Hope Foundation to build toilets and bathrooms for Quang Binh boarding school

The signing ceremony of the sponsorship agreement between Hope Foundation and Opella Vietnam, part of Sanofi's consumer healthcare division, took place on March 25 in Ho Chi Minh City. This marks the ongoing commitment and collaborative efforts of both parties to improve sanitation and clean water conditions in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Representatives of Opella Vietnam and Hope Foundation prepare to sign the Sponsorship Agreement on the Hygiene and Clean Water Project 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

Following three years of implementation in the northwest, the School Hygiene project has expanded to central Vietnam under the name Sanitation and Clean Water. The initiative includes the annual construction of 20 standard toilets with clean water to eliminate students' concerns about hygiene at school. In addition, the project incorporates educational activities to promote better living habits among students.

The project also introduces a new initiative: the construction of a standard bathroom with a water heating system for Bo Trach Boarding School for Ethnic Minorities. Many students currently bathe in rivers and streams or use outdated toilets due to the lack of clean, private bathing facilities, which negatively impacts their mental health and physical well-being. In colder seasons, they resort to open-air water tanks without proper water supply, drainage, or heating systems.

Scheduled for completion in September 2025, the project is expected to benefit approximately 7,500 students and teachers in Bo Trach District.

Quang Binh is frequently affected by natural disasters, such as storms and floods, leading to the deterioration of school infrastructure. In Bo Trach, many schools have seen their toilet systems significantly degrade due to prolonged use, overcapacity, and damage from natural calamities.

Degraded and overcrowded toilets are a common situation in many schools in Bo Trach District, Quang Binh. Photo by Ngoc Anh

Opella Vietnam’s Enterogermina and Hope Foundation are now entering their fourth year of partnership. With the goal of improving the quality of life and creating a safe, healthy learning environment for children in disadvantaged areas, the collaboration during the 2022-2024 period resulted in the construction of 60 toilet clusters, benefiting 19,000 students and teachers in districts like Van Ho in Son La Province, Dong Van in Ha Giang, Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai, and Tam Duong in Lai Chau.

Additionally, hygiene education programs reached over 40,000 students and teachers, promoting better hygiene practices.

The Hope Foundation has also expanded its efforts to other regions, including Muong Nhe District in Dien Bien Province, Song Ma in Son La, Yen Son in Tuyen Quang, Hung Ha in Thai Binh, Muong Lat in Thanh Hoa, and Que Phong in Nghe An.

In 2024, the foundation began bathroom construction projects in Song Ma in Son La, Na Ri in Bac Kan, and Mu Cang Chai in Yen Bai, providing students with safer, warmer, and more private sanitation facilities. To date, 173 toilets and bathrooms have been built, along with activities aimed at raising awareness about school hygiene and gender issues, improving living conditions for students and teachers.

Toilets built following the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training in Mu Cang Chai District, Yen Bai Province. Photo by Le Tung

A survey conducted by the Hope Foundation at the end of 2024 across five districts in Dien Bien, Son La, Ha Giang, and Thai Binh revealed that 94% of teachers observed a reduction in student visits to the doctor for diarrhea and stomach pain, attributing this improvement to the new sanitation facilities.

Furthermore, 91% of teachers noted that better hygiene conditions and habits led to increased enthusiasm among students for attending school. The upgraded sanitation systems, along with accompanying educational materials, have become models for replication in other regions.

Valentina Belcheva, Country Head at Opella Vietnam, expressed her appreciation for the project’s achievements: "As a healthcare company, we understand the profound impact of sanitation and clean water on community health. With Quang Binh as our next focus, we believe this project will continue to bring positive changes, creating a better educational environment for Vietnamese children."