Three high school girls in Can Tho are desperately trying to continue their studies despite the difficult circumstances of their families.

Pham Thi Mai Que is among the students struggling to keep studying. She is in 10th grade at Chau Van Liem High School, Ninh Kieu District.

We talked to her after she was granted a scholarship by the Can Tho Association for promoting education. “My father became blind over 20 years ago and my mother has been paralysed for 6 years. The financial burden of my family has been placed on my uncle’s shoulders. I try to continue my studies and give all my effort to achieve the best results,” said Que.

Que has two sisters, one is studying in her last year of Heath College and the other is a first year student at an IT faculty. “When we decided to continue our studies, my uncle's worries increased,” said Que.

Que’s uncle is 38. He sells fruit on the road to help Que’s family. He earns VND20,000-30,000 ($1.08-$1.62) per day to buy food with. “He said he would not marry and would spend all of it on raising us and helping us to continue our studies,” added Que.

Because their family is living in poverty, their studying fees are reduced by schools. The remaining expenditure is paid by Que’s uncle and some other relatives.

“I wish that my father could see again and my mother could move around. I want to become a teacher so I can help poor pupils like me,” shared Que.

Another student determined to keep studying is Nguyen Thi Le Trinh, a 12th grader at Trung An High School, Thot Not District. “My father is disabled and has been unable to work for many years. My mother and I have to go to work to support my family,” said Trinh.

Her mother has suffered from diabetes and liver disease for 2 years which limits her ability to work. When she is sick, Trinh has to borrow money to buy her medicine but sometimes it isn't enough.

Although Trinh has to work after school to help her mother she still finds a way to achieve good results. “I have to try my best to study well because learning can help me to have a better future. I just spend on essential things, I save money to help my parents,” said Trinh.

Trinh received a scholarship worth VND1 million ($54) as part of the “Lighting your belief” programme of Vinh Long Television Station and ADC Limited Company. “I will spend this money on buying medicine for my mother,” she told us.

Tran Thuy Tien also faces a similar situation as Que and Trinh. She is in 11th grade at Bui Huu Nghia High School, Binh Thuy District.

Her father left her family when she was only 3 months old. Her mother is the only person who supports the family. One day her mother fell and broke her arm. Tien’s brother suffers from epilepsy so he cannot go to work.

Her mother can earn only VND15,000-20,000 ($0.8-1.08) per day. Understanding the difficulties for her family, Tien also goes to work after school to support her mother.

According to the teachers for Que, Trinh and Tien, “They are very good pupils. We all love them. Despite the challenges in their lives, they still try to study hard. Their parents are having health problems and do not have enough money to cover their studying fees. Their scholarships are also not enough."

Hopefully with the support of our compassionate readers, studying will be a little easier for these special students.