December 2023 Newsletter

As we enter December and ask ourselves, “Where has the year gone?”, we feel immense gratitude for your willingness to change the future through the power of our scholarship program. Our new cohort of scholars has begun the academic year, joining the previous group for a total of over 2,450 young women now on the path to graduation and a career. Though this is cause for hope, the need is still great; for every deserving scholarship recipient there are thousands of others who would go if not for financial need.

Because every one of these scholarships represents a life changed, our volunteers have been working on an exciting project to bring to life the stories of our scholars and the collective impact of U-Go’s work. We’re excited to introduce you to many young women whose lives have been changed by your generosity. To start, the story of Ha Thi Tham, who recently graduated from university with the support of U-Go and our partner, The Relay Fund.

“From a rural girl who never ventured too far from my village, I can now live independently in any city.”
– Ha Thi Tham, Vietnam

Meet Ha Thi Tham

Born into a poor farming family in rural Vietnam, Tham’s prospects appeared grim. It seemed like she might face a destiny common to many young Vietnamese girls from rural backgrounds:  limited education, early marriage, and a perpetual cycle of poverty. Her parents were farmers, barely able to support Tham and her older sister. In her community, university was unheard of. The common sentiment was girls only needed basic literacy skills to read and write, after which they could work or marry.

Many U-Go scholars from rural settings, like Ha Thi Tham, face a remarkable challenge: defying the grip of extreme poverty and the weight of traditional expectations to embark on a journey toward education and independence. With the help of U-Go and our partners, including the Relay Fund in Vietnam, these young women are setting out on an uncharted path toward a university education and living independently.

Tham’s older sister followed the route taken by most women in her community. She dropped out of school after grade 7, found work in a garment factory and married young. At that point, she could no longer financially contribute to her parents as cultural expectations dictated her money all go to her new husband’s family.  

The family’s financial difficulties soon compounded when the father died of the flu. Tham and her mother jointly ran the farm, her mother took on construction work and Tham did piecemeal work for a local seamstress. Despite these pressures, she excelled academically. But her dreams came crashing down as her part-time work was not enough to keep the diminished family afloat. She dropped out shortly after finishing grade 9, took on a full-time job and worked through the pangs of sadness that gripped her as she watched her friends head off to school each morning.

Tham never lost sight of her dream of returning to school.  She secretly and diligently began saving part of her income, eventually having enough to invest in a sewing machine. With greater productivity, she now had time to study for the exam required to re-enter school. She continued to save, and one day proudly announced to her mother that she had enough funding to cover two years of school expenses.  Proud of her daughter’s unwavering dedication and determination, her mother consented to allowing her to return to school.

Tham wasted no time on returning to academic excellence – her strong grades led to an academic scholarship that helped her to complete secondary school. Tham’s goal was to not stop there – she wanted to study pharmacology in order to help care for others. She was thrilled to learn she’d been accepted into a 5-year pharmacy program, but faced the stern reality that they could not afford the tuition and related costs.

The Relay Fund, U-Go’s first partner in Vietnam, stepped in to support Tham.  By July 2023, she was a proud graduate.

“I have worked incredibly hard for the past five years to obtain this degree. It stands as a testament to my dedication and lays the groundwork for me to chase my dreams.” The self-described “rural girl who never ventured far from my village” has now moved to the nation’s capital city of Hanoi.  She’s pursuing full-time employment that will allow her to live independently, look after her mother and sister, and help the nation continue to develop its healthcare system.

I hope Tham’s story has inspired you. If you are already a U-Go investor, thank you. If not, please consider us as you plan your year-end giving. And as always, referrals to other investors and companies is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping Tham and over 2,450 other ambitious and promising young women to pursue their dreams through long-term U-Go scholarships.

With gratitude,

John Wood
Founder & CEO