I. The Power of Collaboration
Building on the success of the centralized, single-venue model first introduced in April, the May 2026 Mentorship Program reached a meaningful new milestone — unfolding across two consecutive mornings, May 9 and 10, 2026, on the grounds of Huu Thanh High School.
Through seamless coordination and wholehearted support from the school leadership of both institutions, the Be Better Foundation was able to bring this vision to life at a single venue. Tam Ngai High School arranged dedicated transportation to safely ferry all of its students to Huu Thanh’s campus, while the faculty and staff of Huu Thanh extended a warm welcome and devoted two precious weekend mornings to organizing and overseeing the students throughout the program. Together, their dedication made May’s Mentorship a resounding success.
This spirit of partnership enabled the Foundation to optimize resources, reduce logistical burdens, and — most importantly — ensure that every student received the program’s full experience without compromise. Specifically:
- May 9, 2026: 871 students from Huu Thanh High School attended.
- May 10, 2026: 437 students from Tam Ngai High School attended.
II. From Planting Seeds to Self-Driven Awakening
With a steadfast commitment to shaping the right mindset in young people, May’s Mentorship served as a space for quietly planting seeds. Rather than delivering empty theory, the program drew on real-life stories shared by the emcee and a lineup of speakers to guide students toward a clearer, deeper understanding of themselves.
The Foundation hopes every student walks away with this understanding: all external support and chance encounters are merely favorable conditions — catalysts, not substitutes for personal growth. True maturity and character must be forged through one’s own effort, a grounded mindset, and the right approach to life. Soft skills, the spirit of teamwork, and the courage to face fear — these are the lasting values each student will distill from their own lived experience.
III. Program Highlights & Financial Commitments
The May 2026 Mentorship Program reaffirmed the Be Better Foundation’s financial commitment to its students through meaningful support grants and prize awards for those who participated with passion and energy.
a) Financial Support for Families in Need
| Support Level (VNĐ/Household) | Huu Thanh High School | Tam Ngai High School | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | Amount (VNĐ) | Households | Amount (VNĐ) | ||
| 300,000 VNĐ | 7 | 2,100,000 | 4 | 1,200,000 | 3,300,000 |
| Total | 7 | 2,100,000 | 4 | 1,200,000 | 3,300,000 |
b) “Person of Knowledge” Competition
The “Person of Knowledge” competition for May 2026 was once again an electrifying arena of energy and enthusiasm, with a total prize pool of 32,800,000 VNĐ awarded:
| Category | Huu Thanh High School (VNĐ) | Tam Ngai High School (VNĐ) | Total (VNĐ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-Up Games | 1,100,000 | 1,100,000 | 2,200,000 |
| 1st Prize – Team | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 10,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize – Team | 3,000,000 | 3,000,000 | 6,000,000 |
| 3rd Prize – Team | 2,000,000 | 2,000,000 | 4,000,000 |
| 1st Prize – Debate Panel | 1,500,000 | 1,500,000 | 3,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize – Debate Panel | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 3rd Prize – Debate Panel | 600,000 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 2nd Prize – Special Question | 700,000 | 1,400,000 | 2,100,000 |
| Consolation Prize – Special Question | 300,000 | 0 | 300,000 |
| Other Awards | 1,400,000 | 600,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Total | 16,600,000 | 16,200,000 | 32,800,000 |
c) “Inside me, Spreading out” Essay Competition
The post-program reflection essay contest received deeply heartfelt submissions from students at both Huu Thanh High School and Tam Ngai High School, with prizes awarded as follows:
| Prize | Huu Thanh High School | Tam Ngai High School | Prize Value (VNĐ) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | 0 | 1 | 1,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize | 0 | 1 | 500,000 |
| 3rd Prize | 1 | 0 | 600,000 |
| 0 | 1 | ||
| 0 | 1 |
IV. Lasting Values — Voices from the Heart
Lu To Quyen’s (Grade 11A1, Tam Ngai High School) words carry extraordinary weight: after more than two years spent battling illness, she chose to return to the path of learning — a quiet act of defiance and courage that speaks louder than any speech.
“…I just want to tell everyone: don’t be afraid of starting too late — be afraid of letting fear stop you from starting at all. All that matters is becoming a little better each day. There’s no need to compare yourself to anyone else, because every person’s circumstances are different. You can admire someone and let them inspire you, but don’t let that admiration make you doubt yourself. Chase your dreams whenever you can — it is never too late.”
Truong Ngoc Chau (Grade 10A1, Tam Ngai High School) also courageously confronted herself in shedding “illusory effort”:
“One quote that has stayed with me since the Mentorship program — something I discovered on Mr. Tran Van Tinh’s (Tony Tinh) social media pages — was this: “Everything is merely a condition, a circumstance, or a helping hand. We must do the work ourselves — no one can do it for us.”
Before joining Mentorship, I thought I was working really hard. But in truth, that effort was an illusion — one I had quietly built for myself, along with the belief that a normal life and average grades were already ‘more than enough to succeed.’ After the program, I realized: each of us has the power to transform ourselves, as long as we are willing to push forward and refuse to surrender to the challenges ahead.“
Nguyen Cat Ngan (Grade 12A1, Huu Thanh High School) also shared deeply moving reflection:
“Of a million raindrops falling, not one lands in the wrong place — and no meeting between people is ever truly accidental.” The encounter between me and this Mentorship program has given me lessons that are precious, grounded, and above all — transformative. Without it, I might still be the girl who doubted herself at every turn, who quietly feared she would never dare to live fully in pursuit of her passions and ideals. I might have let some invisible fear lead me to quit school, just as others in my situation have done…”
V. A Heartfelt Expression of Gratitude
The Be Better Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to the school leadership of Huu Thanh High School and Tam Ngai High School. The warmth and seamless cooperation shown during this first-ever collaboration have planted precious seeds of partnership — opening a path for continued collaboration in the years ahead, and a heartfelt promise to return to the teachers and students of both schools.
The Foundation also extends sincere thanks to the speakers, event production team, and volunteers who poured their heart and energy into every step of this Mentorship journey. The seeds of goodness we have sown together at each destination will, without a doubt, grow into a powerful force — inspiring every student to keep striving toward the very best version of themselves.
![[MENTORSHIP #41] — “The Seed Sowers” 🌱](https://bebetter.org.vn/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mentorship_41_Featured-400x220.jpg?crop=1)
![[MENTORSHIP #40] — Open Questions Are the Key to Knowing Yourself 🔑](https://bebetter.org.vn/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mentorship_40_Featured-400x220.jpg?crop=1)
