I. Sowing Seeds of Knowledge — Our March Journey
Over two consecutive days — March 7 and 8, 2026 — the Be Better Foundation carried forward the spirit of its 36th and 37th Mentorship trips, bringing the program to two schools: Phong Phu High School and My Thuan Secondary-High School. True to its enduring mission, Mentorship continued to serve as a living bridge — connecting experienced mentors with young students through honest conversations, real-life stories, and the kind of wisdom that no textbook can offer. With every session, students were gently guided to build a stronger foundation of thought and purpose before stepping into the next chapter of their lives.
What made this March edition truly stand out was a meaningful expansion in both scale and organization — ensuring quality and consistency for over 1,100 students across both campuses:
- Phong Phu High School: 600 students in attendance.
- My Thuan Secondary-High School: 500 students in attendance.
To accommodate an audience twice the size of previous programs, the Be Better Foundation team worked hand-in-hand with school administrators and event partners to set up professional stages, tent canopies, and LED screens — affirming Be Better’s unwavering commitment to delivering the same quality experience, no matter the venue.
II. Core Objectives — A Shared Journey, Step by Step
The March Mentorship program remained steadfast in its overarching goal: to share lived experience and knowledge that equip students with the right mindset and a clearer sense of self. Through the signature “Knowledge Champion” contest, students were drawn into thoughtful discussions that were then woven together with reflections from guest speakers — guiding each young participant to look inward across four dimensions: mindset, attitude, knowledge, and life skills.
Mentorship does not simply transmit knowledge from the front of a room. It creates spaces where students practice soft skills, build resilience, sharpen their critical thinking, and discover the quiet courage it takes to stand up and speak in front of a crowd.
III. Program Highlights & Financial Commitments
With the spirit of “turning knowledge into strength”, the March 2026 Mentorship program once again demonstrated the Be Better Foundation’s financial commitment to its students — through scholarship grants and competition prizes for the most active participants:
a) Scholarship Grants
A total of 14 scholarships, valued at a combined 28,000,000 VND, were awarded to students facing exceptionally difficult circumstances — children who have lost one or both parents:
| Support Level per Student | Phong Phu High School | My Thuan Secondary-High School | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Students | Amount (VND) | No. of Students | Amount (VND) | ||
| Orphaned (both parents) (3,000,000 VND) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orphaned (one parent) (2,000,000 VND) | 6 | 12,000,000 | 8 | 16,000,000 | 28,000,000 |
| GRAND TOTAL | 6 | 12,000,000 | 8 | 16,000,000 | 28,000,000 |
b) “Person of Knowledge” Competition
The “Person of Knowledge” Competition unfolded with remarkable energy at both schools, igniting students’ critical thinking and their confidence to speak, argue, and present. The total prize pool reached 40,000,000 VND:
| Category | Phong Phu High School | My Thuan Secondary-High School | Total (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4,000,000 | 4,000,000 | 8,000,000 |
| 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 | 1,200,000 | 1,200,000 | 2,400,000 |
| 1st Prize – Special Question | 1,000,000 | 0 | 1,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize – Special Question | 700,000 | 700,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Consolation Prize – Special Question | 300,000 | 300,000 | 600,000 |
| Other Prizes | 200,000 | 3,200,000 | 3,400,000 |
| TOTAL | 19,000,000 | 21,000,000 | 40,000,000 |
c) “Inside me, Spreading out” Essay Competition
To nurture the spirit of reflection and sharing that lives at the heart of Mentorship, a post-program writing contest was introduced for students at both schools — inviting them to put their thoughts and feelings into words. Prizes were awarded as follows:
| Prize | Phong Phu High School | My Thuan Secondary-High School | Total (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Prize | 0 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize | 0 | 500,000 | 500,000 |
| 3rd Prize | 200,000 | 0 | 200,000 |
IV. Voices from the Heart
Tran Trung Giang (Grade 11A3, My Thuan Secondary-High School) shared:
“After the program, I felt as though I had been cleansed — brushed free of a thick layer of fog: the fog of uncertainty, of questions with no answers, of anxiety, of not believing in myself or my own choices. I began to ask questions, to plan my weeks, to set goals for what lies ahead — and the future no longer feels like a distant and unreachable place. I am learning to trust myself and the decisions I make. And somewhere inside me, a seed of purpose has taken root: someday, if I am able, I want to be someone kind, someone who helps others — someone who lights the way for others, who creates value for the world, just as the mentors once did for me.”
Tran Van Nghia (Grade 12A3, My Thuan Secondary-High School) reflected:
“Every road the Be Better Foundation travels becomes a road filled with memories — memories shared with schools, with students. It is a place where ‘compassion spreads’ reaches us: in knowledge, in lived experience, and above all, in the wisdom of how to one day succeed on our own terms. As Bai Juyi once wrote, ‘nothing moves the heart of another like sincere feeling’ — and I have truly felt the most genuine of feelings from the Foundation, through every lesson and every precious piece of experience they have offered us.”
Danh Thi Diem My (Grade 12C1, Phong Phu High School) shared:
“The Be Better Foundation’s Mentorship program gave me more than knowledge — it gave me the courage to keep striving, to keep growing into a better version of myself. I believe that every young person has the power to become a ‘small flame’: when we live with purpose, never stop learning, and are willing to spread what is good and true, those small flames will one day join together — and the light of knowledge, of kindness, and of hope will shine ever wider across the world.”
V. A Heartfelt Note of Gratitude
Though the curtain has fallen on the March Mentorship program, the Be Better Foundation holds a deep hope that the values planted during these two days — a stronger mindset, a clearer sense of self, a spark of aspiration — will remain with each student as a treasured companion on their journey toward becoming not only successful, but truly good people.
In closing, the Be Better Foundation wishes to extend its most sincere gratitude to the school principals and faculty for their warm partnership, to the event team for their meticulous dedication, and to every speaker and volunteer who, once again, poured their whole hearts into writing the next beautiful chapter of this journey alongside us.
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