn’t believe it. She was frozen in place, her heart overwhelmed with joy and happiness. At that moment, she felt like the luckiest person in the world. The scholarship was not just financial support, but also recognition and appreciation of her tireless efforts. It was a helping hand, showing her a clearer path toward achieving her dreams, which once seemed so distant. 

Trâm is now not only a strong and resilient woman who overcame adversity but also a role model for other young women, demonstrating that with hard work and determination, every dream can become a reality. 

“Girls can do anything!” This is not just a slogan—it’s the driving force behind The Asia Foundation’s privately funded scholarship programs designed to empower girls and young women like Trâm who come from disadvantaged backgrounds in Vietnam. Launched in 2011, the STEM scholarship’s purpose is to provide young women with the tools and support needed to rise above their circumstances and shine. 

At the heart of the scholarship program is a commitment to providing customized and holistic support, ensuring these girls and young women not only succeed in school but also excel beyond the classroom. Financial assistance plays a key role to cover essential costs such as tuition fees, laptops, learning materials, and English classes, making sure that no talented girl is held back because of a lack of resources.  

The Asia Foundation, or TAF, support extends far beyond just financial help. We believe in the power of soft skills, work-readiness skills, and networking. Through tailored training programs, we equip the girls with valuable life skills, language proficiency, career-focused knowledge, and mental health support to better prepare them for the challenges ahead.

Of the 220 young women, who originally received a university scholarship from TAF in 2011 and 2015, 100 percent graduated from universities and more than 80 percent of them found a stable job while many others pursued their master’s degrees in the country and overseas.

Connecting these young women with successful role models, especially women in STEM fields, is equally crucial. By allowing them to network with other students and connect with professionals in various fields, we help broaden their perspectives, ensuring they see beyond their immediate surroundings—whether that be their family, community, or school. 

While gaining knowledge and skills is vital, the most transformative part of this journey is the inspiration these girls receive. We aim to fuel their ambition and desire to push forward, to break free from the limitations of their circumstances, and reach their full potential.

Our program is not just about giving, it’s about awakening a passion for self-improvement. Every girl who receives our scholarship is encouraged to dream bigger, strive harder, and see the vast possibilities that lie before them. We believe that this internal drive is just as important as the resources and guidance we offer. 

This initiative goes even further. We encourage these young women to become active, responsible citizens of society, ones who not only focus on their personal success but also show compassion for others. We hope to inspire them to reach out and help those who are less fortunate, to create a ripple effect of change that extends beyond their own lives. This is how true empowerment works—when you rise, you reach back and lift others with you. 

For International Women’s Day on March 8, we organized a series of activities to honor, acknowledge, and support young girls and women in the Mekong Delta region. The programs included a scholarship award ceremony, a discussion on “Women in STEM Careers,” and a soft skills training session on communication and leadership skills for female students majoring in STEM fields at Can Tho University.

Additionally, we held a career guidance program for the girls at secondary school level in Hau Giang province. These activities not only served as an opportunity to express gratitude for women’s contributions but also as a platform to build a solid foundation, encouraging girls to pursue their dreams and reach for a bright future.  

Quách Khả Vân is one such woman seeking a brighter future. She comes from a poor family in An Giang province. She has a deep passion for physics and dreams of becoming a scientist in the field of physics. She hoped to apply to and pursue a career at Can Tho University. However, there are financial barriers.

Besides supporting her three younger siblings, her parents also have to take care of her grandmother and two aunts, so they didn’t want her to continue her education. They intended for Vân to start working to help the family after she graduated from high school.

But Vân decided to apply to Can Tho University on her own, only informing her parents after being accepted. Her parents were both happy and worried but ultimately agreed to let her study. On the day Vân left home to go to Can Tho University, her parents gave her just one million Vietnam Dong (equivalent to USD 40), and they had to borrow money from relatives to pay her tuition fees. 

When Vân received The Asia Foundation STEM scholarship, she was not only supported financially but also had the chance to attend soft skills training sessions in her first year at Can Tho University, including communication skills, time management, teamwork, presentation skills, effective learning methods, leadership, and personal development planning.

Vân shared: “This scholarship program opened doors to opportunities I never dreamed of. I’ve gradually improved myself and no longer feel insecure as I did in the beginning. Now, I not only study to change my life but also want to help other girls like me who fought to get an education.”

These stories not only demonstrate the power of comprehensive support but also serve as a reminder that with the right assistance and timely encouragement, girls can overcome any hardship and reach their greatest dreams. 

In the end, our mission is clear to prove that girls can do anything. By providing these young women with the tools needed and the inspiration to change their own lives, we are creating a brighter future for them, their families, and their communities. Because when girls are empowered, they can truly change the world.