Trust Activities
Our first small efforts started in mid-2006. As a young charity, we continue to explore various types of project that we might support.
Current Projects
University Scholarships
The Trust offers small scholarships for Vietnamese students wishing to work in the area of national development. The first such award was made in June 2007 to Nguyễn Thị Thúy Bình in order to pursue an MSc in Public Policy at the University of Strathclyde. Binh successfully completed her MSc and now works with NGOs in Vietnam. She is also the Trust's Executive Officer for Scholarships.
The Trust's main activity in this area is the Philip David Gray Memorial Trust University Fees Scholarships for Vietnamese Students. These scholarships are organised in collaboration with the Center for Training and Community Development, a Vietnamese charity. Details of this programme can be found here. The application form is available in either English or Vietnamese:
Application Form in Vietnamese
Working with Charities in Vietnam
The Trust has made donations to Blue Dragon and to Operation Smile (Vietnam) in support of their work with Vietnamese children. Plans are underway to further develop these relationships, e.g., by helping to provide IT equipment and to continue to help maintain children in school. In the longer term, we hope to participate in the development of a program of professional training for social care of children at risk.
We also work with the Center for Training and Community Development in the delivery of our University Fees Scholarship programme.
The Philip David Gray Memorial Lecture Series and Essay Prize
The Trust has established an annual memorial lecture in Economics, to be held at Stewart's Melville College in Edinburgh - Philip's secondary school. The first lecture was presented in March 2008 by Mr Klaus Rohland, World Bank Country Director for the Russian Federation. Linked to the memorial lecture is a student essay prize offered each year at Stewart's Melville School for an essay in economics or international development.
How You Can Help
All our projects take time and effort. If you would like join us in our work, please let us know. We're happy to accept any kind of assistance, including fund-raising or managing a particular project.
Also, we are keen to hear about your ideas for new projects. Please contact us.
Student Gap Year Projects
Please note that we do not provide financial support for UK or US high school students undertaking a Gap Year project in Vietnam. We are, however, happy to help with advice, information and contacts.