Ha Thi Tham
From a rural girl who never ventured too far from my village
I can now live independently in any city
Career: Pharmacology
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. Her mother was forced to take a construction job while still running the farm. Tham assumed the household duties and 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.
Others were also impressed, and her strong grades soon led to a scholarship that helped her to complete secondary school and gain admission to university. Tham’s dream was to study pharmacology in order to help care for her family and community, so she was thrilled to learn she’d been accepted into the 5-year pharmacy program at Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy. One of her favorite classes was Clinical Pharmacology, where she evaluated real clinical cases, developed drug plans, and administered drugs to patients.
By July 2023, Tham 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 family, and help the nation continue to develop its healthcare system.