Among the most impactful initiatives is the “steps to school” program, jointly implemented by the Border Guard force and the Vietnam Women’s Union, which has been providing practical and sustained support to students from vulnerable backgrounds.

Ma A Hoàng, from Nà Hỳ commune, lost his father at a young age and has long lived in deprivation. At times, his schooling was interrupted because his family could not afford basic school supplies or minimal living expenses. After learning about his circumstances, Nậm Nhừ Border Post began sponsoring Hoàng in 2024 under the “steps to school” program, providing monthly support of VND 500,000. Beyond financial assistance, officers and soldiers regularly visit him, coordinate with his homeroom teacher to monitor his academic progress, and offer timely encouragement. As a result, Hoàng has gradually regained confidence, returned to school consistently, and shown clear improvement.

Similarly, the family of Sùng Cao Phú Cường, born in 2018 and living in Nậm Nhừ hamlet, Nà Hỳ commune, faces serious financial hardship. His mother has no stable employment, and basic school related expenses such as books and clothing place a heavy burden on the household. Since receiving monthly support through the “steps to school” program, Cường has enjoyed better learning conditions and has been able to continue attending school regularly.

In Thanh Nưa commune, the “steps to school” program has been implemented since 2019 through coordination between the Thanh Nưa commune chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union and the Compassionate Hearts Fund in Hà Nội. Each school year, the program reviews and identifies students in especially difficult circumstances to provide financial assistance and essential school supplies.

One beneficiary is Trương Thị Thu Hiền, from Thanh Hòa village, Thanh Nưa commune. Her mother passed away early, her father is undergoing drug rehabilitation, and Hiền and her older brother live with their elderly grandmother, who has no stable income. School expenses for both children exceed the family’s means. Thanks to annual support of more than VND 2 million per school year from the Thanh Nưa commune Vietnam Women’s Union’s “steps to school” program, Hiền is now able to prepare adequate books, clothing and learning materials, easing the burden on her family.

Nguyễn Thị Lân, Hiền’s grandmother, shared: “Over the past years, thanks to support from the local Vietnam Women’s Union and benefactors, my granddaughter has been able to buy books and school supplies and feels more motivated to go to school. Our family is deeply grateful for this care and support.”

In addition to financial aid, the “steps to school” program in Thanh Nưa commune has distributed schoolbags, clothing, pens and notebooks to local students. At the start of the 2025-2026 school year, the program provided 427 schoolbags, 4,300 notebooks, 427 winter coats and three bicycles to students at Hua Thanh Primary School, with a total value exceeding VND 150 million.

Acting as a coordinating body, the Thanh Nưa commune chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union regularly works with schools and local organizations to review and verify lists of disadvantaged students, ensuring support reaches the right beneficiaries. From assisting four students in its first year, the program has expanded to support 15 students in the 2025-2026 school year, with each receiving more than VND 2 million per school year.

Lê Thị Ngà, Chairwoman of the Thanh Nưa commune chapter of the Vietnam Women’s Union, said the “steps to school” program has been sustained for many years with practical activities such as providing school supplies, clothing and financial assistance. “Through annual reviews, we strive to support the right students and address their real needs, helping them access better learning conditions. In the coming period, we will continue to mobilize resources to maintain the program, stand alongside disadvantaged families, and help poor students stay in school,” she said.

Support from the “steps to school” program has become a vital lifeline for many disadvantaged students in highland areas, enabling them to continue their education. The collective efforts of agencies, organizations and benefactors have helped ease financial pressures on families and created opportunities for children to remain in school and pursue learning.