CJ Group said Wednesday it has launched the third phase of its Girls' Education Project in Vietnam in partnership with UNESCO, aimed at expanding educational opportunities for ethnic minority communities and girls in the country.
CJ has been partnering with UNESCO since 2014 and has carried out social contribution initiatives to improve educational access for ethnic minorities and girls in Vietnam since 2019. The third project was designed to cultivate talent in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) fields in response to growing demand for skilled workers driven by Vietnam's digital transformation.
The project will run for three years across nine middle and high schools in Ho Chi Minh City and Cao Bang Province, targeting students, teachers, teacher training institutions and education policymakers. CJ plans to provide approximately $500,000 (roughly 700 million to 750 million won) in funding. The initiative focuses on partnering with teacher training institutions to expand the program nationwide and build a sustainable education system.
CJ Olive Young, CJ's health and beauty retail unit, is also participating by supporting career education and awareness improvement programs. The company plans to lower barriers to entry in STEAM fields, including gender stereotypes that discourage participation.
CJ's previous projects have been credited with delivering significant results in improving educational environments and shifting perceptions. Enrollment rates among students in participating regions rose by 10%, while ethnic minority student enrollment increased by more than 15%. Some schools saw ethnic minority enrollment surge to as high as 97%. In addition, 90% of participating female students expressed their intention to pursue high school education, indicating a stronger commitment to continued learning.
"Building on our achievements so far, the third project will expand our education model more broadly so that more girls can receive education free from discrimination and grow into leaders who shape the future," said Min Hee-kyung, head of CJ's Corporate Social Responsibility Division.
