Dang Huu Nghia, a freshman born in 2008 who lost both parents to cancer and COVID-19, successfully enrolled in the Food Quality and Safety Assurance program at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, overcoming a tuition shortfall with the help of Cho Ray Hospital and public benefactors.
Dang Huu Nghia Works Part-Time to Attend University
During his initial days at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, Dang Huu Nghia found it hard to believe he had actually achieved university student status. Some mornings, Nghia would wake up at 4 a.m. and take the bus to school. Whenever he had a work shift following classes, he headed directly to his part-time job and stayed until 10 p.m. before heading back home. The suffering inflicted on a child by cancer and the pandemic began when Nghia’s father passed away from stage 3 liver cancer when Nghia was in the 4th grade. After only about 12 hours in the intensive care unit, his condition worsened, and he died. Three years later, in the 7th grade, Nghia’s mother, who was undergoing radiation therapy for breast cancer, contracted COVID-19 as the pandemic broke out. Already weakened by her underlying health conditions, her condition quickly worsened, and she passed away.
Nghia became an orphan, relying on his older sister and extended family members. Keeping his mother’s dying advice in mind—to study diligently if supported—Nghia worked part-time starting in the 11th grade to cover his living expenses. Earning 1 to 3 million VND monthly at a snack shop, he lived in a small attic room featuring an altar dedicated to his parents and grandmother. Despite juggling work and study, Nghia achieved an overall GPA exceeding 26 points.
When accepted into university, Nghia faced a tuition and initial expense hurdle exceeding 22 million VND, while his family could only manage about 8 million VND. With the registration deadline passed and dropout a looming reality, the Social Work Department of Cho Ray Hospital stepped in. Having supported Nghia’s education since he lost his mother, the hospital contacted the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade to complete his enrollment procedures, backed by contributions from philanthropists.
| Student Name | University Program | Sponsoring Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Dang Huu Nghia | Food Quality and Safety Assurance | Cho Ray Hospital |
| Ho Minh Thuan | Automotive Engineering Technology | Cho Ray Hospital |
Nghia is one of 33 orphaned children supported by Cho Ray Hospital’s program for children affected by COVID-19. This year, Ho Minh Thuan, whose mother passed away from COVID-19 on August 18, 2021, was also admitted to the Automotive Engineering Technology program at the University of Transport. Concurrently, the Tuoi Tre newspaper’s “Supporting Students to School” program is expected to award 1,200 scholarships in 2026 with a total budget exceeding 20 billion VND, providing 15 million VND per standard scholarship and 50 million VND for special four-year scholarships.
Pursuing Food Science to Mitigate Future Illness
Nghia chose a field of study related to food science for a personal reason, aiming to filter out contaminated food, reduce future illnesses, and avoid cancer like his father. Homeroom teacher Ms. Huynh Thi Kim Yen noted that Nghia possesses the responsibility and academic capability to excel if given financial stability. Nghia now prioritizes his studies, aiming for academic scholarships to ease his family’s financial burden and accelerate his graduation.
References
- Dang Huu Nghia is a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade.
- Tuoi Tre Newspaper. Supporting Students to School Scholarship Program Data.
