CLEAN WATER, HEALTHY STUDENTS - LIFESTART FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO TRANSFORM SCHOOL LIFE IN RURAL VIETNAM

Quang Nam Province, Vietnam - April 2025 - Lifestart Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Hoi An, Quang Nam, and founded in Australia, has recently donated 10 more clean water filtration systems and water tanks to ten underprivileged schools in mountainous areas of Quang Nam province.

This latest initiative targets schools in the districts of Phuoc Son, Que Son, and Thang Binh. Of these, six schools are located in Phuoc Son, including:

• Chanh Cong Inter-Commune Kindergarten - Main Campus (Phuoc Chanh Commune)
• Chanh Cong Inter-Commune Kindergarten - Phuoc Cong Campus (Phuoc Cong Commune)
• Kim Dong Primary and Secondary School - Hamlet 2 Campus (Phuoc Duc Commune)
• Vo Thi Sau Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Phuoc Xuan Commune)
• Phuoc Loc Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Phuoc Loc Commune)
• Phuoc My Semi-Boarding Primary and Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities (Phuoc My Commune)

In addition, three schools in Que Son - Que An Kindergarten (Que An Commune), Que Xuan 1 Primary School - Xuan Phu Campus (Que Xuan 1 Commune), and Que Long Secondary School (Que Long Commune) - and Nguyen Duy Hieu Secondary School in Binh Dinh Bac Commune, Thang Binh District, also received support.

Many of these schools, especially in Phuoc Son, serve predominantly students from the Gie Trieng ethnic minority and are situated in remote, socioeconomically challenged areas. Among them, five of the communes are designated as Region III (extremely disadvantaged): Phuoc Loc, Phuoc Cong, Phuoc Chanh, Phuoc My, Phuoc Duc, while one is Region II (developing): Phuoc Xuan, according to Decision No. 861 issued by the Prime Minister of Vietnam for the 2021-2025 period.

Access to clean water remains a major challenge for many mountainous schools. Some rely on bottled water purchased by schools or funded by students' families, and others require students to bring water from home. Due to limited financial resources, these schools often cannot afford to invest in safe drinking water infrastructure.

The 10 newly installed water filtration systems will directly benefit over 2,200 students, teachers, and staff members during the 2024-2025 academic year. Each system, valued at up to 66.4 million VND ($2,740 USD), can purify up to 250 liters per hour and is capable of removing bacteria, viruses, heavy metals, and other contaminants. The systems meet ISO standards issued by the Ministry of Health for potable tap water. Many are paired with 500-liter storage tanks to ensure a continuous water supply. The total cost of this round of installations exceeded 472 million VND (more than $19,500 USD).

Since launching the clean water initiative in 2021, Lifestart Foundation has provided 48 water filtration systems to disadvantaged schools across Quang Nam province - amounting to over 2.2 billion VND ($90,000 USD). The program has benefited more than 12,400 students, families and school staff to date.

Ms. Karen Leonard OAM (Order of Australia Medal), Founder of Lifestart Foundation, shared: "The lack of clean drinking water in schools, especially in remote and mountainous areas, continues to affect the health and daily lives of students and teachers - particularly those in boarding schools. Understanding that access to safe water is essential for learning and well-being, Lifestart Foundation is committed to supporting schools in disadvantaged communities. By installing water filtration systems, we aim to improve the health and educational environment for students and staff alike, helping them focus more on their studies and daily activities in a safer, more supportive setting."

Mr. Tran Van Mai, Chairman of the Quang Nam Province Union of Friendship Organizations, noted: "Lifestart Foundation's support in providing clean water filtration systems is both timely and meaningful. We hope that the recipient schools will manage and maintain these systems well to ensure long-lasting benefits. Our heartfelt thanks to Lifestart Foundation for their generous and thoughtful contribution."

Mr. Nguyen Van Lanh, Principal of Que Xuan 1 Primary School (Xuan Phu Campus, Que Son district), shared: "We are sincerely grateful to Lifestart Foundation for this generous support, which ensures our students now have access to safe water daily. We are committed to maintaining the system for long-term use."

Lifestart Foundation's ongoing commitment to vulnerable communities in Central Vietnam - especially children - continues to drive meaningful, lasting change. The organization plans to donate an additional 10 systems in the near future, bringing the total number of supported schools to 58.

*About Lifestart Foundation:

Founded in 2000 by Australian Karen Leonard OAM and supported by dedicated volunteers, Lifestart Foundation is a grassroots, not-for-profit charity that helps disadvantaged Vietnamese families become self-sufficient. Through its Education Scholarships and Housing Improvement projects, it has invested over 40 Billion VND (approximately $2,424,000 AUD) in the youth of Central Vietnam.

*Contact information:

Lifestart Foundation

175 Ly Thai To Street, Cam Chau Ward, Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province

Website: www.lifestartfoundation.org.au -Telephone: +84(0)76 402 7402

Email: admin@lifestartfoundation.org.au - Ms. Nhung (Education Scholarship & Housing Project Manager)

uyen@lifestartfoundation.org.au - Ms. Uyen (Education Scholarship & Administration Officer)