Meals of corn rice for many students have been transformed as the project ‘One million meals with meat,’ initiated by CHIN-SU in collaboration with the The Mountainous Underprivileged Students Fund (MUSF), reached nearly 100 schools.

Malnutrition – A dark shade in the portrait of underprivileged highland children

On the northern highlands, where “clouds brush the brow, mountains sustain in chain” or deep within the majestic forests of Tay Nguyen, the lives of little children unfold like a canvas rich with emotional hues. The green of the forests, the golden rays of early fields, and the earthy brown of muddy trails where the tiny feet tread on the way to school, create a vibrant yet poignant portrait.

Yet, a somber tone persists, reflecting the harsh reality that never truly fades. The alarming rate of malnutrition among children in Vietnam’s highland regions remains a number that stirs both shock and sorrow.

According to the 2020 National Nutrition Survey by the Institute of Nutrition, although the national malnutrition rate has decreased, the stunting rate among ethnic minority children (31.4%) remains twice as high as that of Kinh children. Additionally, the percentage of underweight ethnic minority children (21%) is 2.5 times higher compared to Kinh children (8.5%).

Yet, those small, ill-equipped classrooms nestled among the hills and mountains are always full, with bright eyes, pure smiles, and laughter ever-present. For these children, going to school is not just a journey to seek literacy but also a place where they can paint their dreams and touch the hope of a brighter future through each page of their books.

The “CHIN-SU One Million Meals with Meat” program, in collaboration with the Mountainous Underprivileged Students Fund, continues for the second year to stand by the side of disadvantaged highland students, like a vibrant brushstroke on the canvas of their often arduous lives.

One million meals with meat

The “CHIN-SU one million meals with meat” program is a long-term community initiative aimed at providing nutritional support and encouragement to highland children on their journey to school, in their quest for knowledge, and in building their better future. This initiative not only brings warm, loving meals, ensures more consistent school attendance, but also aspires to foster the children’s overall development in physical strength, stature, and intellect throughout on their quest for future literacy.

The students receiving these “meals with meat” are impoverished children living near the school (within 4 kilometers) who do not yet qualify for the government lunch support program. These children must walk several kilometers along rugged mountain trails, regardless of the blazing sun or pouring rain, to return home for lunch, which significantly reduces the likelihood of their returning to school in the afternoon.

Meals with meat were conceived to encourage children to stay at school for afternoon classes, to enrich their knowledge further, to provide more complete nutrition, and to give them moments to bond in affection, sharing difficulties with gentle, naive smiles around the small, warm kitchen filled with familial love.

Starting from the opening day of the 2023 school year at Mang Canh Boarding Secondary School in Kon Tum Province, the ‘One million meals with meat’ project began its journey, spearheaded by CHIN-SU and the Mountainous Underprivileged Students Fund, to provide nutritious meals for children in highland regions.

After a year in operation, the project has delivered over one million meals with meat to students in nearly 100 schools across nine mountainous provinces in Northern Vietnam and the Central Highlands. Instead of meager meals of corn rice, wild vegetables, and salted ginger … meals where a piece of meat was a luxury, now the children enjoy fulfilling meals with complete nutrition. The children’s journey to school is now fueled with much more motivation and joy.

Not limited to caring for and supporting the little ones, “One million meals with meat” also brings meaningful spiritual contributions, encouraging and “igniting the flame” of enthusiasm in teachers working in distant and challenging regions of the country.

Mr. Quynh – Principal of Tan Tien Semi-Boarding Primary School, Ban Pe, shares, “We feel invigorated when a meaningful program like ‘CHIN-SU One million meals with meat’ accompanies us. Thanks to the meals with meat providing additional motivation, the students are more diligent in coming to school, the classes are fuller, and this is the greatest happiness for us teachers”.

A Continuing Journey.

Moving into the 2024 – 2025 academic year, with a total budget of 10 billion VND, the program anticipates providing over one million meals with meat to students at nearly 100 schools across nine mountainous provinces in Northern Vietnam and the Central Highlands.

Officially present in Vietnam since 2002, for more than two decades, the CHIN-SU brand has consistently maintained its leading position in the seasoning industry by focusing on superior Research & Development capabilities, delivering numerous premium, health-conscious products to Vietnamese consumers. Simultaneously, CHIN-SU actively implements social responsibility initiatives, contributing to the nation’s development.

Ms. Dinh Hong Van – Senior Marketing Director and CHIN-SU brand representative shares: “With the ‘One Million Meals with Meat’ program, CHIN-SU and the Mountainous Underprivileged Students Fund not only wish to bring nutritious meals but also aim to convey trust and provide additional motivation for children to boldly step forward on their educational journey in pursuit of literacy and building their future. We believe that each meal is not just about satiety but also warmth, igniting hope for a bright future in the children’s hearts”.

CHIN-SU’s effort to support underprivileged highland students with nutritious meals at school, in collaboration with the Mountainous Underprivileged Students Fund, has helped the children attend school more regularly, bringing millions of smiles and nurturing millions of little dreams.

With a commitment to sponsor 10 billion VND annually, regardless of business conditions and without any stipulations, CHIN-SU not only ignites hope but also conveys a powerful message of love, sharing, and profound social responsibility, a desire to contribute to the nation’s development.

Each meal with meat is not just about satiety, but a source of inspiration, the first bricks in building dreams, and a bridge to the beautiful aspirations of childhood. Every meal, every smile, every embrace is testament to limitless love, a force creating change, spreading across the country, contributing to building a developed Vietnam brimming with compassion.

Like “CHIN-SU One Million Meals with Meat”, community projects have contributed to supporting, helping fellow countrymen and improving the quality of life for Vietnamese people. This is also the spirit of the Project for My Vietnam category at WeChoice Awards 2024.