INTRODUCTION
The 28th and 29th Mentorship programs of Be Better Foundation were pleased to welcome over 280 students from Dong Thanh Secondary & High School and 250 students from Tan Quoi High School. The programs were held at the Dong Thanh Secondary & High School hall and the Tan Quoi Commune Public Service Center hall on 15 and 16 November 2025, respectively.
With enthusiastic coordination from the school leadership, teachers, and support from the local authorities, the students and Be Better team have had a fulfilling morning filled with joy and meaningful memories during the Mentorship program.
I. OBJECTIVES AND MESSAGE
In line with the message the program has always aimed to convey, the Mentorship in November 2025 continued to “Share experiences, knowledge, and future orientation” for students on the threshold of adulthood. To make the content vivid and relatable, the program once again utilized real-life scenarios, enabling students to discuss common issues often faced at this age.
After these discussions, the program’s speaker – Mr. Tran Van Tinh – summarized key insights and shared life experiences he had accumulated throughout his personal development journey. The goal was to encourage students to reflect on themselves and consider the path and way of life most suitable to who they truly are.
II. MAIN ACTIVITIES
The program was held in a joyful atmosphere, with a harmonious blend of musical performances. Notably, the “A Person of Wisdom” competition was still a signature highlight of the Mentorship program, providing a platform for students to collaborate in teams, present their ideas through mind maps, and speak publicly on real-life topics such as: the difference between academic excellence and professional competence, passion versus interest, distinguishing real versus superficial success, and especially, the message of the four pillars of holistic development: Body – Mind – Wisdom – Virtue.
In addition to 4 teams, the competition was updated with “Counterargument Groups,” allowing students to voluntarily form and step up to challenge the presenting teams. This new feature significantly enhanced engagement, encouraged critical thinking, and fostered students’ courage and initiative in learning.
III. RESULTS AND IMPACTS
The Mentorship program in November 2025 affirmed Be Better Foundation’s commitment to both financial support and knowledge sharing:
a) Scholarship grants:
25 scholarships worth VND 50,000,000 in total were granted to students in particularly difficult circumstances, including:
| Support Level /student | Dong Thanh Secondary & High School | Tan Quoi High School | Tổng cộng | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Amount | Quantity | Amount | ||
| Lost both parents (VND 3,000,000) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lost a parent (VND 2,000,000 ) | 15 | 30,000,000 | 10 | 20,000,000 | 50,000,000 |
| Total | 15 | 30,000,000 | 10 | 20,000,000 | 50,000,000 |
b) “A person of Wisdom” competition
“A person of Wisdom” competition took place vibrantly at both schools, encouraging students’ critical thinking and presentation skills. The total prize value amounted to VND 36,800,000, distributed as follows:
| Category | Dong Thanh Secondary & High School | Tan Quoi High School | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amount | Quant | Amount | Quant | ||
| Warm-up activities | 1,000,000 | 10 | 1,000,000 | 10 | 2,000,000 |
| 1st prize – Teamwork | 5,000,000 | 1 | 5,000,000 | 1 | 10,000,000 |
| 2nd prize – Teamwork | 3,000,000 | 1 | 3,000,000 | 1 | 6,000,000 |
| 3rd prize – Teamwork | 4,000,000 | 2 | 4,000,000 | 2 | 8,000,000 |
| 1st prize – Counterargument | 1,000,000 | 1 | 1,000,000 | 1 | 2,000,000 |
| 2nd prize – Counterargument | 700,000 | 1 | 700,000 | 1 | 1,400,000 |
| Consolation prize – Counterargument | 600,000 | 2 | 600,000 | 2 | 1,200,000 |
| 1st prize – Special question | 1,000,000 | 1 | 1,000,000 | 1 | 2,000,000 |
| 2nd prize – Special question | 700,000 | 1 | 1,400,000 | 2 | 2,100,000 |
| Consolation prize – Special question | 300,000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 300,000 |
| Others | 800,000 | 4 | 1,000,000 | 5 | 1,800,000 |
| Total | 18,100,000 | 25 | 18,700,000 | 26 | 36,800,000 |
Every journey brings different emotions, yet one thing remains constant: the transformation in students’ eyes – from hesitation to confidence, from silence to engagement, from confusion to clarity.
“All in all, I find the Mentorship program truly meaningful for students like me, and even some teachers. What Mr. Tinh and the team shared that day will be a ‘mighty weapon’ in my future journey, which will help me face all the new things ahead”– Ly Cao Nguyen (Class 11A10, Tan Quoi High School)
“After the program, besides the values we were taught, I also realized, ‘Ah! I’m still very shy and missed the chance to speak up on stage.’ I regret not stepping out of my comfort zone. Now I know I must be more courageous and strive to improve every day. I must train physically to develop the ‘Body’; build inner strength to nurture the ‘Mind’; study to develop the ‘Wisdom’; and above all, cultivate the ‘Virtue’—these are the most meaningful values.” – Huynh Cam Thao (Class 12A1, Tan Quoi High School)
“What moved me most was the team’s passion, especially Uncle Tinh and Sis Thuy. Despite being exhausted and drenched in sweat, the team still talked to us in a friendly manner, encouraged us, never letting the energy drop. From the well-prepared setup to the thoughtful content, we not only learned skills and life experiences but also observed the program’s thoroughness and care. It made us feel comfortable, confident, and welcomed, even though it was our very first time attending.” – Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hien (Class 11A3, Tan Quoi High School)
These reflections have become a source of motivation for the Be Better Foundation to continue expanding the Mentorship journey to more schools in the near future. Each stop is an opportunity to sow more seeds of knowledge, of belief, and of growth.
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Be Better Foundation would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Board of Principals and teachers of Dong Thanh Secondary & High School, Tan Quoi High School, the guest speakers, benefactors, and volunteers.
We truly value every opportunity to accompany and continue our mission of delivering meaningful, practical, and humane educational programs for students. The devoted support of teachers and the enthusiastic participation of students were the key to the success of the 28th and 29th Mentorship programs.
VI. IMAGE
