Teacher Vu Van Tung gives bread to students of Dinh Nup Primary and Secondary School. (Photo: Hoang Cu)

“Many students left my class right in the middle of lessons. There were days when there was only the teacher and one student. The children said they were going home to get something to eat. I knew I had to do something to keep them in class. That’s how the ‘Zero Dong Bread Cabinet’ was founded,” Tung said.

Vu Van Tung was born in the central province of Nghe An. After graduating from Da Lat University in 2005 with a major in History, he began teaching at Dinh Nup Primary and Secondary School.

Having seen how poor the local students were, Tung initiated the “Zero Dong Bread Cabinet” model to provide the students free breakfast. At first, he could only provide 60 loaves of bread per day. With the support of donors, now more than 200 students from several schools benefit from the initiative every day.

“We have received support from many donors from several areas, who have helped the students continue their studies,” said Tung. 

After his initial success, Tung created another model called “Providing livelihoods for disadvantaged students”. He had local farmers raise 8 breeding cows and build a fund worth more than 4,700 USD to support poor students. So far, 15 breeding cows have been handed over to poor students at Dinh Nup Primary and Secondary School and other nearby schools. 

“Teacher Tung gave us a cow, a bicycle, and rice. We don’t know how to read and write, so we’re trying to give our children an education,” a parent named Dinh Thi K’Long said.

Tung has also helped build 3 charity houses for poor students. He travels hundreds of kilometers each day to give children in remote areas a ride to school.

Tung said the ultimate goal of his activities is to enable students to get an education and contribute to national development. He said being honored at the 2024 Vietnam Glory Program was a meaningful gift to beloved President Ho Chi Minh.

“I have always studied and followed the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh, who said that a teacher must have both virtue and talent. That means a teacher must always sharpen their knowledge and be virtuous, serving as an example for students to follow. Any difficult circumstances in life can be overcome if you have perseverance and determination,” said Tung.