Though skies may tilt and earth may lean,
Her stone statue stands, a timeless scene.
Her spirit's steadfast, unwavering and true,
In hearts and minds, forever anew.
(Vũ Hòang Chương)
(Translation from Vietnamese)
For the poeple’s future, let hope smile.
(TRỤ VŨ)
In this impermanent realm of human life, each of us, regardless of our fortune, experiences dark moments. For those less fortunate, these dark times can stretch into long, lightless nights, and sometimes feeling like endless centuries without hope. Just as darkness requires light to dissipate, support and empowerment are essential for those facing difficulties and hardships to help alleviate their struggles by gradually moving toward a brighter future. Over 60 years ago, Ms. Quach Thi Trang exemplified this spirit by using her body as a torch of wisdom to ignite hope in the midst of long, dark nights, to awaken the fight for equality and justice. Following her example, we aim to continue kindling the flames that will dispel the darkness and illuminate a hopeful future for those whose experience hardships in life, as expressed by the poet TRỤ VŨ:
Since the early 1960s, the Quach Thi Trang Orphanage has been established in District 10, Saigon, with the purpose of caring for orphans, providing them with food, clothing, education, and preparing them for their future lives. In 2014, Dr. Duong Quang Duy and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong, the founding Head of the Aviation Engineering Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), furthered this mission by establishing scholarships in Ms. Quach Thi Trang’s name. These scholarships assist students at the same grade and age level as Ms. Trang was when she sacrificed her life. The goal is to partially alleviate their difficulties while simultaneously encouraging and empowering them on their learning journey.
We were also aware of other scholarships available in Hue city, as well as institutions and monasteries that nurture orphans, disabled children, and care for lonely elderly individuals.
Over the years, we have had the opportunity to make small contributions to those charitable organizations and since 2019 we have contributed to the Quach Thi Trang Scholarships in partnership with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thien Tong. In order to conduct more effective charity activities, we applied to establish the Quach Thi Trang Foundation, a non-profit organization. The foundation received tax-exempt status in early 2024.
As Bùi Giáng wrote, “Greeting all in the road middle; Spring ahead, hassle behind.” And in the words of Walt Whitman: "Keep your face always toward the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you". Inspired by the poets Bui Giang and Walt Whitman, the Quach Thi Trang Foundation invites you and your friends to join us and the students on the path of mutual support. Together, let's aim toward the sunshine of a beautiful Spring ahead, leaving behind all distress.
We aspire for the Quach Thi Trang Foundation to create opportunities for us to contribute to the Quách Thi Trang Scholarship. Furthermore, we intend to extend our contributions to other scholarships in the city of Huế. As a collective, we will "ignite the flame that dispels the darkness" for those less fortunate. Let us embark on this journey with small sparks of light, illuminating the path toward a hopeful Spring— a brighter and more promising future for talented students, even amidst challenging circumstances.
Quách Thị Trang Foundation, Spring 2024
Historical Pictures