I. New Year, New Beginnings — Be Better Foundation’s First Touchpoints of 2026
January 2026 marked a meaningful new chapter for the Be Better Foundation. On January 10, the Foundation launched its 32nd Mentorship trip at Thanh An High School in Can Tho — a landmark first: the very first collaboration between Be Better and a school in Can Tho City. The very next day, on January 11, the team returned to the warmly familiar grounds of Tan Luoc High School for Mentorship Trip No. 33.
Two programs. Two destinations. One shared purpose: to plant seeds of meaning and depth in the hearts of students and all those present — a radiant, positive start to the very first days of the new year 2026.
II. Moments Worth Remembering
Each program opened with student performances and lively icebreaker games that quickly wove a warm, joyful atmosphere throughout the morning session. Gradually, students grew more open, more confident — and more ready to dive into the heart of the Mentorship program: the flagship competition, “Person of Knowledge.”
The competition featured four teams, each comprising six students and one faculty advisor. Together, they tackled real-life scenarios presented by the organizing committee, then brought their perspectives to life before the entire audience. Woven through every round, the speakers distilled powerful life lessons aligned with each discussion theme, including:
- Discovering one’s authentic self-worth amid the noise of choices and external pressures;
- Embracing the truth that success has no single mold — only the path of living true to one’s own abilities and core values;
- Building a mindset and a life philosophy rooted in the four pillars of Body, Mind, Intellect, and Virtue as students step into adulthood.
The Mentorship program does not aim to “teach everything at once.” Instead, it seeks to ask the right questions at the right moment — gently guiding students to reflect, to wonder, and to discover their own truths in their own time.
III. Numbers That Tell a Story
At Thanh An High School, more than 220 students sat, listened, took notes, and participated wholeheartedly throughout the program. The following day at Tan Luoc High School, that number grew to over 280 students. The full and earnest presence of students, teachers, and parents alike was the greatest source of encouragement for the entire Be Better team.
Alongside knowledge-sharing, the January 2026 Mentorship program reaffirmed the Be Better Foundation’s steadfast financial commitment through the following initiatives:
a) Scholarships Awarded
A total of 12 scholarships, with a combined value of VND 24,000,000, were awarded to students facing exceptionally difficult circumstances — those who have lost one or both parents:
| Support Level / Person | Thanh An High School | Tan Luoc High School | Grand Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of Students | Amount (VND) | No. of Students | Amount (VND) | ||
| Orphaned (both parents) – 3,000,000 VND/person | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Orphaned (one parent) – 2,000,000 VND/person | 5 | 10,000,000 | 7 | 14,000,000 | 24,000,000 |
| Total | 5 | 10,000,000 | 7 | 14,000,000 | 24,000,000 |
b) Financial Support for Students & Families in Need
A total of 6 support grants, with a combined value of VND 1,800,000, were extended to parents and guardians facing financial hardship who attended and remained present throughout the entire program:
| Support Level / Household | Thanh An High School | Tan Luoc High School | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Households | Amount (VND) | Households | Amount (VND) | ||
| 300,000 VND | 1 | 300,000 | 5 | 1,500,000 | 1,800,000 |
| Total | 1 | 300,000 | 5 | 1,500,000 | 1,800,000 |
c) “Person of Knowledge” Competition
The competition unfolded with tremendous energy at both schools, championing critical thinking, presentation skills, and the spirit of teamwork among students. The total prize pool reached VND 33,800,000:
| Prize Category | Thanh An H.S. (VND) | Tan Luoc H.S. (VND) | Total (VND) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warm-up Games | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 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 | 1,000,000 | 1,000,000 | 2,000,000 |
| 2nd Prize — Debate Panel | 700,000 | 700,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Consolation Prize — Debate Panel | 600,000 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 |
| 2nd Prize — Special Question | 700,000 | 700,000 | 1,400,000 |
| Consolation Prize — Special Question | 300,000 | 300,000 | 600,000 |
| Other Awards | 600,000 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 |
| TOTAL | 16,900,000 | 16,900,000 | 33,800,000 |
d) “Inside Me, Spreading out” Essay Competition
A reflective writing competition held for students across both schools identified the most outstanding essay of the January 2026 Mentorship month. The prize — VND 1,000,000 and a certificate of merit — was awarded to Nguyen Tran Bich Ngoc, a student of Class 11A1 at Thanh An High School.
IV. Values That Endure Long After the Program Ends
The heartfelt words shared by students are the clearest testament to the dedication that the Be Better Foundation pours into every program. In her award-winning essay, Bich Ngoc wrote:
“There are no words enough to describe the values Be Better has brought to us. One thing I have come to understand is this: so many lives around the world are far more deprived than mine — and yet they still press on. So why should I not? I will press on, to be better every single day, to succeed, and then to pass those values on to those who have not yet had the chance — just as Be Better hopes: that by 2060, we will have helped 1,000 students in difficult circumstances. I believe the Be Better Foundation will fulfill that dream — and surpass it beyond all expectations.”
These shifts may unfold quietly, invisible to the eye at first — but it is precisely this transformation in the way students think and the way they choose to live that reveals the true, lasting power of Mentorship: values that do not fade when the program ends, but take root and grow, like seeds of goodness quietly germinating for the future.
V. With Deepest Gratitude
The Be Better Foundation extends its most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Principals, teachers, and dedicated faculty of Thanh An High School and Tan Luoc High School — for their warm welcome, their trust, and their unwavering cooperation in making both programs whole.
And to our speakers and the entire Be Better volunteer team — thank you for giving the most precious gift of all: your time at the start of a new year, to walk alongside us in writing yet another meaningful chapter for students stepping into 2026 with hope and purpose.
![[MENTORSHIP #41] — “The Seed Sowers” 🌱](https://bebetter.org.vn/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Mentorship_41_Featured-400x220.jpg?crop=1)
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