In the mountainous provinces of Lao Cai and Yen Bai, the recent aftermath of typhoon Yagi left many communities struggling. But amid the hardships, there’s a small but vital act of care quietly unfolding—cartons of soymilk due to be passed from hand to hand in numerous classrooms to boost school children’s nourishment.
This corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative is being rolled out following an agreement signed this week between the soymild producer Vinasoy and the Central Vietnam Red Cross. This is the ninth year that underprivileged schoolchildren across Vietnam have benefited from Vinasoy’s “School Soymilk” program, a plant-based nutritional boost that has now reached over 886,000 students.
This month, the Vietnam Soymilk Study Promotion Fund, together with Vinasoy and the Central Vietnam Red Cross, launched the latest installment of the program for the 2024-2025 school year, expanding its reach to the provinces of Quang Ngai, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. It is part of an ongoing commitment to delivering healthy, plant-based nutrition to students in need—especially those from remote and rural areas.
A journey of love and dedication
The program’s roots date back to 2016, when it began distributing Fami soymilk to students in disadvantaged areas. Over the years, the initiative has given out nearly 12.6 million cartons of milk, representing an investment of VND45.1 billion. Vinasoy’s dedication to nourishing both body and mind goes beyond just the product itself—it is a pledge to support students’ education and growth.
For Vinasoy, the journey started long before the official “School Soymilk” program. In the early 2000s, Vinasoy was the designated supplier of Fami soymilk for a school milk project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture via the American Red Cross, in cooperation with the Vietnam Red Cross. This project not only brought valuable nutrition to Vietnam’s students but also built a lasting partnership between Vinasoy and the Red Cross, laying the foundation for future efforts to improve child nutrition in Vietnam.
Nourishment and hope for the future
This year’s program will donate over 755,000 cartons of Fami soymilk, valued at nearly VND3.44 billion, to elementary schools in Quang Ngai, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai. In these provinces—especially Lao Cai and Yen Bai, which were hit hard by typhoon Yagi—the nutritional support from Vinasoy is crucial. The initiative is designed not just to provide food but to improve the overall conditions for students, giving them a better chance to attend school regularly.
In Quang Ngai, where Vinasoy has deep roots, the company will provide over 264,000 cartons of soymilk to schools in Tra Bong and Son Tay districts. For Vinasoy, this is not just corporate social responsibility—it is a heartfelt contribution to the local community, an effort to support education in their home province.
Beyond nutrition: education and environmental awareness
The 2024-2025 edition of the “School Soymilk” program comes with a clear message: “Delivering healthy nutrition, sowing green future seeds.” Along with providing essential nourishment, the program aims to inspire students to take action for the environment. Practical lessons on sorting and recycling milk cartons are part of the curriculum, teaching children that environmental protection starts with small steps and individual responsibility.
To further encourage environmental consciousness, Vinasoy will launch a contest in schools, challenging students to transform used milk cartons into useful objects, blending creativity with sustainability.
Speaking at the program’s launch ceremony, a representative of Vinasoy emphasized the company’s long-standing commitment: “With plant-based products like Fami soymilk, we hope to contribute to students’ balanced nutrition, laying a foundation for them to grow both physically and mentally.”
A shared mission for a healthier generation
The Vietnam Red Cross shares in this vision. Bui Thi Hoa, chairwoman of the Vietnam Red Cross, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to the partnership: “Together, we will deliver healthy soymilk nutrition to students in the safest and most effective way. Our collective efforts not only bring immediate benefits but also contribute to building a sustainable nutritional foundation for future generations.”
Looking ahead, the program’s impact goes beyond the classroom, equipping students with knowledge and skills about nutrition, personal hygiene, and environmental protection through extracurricular activities. The scholarships awarded to outstanding underprivileged students in Quang Ngai further underline the program’s dedication to fostering both academic and personal growth.
For Vinasoy, this mission to nourish students physically and mentally remains at the heart of their efforts—a seed of hope for Vietnam’s future generations.
