The ribbon cutting at the Xuan Hoa School in Phu Yen province, built by EMW with donation from Boering

HO CHI MINH CITY—March 14, 2008—On Monday, March 17, 2008, the Boeing Company will hand over the first of five schools to be built in Vietnam with the East Meets West Foundation (EMW)—the newly-constructed Xuan Hoa School in Song Cau District, Phu Yen Province. This $35,000 school was funded by Boeing and implemented by EMW as a part of their Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) program.  The handover ceremony’s activities will include remarks by Mr. Michael J. Fleming, Boeing’s Senior Sales Director of the Asia Pacific Region Commercial Airplanes, a musical performance from the school’s students and teachers, and the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Other attendees include Mr. Mark Conroy, Country Director of EMW; Mr. Rad Kivette, Director of Development-Vietnam of EMW; Ms. Angela Dickey, Deputy Consul General of the United States; and officials from the Phu Yen Friendship Unions, Song Cau District People's Committee, Chamber of Education and Training of Song Cau District, and Xuan Hoa Commune People's Committee.

The construction of the Xuan Hoa School is just one part of Boeing’s support for improvements in rural Vietnam’s primary and secondary education system. In 2007 and 2008 Boeing is funding the construction of four other primary schools in central and southern Vietnam:  An My Primary School in Binh Dinh Province, Xuan Tho 2 Primary School in Phu Yen Province, and Lac Quoi Primary School and Thoi Son Primary School in An Giang Province.  All of the schools are located in districts that are among the poorest, not only in their provinces but all of Vietnam. Due to a shortage of usable classrooms, the schools are currently unable to provide an all-day education for their students. 

“Boeing recognizes that children are the future of Vietnam, and that an education has a strong positive impact on their development,” said Mr. Michael J. Fleming, Boeing’s Senior Sales Director of the Asia Pacific Region Commercial Airplanes.  “We are proud to continue our partnership with East Meets West to help provide healthy and encouraging learning environments to Vietnam’s most disadvantaged students, with the hope that they will be able to improve their own lives and contribute positively to the country’s development.”

The Xuan Hoa School was constructed under close supervision to national standards and using materials that meet the highest quality, built to withstand the annual typhoons, rainstorms, and severe winds.  The school has two classrooms, one kitchen, one teacher’s lounge, clean and hygienic bathrooms, and a well that supplies clean water. The school will immediately benefit 43 children through EMW’s ECCE program as well as many more groups of students in the years to come These schools incorporate tactile and interactive learning instruments to encourage sensory and intellectual development.  All of EMW’s professionally-designed early childhood classrooms exhibit the same layout, curriculum, and teacher training. The centers provide innovative materials to stimulate young minds, create a safe space for young children, and offer nutritious meals. Through the ECCE program, EMW aims to provide high-quality facilities and education for disadvantaged children which will enhance their social development and contribute to a sound education. 

There are 1,115 students and teachers who directly benefit from Boeing’s donation, but the impact of Boeing’s support of EMW’s school construction efforts goes beyond providing the currently-enrolled children with an improved education.  There are also significant secondary benefits. The five schools that Boeing and EMW are building were located in inconvenient locations that are dangerous to reach during the long flood and rainy season. By constructing these new schools in more centralized areas, the students have a much safer journey to school each day. Secondary beneficiaries total 8,522 residents across three provinces.    

The Xuan Hoa School is the second school Boeing has built in partnership with EMW. In 2006, the Boeing Company funded the construction of a 12-classroom high school, library, and two hamlet administration rooms in Quang Nam Province.  The school was fully furnished with blackboards, desks and chairs, and bathroom facilities.  In addition, during the school’s opening ceremony, Boeing presented the students with schoolbags, hats, notebooks, and other school supplies to assist their education.

Boeing’s generosity extends beyond educating the most disadvantaged students in Vietnam.  The company has also donated funds to EMW’s disaster relief projects, such as building compassion homes.  “The Boeing Company is committed to the improvement in education for the disadvantaged around the world,” said Mr. Rad Kivette, EMW’s Development Director in Vietnam.  “They truly put their money where their heart is, and it is a privilege to partner with a corporation that embodies all that ‘corporate social responsibility’ means.”

About The Boeing Company

Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales.

Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 150,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. This represents one of the most diverse, talented and innovative workforces anywhere. More than 83,800 of our people hold college degrees--including nearly 29,000 advanced degrees--in virtually every business and technical field from approximately 2,800 colleges and universities worldwide. Our enterprise also leverages the talents of hundreds of thousands more skilled people working for Boeing suppliers worldwide.

About East Meets West
The East Meets West Foundation (EMW), a 501(c) (3) organization, has been working in Vietnam for 20 years. Currently the largest non-governmental organization working in Vietnam, EMW has built a reputation for implementing innovative high-impact programs and projects in health, clean water, education, and community infrastructure that make a lasting impact on hundreds of thousands of children and families living in poverty.

To find out more about this project or any EMW news, contact the Communications Department at info@eastmeetswest.org.