NGUYỄN HUỲNH KHÔI

THE STORY OF NGUYỄN HUỲNH KHÔI – HOLDING ONTO A UNIVERSITY DREAM AMID LIFE’S HARDSHIPS

Nguyễn Huỳnh Khôi, born in 2005, is now a third-year Information Technology student at Can Tho University. His family used to be classified as a poor household and lived for many years in a severely deteriorated, makeshift home. Only in October 2025, thanks to a government grant of 60 million VND (approximately 2,300 USD), were they finally able to rebuild a safer, more stable house.

Yet hardship still surrounds them. Khôi’s father works as a hired laborer with unstable income—around 250,000 VND/day (~10 USD)—while suffering from chronic joint pain after years of heavy work. His mother earns 80,000–100,000 VND/day (3–4 USD) by sewing clothes for neighbors. The family’s average monthly income is only 560,000 VND per person (~22 USD)—far from enough to support two children through school.

Despite this, Khôi has always pushed forward. For 12 consecutive years he was an excellent student, and he was admitted to Can Tho University as the top scorer of his IT program. Outside classes, he works part-time at a local eatery earning 100,000–150,000 VND/day (4–6 USD) to help cover tuition and support his family.

But every tuition period is a struggle. Each year, Khôi must borrow around 30 million VND (~1,150 USD) from relatives or the Social Policy Bank just to stay enrolled. This year, he needs to take additional English and IT skill courses—essential credits for securing a competitive job after graduation. To continue his studies, he is requesting a loan of 10 million VND (~380 USD) from the Anh Duong Center.

For many, this may not seem like a large sum. But for Khôi’s family, it is an overwhelming burden.

In his loan request, he wrote:

“I only want to keep studying. I promise to work hard every day so that I can graduate, find a stable job, support my parents, and repay the loan. I don’t want circumstances to take away my dream.”

A small loan can be the bridge that allows Khôi to finish his education—the one path that can truly lift him and his family out of poverty.