Children of Vietnam

Children of Vietnam began with two friends, one an American and the other a Vietnamese, who simply saw the needs of many children and decided to take action. Mr. Ben Wilson and Ms. Luong Thi Huong would ride a scooter through the streets of Danang and into the countryside, bringing aid to children and their families—food, shelter, medicine, clothing—anything and everything a child might need. Brightening a child’s future with all that he or she needs to grow, be happy, and develop to his or her potential remains their focus today.

Back in 1998 when Children of Vietnam was founded, word of Ben and Huong’s life-changing scooter deliveries traveled fast. Families with children who needed help sought them out, while Ben and Huong furiously worked on both sides of the ocean to meet the needs of the children.

From the beginning, Ben and Huong believed in creating partnership relationships with the communities, finding the greatest needs, delivering aid quickly, and working to provide support that sustained growth in the community. These principles are alive and well and still guiding Children of Vietnam in the daily operations.

Today, Ben is still President and Huong is still in Vietnam as Country Director. And, while the staff and volunteers have grown, they all continue to work to transform the lives of vulnerable children to brighten their futures.

Since 1998, Children of Vietnam has been serving the children in Vietnam whose futures are stifled by poverty: educating minds, mending bodies, sheltering families and nurturing their development. Children of Vietnam is guided by its commitment to be effective, efficient and transparent. They build relationships, find the greatest needs, deliver aid, give hope to families and establish futures for poor, orphaned, disabled and vulnerable children. Children of Vietnam overarching goals are: to break the cycle of poverty, illness, and homelessness; and to provide immediate aid to children and families in crisis. They do this one child, one family, one community at a time.

Children of Vietnam believes that children with disabilities have the right to grow to their fullest potential.  They also believe that community involvement is essential to make this happen. Working in partnership with local authorities, Hope System of Care for Children with Disabilities (HSC) provides families with access to a full range of services. This partnership improves local capacity and also provides children with disabilities assistance in five major areas:

• Healthcare, rehabilitation, and nutrition
• Education and vocational training
• Livelihood/Micro-loans
• Sound and reliable housing, accessible to handicapped residents
  
• Introducing families and children to community activities and resources

Agent Orange (dioxin) is suspected to be the cause for many of the disabilities these children suffer, as well as those of many other Vietnamese.

Investing in children and equipping them with a sound education is fundamental to ending the cycle of poverty.  Children of Vietnam provides education for poor and handicapped children in Vietnam.  Children of Vietnam helps children become proud, self-sufficient adults by making a solid education a reality for children who could not otherwise afford one.

• awards bicycles to poor children so they have transportation to school
• builds kindergartens to meet the educational news of small children in rural areas
• facilitates after-school tutoring programs to keep street children and orphans in school
• awards scholarships for children in primary and secondary school, as well as those in university and vocational schools.
  Children of Vietnam believes that every child deserves excellent medical care, regardless of family income.  Often, a simple surgery can save a child’s life, drastically improve his or her quality of life, or be the difference between complete social rejection and a chance to be accepted.Children of Vietnam makes modern medical care a reality for children who need it most by
• ensuring that children are healthy and parasite free with preventative parasite treatments to school children
• arranging life-saving surgeries and other medical assistance for poor children who cannot afford it
• and coordinating with other agencies, organizations, and nonprofits to bring training, supplies, and equipment to Vietnam to help expand health care resources for children who need it most.
• Twice a year (usually March and September), Children of Vietnam welcomes guests to travel to Vietnam with us to experience their life-changing work. Visit many of the children they serve, learn about their needs and see their programs at work. You will quickly see how a little care and support for these children blossoms into new hope for a brighter future!If you are interested in traveling with them, email info@childrenofvietnam.org

  If you are interested in donating you can visit Children of Vietnam.