Pack Your Lunch to Narrow the Gap in Vietnam!

On behalf of the LIN Center for Community Development (LIN) and the Narrow the Gap team, I would like to thank you for supporting the Narrow the Gap Community Fund and Event 2014.

Your support will help improve access to education for disadvantaged groups in Ho Chi Minh City. As a community, including the funds raised on Global Giving, we managed to collect over VND 325 million.  VND 300 million was tripled by an anonymous donor.  LIN's annual Narrow the Gap Community Event 2014: "Raise Your Hand for Education!”  took place this past Saturday, 23 August, from 4pm to 8pm, in District 3.  Over 400 people attended the event and 399 votes were submitted.  During the event, a representative of YOLA Education moderated a panel discussion with the three project finalists and all guests were asked to vote to determine the theme for Narrow the Gap 2015 and how the funds raised together would be allocated among the three finalists.

Based on the outcome of those votes, we are going to allocate the funds raised as follows:

• First Prize (VND 600 million): Your Understanding Lights Our Life – A project to narrow the gap between the community and visually impaired people (by the Mai An Shelter).
• Second Prize (VND 400 million): Desire to Integrate – A project to foster communication skills, raise awareness about rights and offer art classes to the hearing impaired community (by the Deaf Community of Ho Chi Minh City).
• Third Prize (VND 200 million): Enhancing Education for Migrant Children – A project to strengthen the physical state and capacity of migrant children so they can improve their lives (Cau Han Project, Ho Chi Minh Child Welfare Association).

During the event we were thrilled and honored to have Mdm. Ton Nu Thi Ninh - a seasoned diplomat, dedicated politician and an active educational and sociocultural ambassador - give an inspiring keynote speech.  She talked about the importance of sharing information and working with others to ensure that everyone has access and benefits from development and progress. 

Narrow the Gap Ambassador and Field Medal Winner Professor Ngo Bao Chau also joined the event, which thrilled the crowd and local media.  We also had live entertainment by a local acoustic band, interactive booths set-up by local nonprofits, raffle prizes, networking games, education trivia and more. 

Please check out the atttached event program. You can also view photos from the event and articles about the event on our Facebook page.

Thank you, once again, for raising your hand for education by supporting the campaign!

Links:

• LIN's Narrow the Gap Page on Facebook

• Narrow the Gap Community Event 2014 - Program (PDF)