BASF celebrates milestones in empowering education access

The inauguration also coincided with the 10-year celebration of BASF Vietnam’s school renovation initiative, facilitated by Saigon Children’s Charity CIO (SCC), that has benefited about 900 students so far.

Constructed in the 1990s in a remote area of Hau Giang Province, Phuong Ninh Primary and Secondary School was in a worsening condition, posing challenges for the students, especially during adverse weather conditions like flooding season.

Since 2015, the scheme has successfully built and upgraded schools in several provinces, including Hau Giang, Tra Vinh, An Giang, and Dong Nai. These initiatives have resulted in the construction of four new schools in Hau Giang, two in Tra Vinh, and one each in An Giang and Dong Nai.

All of these schools have been equipped with modern facilities, including classrooms, playgrounds, and essential amenities such as restrooms. The aim is to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for students, thereby supporting their educational development and future success.

Today, about 150 schoolchildren can enjoy an entirely different learning environment, safer, better, and inspiring. Four new classrooms spanning 256 square metres and a 1,000sq.m playground have been presented by BASF and other co-sponsors.

Since the very first facility, Tap Ngai Kindergarten in Tra Vinh province, BASF Vietnam, its employees and partners have now built or renovated seven additional schools in different areas of the country, where access to adequate education facilities is a challenge, especially in the Mekong Delta. All eight schools are now equipped with modern classrooms, playgrounds, and essential facilities.

"The safer, larger classrooms with proper lighting and ventilation, plus the outdoor playground, have contributed a great deal to our improved teaching and learning quality and satisfaction of the children, staff, and parents," said Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, the principal of Tap Ngai Kindergarten.

The milestone also marks the 10-year partnership between BASF Vietnam and Nippon Paint Vietnam. Nippon has offered decorative products that meet Green Label Certifications, using raw materials supplied by BASF to provide long-lasting benefits in health, safety, and energy efficiency.

"We are delighted to be part of this drive since its establishment, offering a better place for students to learn and grow. I believe that in the future, when they grow up and succeed, they will undertake similar initiatives in their community. With the joint efforts from BASF, SCC, and other partners, we at Nippon Paint will continue to build more schools and improve not only the study environment but also living conditions for the students and the community," said Ee Soon Hean, general director, Nippon Paint Vietnam.

The renovation scheme has since inspired several more partners from different industries to lend their hands. Among those are Haxachem, MKVN Chemicals, Phuong Nam Panel, Sam Chem Sphere, Tam Tran Co, and Viet Duc Lubricants and Chemicals.

"Through the school renovation programme, we can establish further synergy with our partner brands beyond conventional business activities and jointly create value for the communities where we operate," said Erik Contreras, managing director of BASF Vietnam.

An estimated 100 volunteers, from BASF Vietnam and their friends and families, and from adults to children, have been instrumental in this cause.

Whether decorating classrooms and playgrounds, installing mini library corners, or guiding the students to do the fun hands-on chemistry experiments in their new classrooms, the volunteers enrich the learning experience for the local schoolkids.

BASF and its co-sponsors broke ground on a new project at Phuong Ninh Primary and Secondary School in Hau Giang province on September 20.

BASF, a leading supplier, manufacturer, and innovation partner in plastic additives, has partnered with Takazuri to develop smart building solutions supporting climate-resilient construction in Eastern Africa. With a focus on sustainability, these solutions incorporate Takazuri’s Climatile™ technology, which uses locally sourced and converted post-consumer materials.

BASF is currently participating in the Green Economy Forum and Exhibition (GEFE) 2024, a high-level event from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, to foster collaboration, share cutting-edge expertise, and drive technology transfer towards building a resilient and sustainable Vietnamese economy.