A preschool and a scholarship foundation have been in operation in central Vietnam for two years thanks to the money a local family exchanged their ancient oil lamps for.

The Le Cong Anh Duc Preschool opened in Dien Hong Commune, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province in 2012.

The school was built at a cost of VND7 billion (US$329,474), donated by the family of Le Cong Anh Duc after they received the funds by exchanging a set of ancient oil lamps collected by their son, Duc, who died in a road accident in 2002.

Duc’s family said he had loved antiques at a very young age and started to follow his dream of collecting ancient oil lamps at the age of 22.

Over the following ten years, Duc had saved money from his job as a radio engineer to hunt for these items.

“He’s gone in an accident in 2002 and left the dream of collecting ancient oil lamps unfulfilled,” Le Cong Chiem, Duc’s father, said.

“Since the day he passed away, our family had carefully stored the collection of nearly 500 oil lamps. We then decided to give it to the Dien Ban District Museum in 2012,” Chiem said.

“At the time, the district wanted to give our family money but I suggested using what could be exchanged for the collection, equal to VND7 billion, to build a preschool for kids in the area. That was also Duc’s wish when he was alive,” he added. Local people often call Le Cong Anh Duc “the oil lamp school” due to its roots.

For the last two years, local children have no longer had to study in the dilapidated classroom in the office of the Dien Hong People’s Committee like before.

Nguyen Thi Ly, vice principal of the school, said all of the teachers and students at the school are happy that they can work in the new facility.

“All credit to Le Cong Anh Duc, a son of Dien Hong Commune,” she said.

The Le Cong Anh Duc Preschool, named for the donor, now hosts nearly 400 students, including many from disadvantaged families.

Duc’s family has also managed the Le Cong Anh Duc scholarship foundation, established to help students go to school as well as buy them learning tools and clothes, since the first academic year the school was on stream.

“Every year since, Duc’s parents have attended the school’s opening ceremony and given us scholarships as well as around VND3-4 million ($141-188) to buy gifts for students,” vice principal Ly said.

“We always appreciate what Duc and his family have done. It’s a gift that we are unable to repay,” she emotionally added.

The notebook recording the school’s progress also has three pages devoted to Le Cong Anh Duc.

Nguyen Van Hung, chairman of Dien Hong Commune’s study encouragement association, said that Duc’s family also helps to grow plants on the school’s campus.

“The scholarship of Duc’s family has a big practical meaning. The local government and people are always proud of this school,” he added.

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