In a heartfelt celebration of education and community, Maersk Vietnam proudly unveiled its third Container Library at Tan Lap Primary School in Tan Uyen, Ho Chi Minh City. The grand opening, held on Friday, September 5, marked another milestone in Maersk’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, bringing hope and opportunity to underprivileged students. The event was attended by local authorities, school representatives, Maersk employees, strategic partners, and enthusiastic students.
This year’s library continues the momentum of Maersk’s Container Library initiative, first launched in 2023 with the inaugural library in the then province of Long An (now part of Tay Ninh Province). Building on that success, the project expanded to Ben Tre (now merged into Vinh Long Province), further extending its positive impact and enriching even more lives.
For this third library, Maersk has also converted a retired 20-foot shipping container into a fully equipped reading space, featuring bookshelves, reading tables, air conditioning, and solar panels. All these elements are aimed at creating a comfortable and sustainable learning environment.
The library houses over 1,000 books across various genres, generously donated by Maersk, and serves up to 280 students daily. The transformation was made possible through the collaborative efforts of Maersk’s internal teams and strategic partners, including LYS Energy Group, Crocs, and CP Group.
In many remote and rural regions of Vietnam, children continue to face considerable challenges due to limited access to books and educational resources. Inadequate infrastructure and insufficient investment in education have hindered the development of reading habits, often resulting in elevated dropout rates and diminished long-term prospects.
In response to these issues, the Maersk Container Library initiative serves as a valuable contribution to under-resourced schools. The project is designed to cultivate a culture of reading among young students, enhance their literacy skills, and empower them to pursue independent learning.
The Container Library project also reflects Maersk’s broader vision of sustainability and community engagement. By repurposing its shipping containers, the company reduces waste while creating valuable educational spaces. The initiative also promotes environmental awareness through features like solar energy, LED lighting, and waste segregation bins, encouraging children to adopt eco-friendly habits from an early age.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kevin Burrell, Area Managing Director of Maersk Mekong (Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam), shared his reflections on the initiative’s evolution: “We are proud to continue this journey, bringing meaningful change and lasting value to the lives of young learners and the communities we serve. For many children, this could be their first experience in a dedicated reading environment, a moment that promises to shape their educational journey for years to come. With the successful expansion of this project across the country, we remain committed to going the extra mile to support local communities, especially children.”
By identifying communities in need and collaborating with local stakeholders, the company aims to create a network of libraries specially catering to thousands of students. The opening of the Container Library at Tan Lap Primary School is not just a celebration of a new facility, it’s a reaffirmation of Maersk’s dedication to building a more equitable and sustainable future. Through innovation, compassion, and collaboration, Maersk continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of Vietnam’s young learners.
