[180115.EN.SEA] Maersk Turns Container Into a Library For 900 Students in Vietnam

DENMARK's shipping giant, Maersk, has donated in coordination with the Dariu Foundation (TDF) a library converted from a 40-foot container to the Long Binh Dien Secondary School in Cho Gao District, Tien Giang province in Vietnam at cost of VND250 million (US$11,717).

Its first library to support the studies of school children in the Mekong Delta is stocked with a thousand books donated by Maersk staff that include school books, dictionaries, as well as books on science and literature.

A further six computers have been donated for the students' use.

The opening ceremony of this special container library was held on January 10 at the Long Binh Dien Secondary School.

The shipping company in Vietnam has pledged another VND12 million to a scholarship programme for the students at the school. The sum will be shared among 70 outstanding pupils to cover their second semester tuition fee.

"This is the first time that we have worked together with The Dariu Foundation to transform a container into a special container library for use by Vietnamese pupils. This project was highly welcomed by all of our staff who donated over one thousand book," said sales general manager Nguyen Giang.

The Dariu Foundation is a Swiss-based non-governmental organisation working in Vietnam since 2003, with activities focusing on microfinance, scholarships for poor students, funding to build kindergartens and provide computer skills training and financial education via mobile schools.

Source : SN-TR, 18.01.15.