Therefore, on December 10, 2024, at the Hall of the Pastoral Center of Dalat, Caritas of the Diocese of Dalat organized a gathering for the "Charity Rice" and "Educational Scholarship" programs. Attending the meeting were priests, religious sisters, representatives from the various support centers, along with the board of directors and staff of Caritas Dalat.

Educational Scholarship Program

The Diocesan Educational Scholarship Program was established and has been maintained for nearly 30 years, since it was initiated by Cardinal Peter. Currently, the program supports 830 students from kindergarten to the end of primary school, with an amount of 600,000 VND/student/school year. This fund is transferred to the support centers at the beginning of August every year. The total annual cost is 498,000,000 VND.

However, the program also faces several challenges:

  1. Limited support level: With the rising cost of living, the amount of 600,000 VND per student is only of symbolic value.
  2. Limited expansion: Some newly established parishes have needs but cannot receive support due to limited funding.
  3. Communication difficulties: When the Sisters in charge are reassigned to other communities, communication and fund transfers become difficult.
  4. Delayed reporting: Some centers have not complied with the regulations regarding timely submission of reports.

In the face of these difficulties, Caritas Dalat has proposed changes to the fund's operation, reviewing the beneficiaries and adjusting the support levels to better suit the current reality.

Charity Rice Program

Formerly known as the "Lonely Elderly" program under the Teresa Fund founded by Deacon Vu Thanh An, the program was transferred to the Diocesan charity fund and has received additional support from two benefactor families from the Diocese of Xuan Loc since 2015. Currently, the program supports 570 poor people in remote parishes, most of whom are ethnic minorities. Among these, 220 shares are funded by the Diocesan charity fund, and 350 shares are from benefactors (the Vinh Tuyet family: 300 shares, and the Duc An family: 50 shares).

However, the program also faces similar difficulties:

  1. Limited funding: Sustaining the program remains highly challenging.
  2. Lack of reporting: Some centers do not send back the signed receipt lists after distributing the funds, making it difficult to report to benefactors.
  3. Information discrepancies: Some recipients' names do not match, or their circumstances do not meet the selection criteria.
  4. Untimely updates: Changes in personnel in charge have not been fully reported, causing disruptions in communication and fund transfers.

Meeting Outcomes

The gathering reached several important agreements:

  • The workflow has been adjusted; accordingly, the support funds will be sent through the Parish Priests regularly at the end of July each year.
  • It was agreed to withdraw 31 kindergarten children from the program in order to increase the support level to 1 million VND/student/year for primary school students.
  • The Diocese will collect a new list of beneficiaries in late April and early May 2025, prioritizing the allocation of funds to newly established and highly disadvantaged parishes.
  • The maximum number of support shares is limited to 30 per parish. Parishes currently receiving more than 30 shares will reduce their count, while those receiving fewer than 30 shares will remain unchanged, reserving the remaining portion for other needy parishes.
  • It was agreed that all parties will hold an annual meeting once a year to facilitate the exchange of difficulties and to propose solutions suited to the reality of each year.

Caritas Dalat also hopes to mobilize additional funds to meet the growing needs and ensure the sustainability of the programs.

The gathering was not only an opportunity to review the achievements and difficulties of the "Charity Rice" and "Educational Scholarship" programs but also an occasion for all parties to discuss, share, and find more effective solutions. Caritas Dalat hopes that with the companionship of benefactors, priests, religious sisters, and everyone, both programs will continue to spread love and solidarity to those in difficult circumstances within the Diocese.