Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, President of the Vietnam Association for Protection of Children's Rights, at the launch ceremony. (Photo: Ngoc Bich/giaoduc.net.vn)

A press conference in Hanoi on Wednesday introduced the “Lighting up dreams” program, the fourth of its kind.

Each scholarship is worth 44 USD, and each gift is worth 22 USD, said the Vietnam Association for Protection of Children's Rights.

The program honors outstanding students who have overcome difficulties to obtain good results in their study.

Next month, the Association will donate 450 scholarships and more than 100 gifts to disadvantaged children in Dak Nong, Dak Lak, Tien Giang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu, and Tra Vinh province.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, the Association’s President, said: “What we should do is choose the right beneficiaries. We let localities do the selecting, making lists with brief profiles of their situations. We’re glad to know that this year we have received more support from the public. This is a great encouragement for needy children to overcome their difficult conditions to study better.”

At a press briefing, a media writing contest on children was launched. Entries must be published on mass media between 12 October 2016 and 05 March 2018 and may be submitted between 17 June 2017 and 05 March 2018.