Vietnam: programs & priorities

Vietnam was the first country in Asia, and the second country worldwide, to become a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Working closely with parents, local authorities and children, ChildFund Australia is working towards the government's aim of "communes fit for children", by improving the overall health and wellbeing of children.

Working in the provinces of Bac Kan and Hoi Bin, which are comprised largely of ethnic minority groups, education is a particular focus of ChildFund's work. This is to ensure that children who do not speak Viet at home do not suffer from a lack of opportunities in later life. ChildFund Australia has built new schools, trained teachers in new methods, and encouraged parents to send their children to school, thus increasing attendance rates.

Improving family incomes is also a priority. Our livelihood program gives farmers training on new agricultural methods, offers a credit scheme so that livestock can be purchased and helps communities build new irrigation canals to increase rice yields.

Improving maternal and child healthcare continues to remain at the core of our work. Over the last year, ChildFund Australia has upgraded health facilities and provided medical equipment and supplies. The nutritional status of children under the age of five years has also been improved, with over 200 training sessions on child nutrition conducted and all malnourished children in ChildFund-supported communes identified, registered, and monitored regularly.

Development in progress

An innovative new program has been launched which is focused on child rights and safety - educating communities about how to protect their children from accidents and abuse. Currently, in some of the poorest districts where ChildFund is working, around 80 children die each year from preventable accidents.
In addition, many children in Vietnam are at risk of malnutrition, child labour, lack of schooling and other long-term disadvantages that early deprivation bring.

ChildFund Australia is now training children in each village to teach their fellow children about child protection and living in safety, as well educating local volunteers on injury prevention for children.

Over 80 Children's Clubs have also been established, where children can learn about child rights and protection, injury prevention and traffic safety.