COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL BRIDGES

TRƯỜNG HIỆP BRIDGE
(VESAF Bridge No. 24)
Truong Hiep hamlet, Truong Long A commune, Chau Thanh A district, Hau Giang province

Specifications: Steel-reinforced concrete; length = 38 m, width = 3.8 m
Construction cost: 360,000,000 VNĐ
Financial support: VESAF (76%) and People’s Committee of Truong Long A Commune (24%)
Logistics and realization: VESAF Project Coordinator in Southern Vietnam (Mekong Delta)

The new bridge replaces an old, dilapidated bridge that posed a serious hazard for local people when crossing the river.

05/29/2021: Groundbreaking
06/26/2021: Construction complete
03/06/2022: Inauguration

CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL ROADS

AN BÌNH ROAD
(VESAF Road No. 10)
Kinh Sáng hamlet, Lộc Ninh commune, Hồng Dân district, Bạc Liêu province

Specifications: concrete; length = 2,160 m, width = 1.5 m, thickness = 0.08 m
Construction cost: 218,000,000 VNĐ
Financial support: VESAF (70%) and People’s Committee of Lộc Ninh Commune (30%)
Logistic and technical support: Nhóm Ái Hữu Công Chánh Sàigòn (Fellow Retired Civil Engineers in Saigon) and local workers & volunteers

12/19/2020: Groundbreaking
01/31/2021: Inauguration

MICROFINANCE

Economists and other social scientists know how hard the climb out of poverty is for poor rural people in developing countries. The many obstacles include the need to support a family while starting or expanding a business, acquiring needed business knowledge, access to markets for one's goods and/or services, the support of other community members, and above all, finding the financial capital to invest in the needed tools and supplies. Microfinance programs, which supply needy entrepreneurs with small loans ($400-900) after organizing them into local support groups, overcome the last two of these obstacles. The loans are repaid to the lending organization, which then recycles the funds into new loans to other similar individuals and communities. Such microfinance programs multiply the benefits of the invested funds to the benefit of the borrowers and their neighbors.

 Since 2017, in an extensive and expanding microfinance program, VESAF has partnered with Hearts For Hue (H4H), a Vietnamese nongovernmental organization based in Hue, to grant microloans to needy families in the region. H4H, in collaboration with local People’s Committees, provides basic training to borrowers in financial literacy, savings techniques, and other necessary topics for financial management. Since the program’s inception, VESAF has provided microloans to 443 families in three communes of Thua Thien Hue Province.  47% of these loans have been repaid and these funds were recycled to provide new loans. By the second quarter of 2021, 311 families remain active in the program. And as more loans are repaid and additional families participate, we can expect this to lead to a continued expansion of the program and its benefits. The funds have been used in a variety of productive ways: to expand supplies offered in rural retail stores and service establishments such as beauty parlors, and to buy and plant pomelo trees… to name a few.

Effective January 2021, VESAF’s loan amounts have been increased from 7,000,000 to 10,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase, and from 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 VNĐ in the second phase.

HƯƠNG VÂN PROJECT
Hương Vân commune, Hương Trà township, Thừa Thiên Huế province

12/21/2021: VESAF provided additional funds to support 20 new participants in the first phase. After conducting a basic training session, H4H (in collaboration with People’s Committee of Huong Van Commune) distributed loans to these borrowers, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ.

08/26/2021: After attending a basic training session provided by H4H, 14 new families participate in the program, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase, with additional financial support from VESAF.

06/30/2021: After passing the basic training, 11 new participants joined the program, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase, with VESAF’s additional funds.

04/20/2021: After having attended a basic training session provided by H4H, 10 new participants joined the program, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase with VESAF’s additional funds.

In addition, continuing into the second phase, H4H granted new VESAF loans (15,000,000 VNĐ each) to the 09 participants who had joined the program initially on 04/20/2019, with available loan repayment funds. Two families in this Group decided to end their participation in the program after the first round.

03/18/2021: 10 new participants joined the program, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ in the first phase with VESAF’s additional funds.

01/29/2021: VESAF provided additional funds to support 10 new participants in the first phase. After conducting a basic training session, H4H (in collaboration with People’s Committee of Huong Van Commune) distributed loans to these borrowers, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ.

In addition, continuing into the second phase, H4H disbursed new VESAF loans (15,000,000 VNĐ each) to the 20 participants who had joined the program initially on 01/20/2019, with available loan repayment funds.

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11/27/2020: In the second phase, H4H disbursed new VESAF loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) to the 50 participants, who had joined the program initially on 11/20/2018.
09/21/2020: 15 initial participants were granted new loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) in the second phase of the program, with loan repayment funds.
07/20/2020: 15 initial participants were granted new loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) in the second phase of the program, with loan repayment funds.
05/20/2020: In the second phase, new loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) were granted to the 50 initial participants who had joined the program on 05/20/2018. In addition, 15 new recipients were added to the program, each receiving 7,000,000 VNĐ, with loan repayment funds.
01/09/2020: New loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) were granted to the 26 initial participants in the second phase of the program, using loan repayment funds. In addition, 15 new recipients were added to the program (each receiving 7,000,000 VNĐ) also with loan repayment funds.
04/20/2019: 11 new loan recipients were added to the program with available loan repayment funds.
01/20/2019: 20 new recipients were added to the existing loan program with available loan repayment funds.
11/20/2018:  VESAF provided additional funds to support 50 more participants in the expanding program.
09/20/2018: 15 new loan recipients were added to the program with available loan repayment funds.
07/20/2018: 15 new loan recipients were added to the program with available loan repayment funds.
05/20/2018:  Expanding the program in Huong Van, VESAF provided additional funds to Hearts for Hue in order to support 50 new participants.
01/20/2018:  Loans (7,000,000 VNĐ each) were disbursed to 26 families participating in the first phase of the loan program.

PHÚ GIA PROJECT
Phú Gia commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

07/30/2020: Expanding the program, VESAF provided additional funds to H4H in order to support 25 new families economically affected by COVID-19 pandemic, each receiving 7,000,000 VNĐ.

VINH PHÚ PROJECT
Vinh Phú Gia commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

04/12/2021:  After loan repayment, 3 families have left the program, as we are in the process of phasing out the Vinh Phú project, based on the availability of larger commercial loans.
01/22/2021:  After loan repayment, 26 families left the program, as the Vinh Phú project was eventually phased out, thanks to recently-available larger commercial loans in the community.
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05/12/2020:  10 families left the program after complete loan repayment.
09/12/2019: New loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) were granted to the 6 initial participants in the second phase of the program, using loan repayment funds.
08/12/2019: New loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) were granted to the 7 initial participants in the second phase of the program, using loan repayment funds.
07/22/2019: 10 new participants joined the program, thanks to loan repayment funds.
06/22/2019: 10 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
04/12/2019: New loans (10,000,000 VNĐ each) were granted to the 3 initial participants in the second phase of the program, using loan repayment funds.
01/12/2019: VESAF provided additional funds to support the 26 initial participants, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ, in the second phase of the loan program.
In addition, 24 new recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
05/12/2018: 10 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
09/12/2017: 6 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
05/12/2017: 7 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
04/12/2017: 3 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
01/12/2017: H4H distributed VESAF loans (7,000,000 VNĐ each) to the 26 families participating in the first phase of the loan program.

QUẢNG PHƯỚC PROJECT
Quảng Phước commune, Quảng Điền district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

04/17/2021:  After complete loan repayment, 26 families have left the program, as we are in the process of phasing out the Quảng Phước project, thanks to the recent availability of larger commercial loans in the community.
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05/14/2020:  13 families left the program after full loan repayment, as the Quảng Phước project was phased out, due to recently-available larger commercial loans in the community.
04/17/2019: VESAF provided additional funds to continue the support for the 26 initial participants, each receiving 10,000,000 VNĐ, in the second phase of the loan program.
In addition, 11 new recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
05/17/2018:  13 new loan recipients were added to the program with loan repayment funds.
03/17/2017:  Loans (7,000,000 VNĐ each) were disbursed to 26 participating families in the first phase of the loan program.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

VESAF has established several scholarship programs to provide financial assistance to high-performing students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  The Foundation strongly believes that education is a critical component for breaking the cycle of poverty.  We provide the means for gifted students to continue their schooling, by easing the immediate financial pressures and hardships on their families that might otherwise curtail their opportunity for a strong education.  Without this much-needed financial support, many of these students would have to drop out of school to work to assist their families financially. 

VESAF partners with Hearts for Hue, a local charitable organization that works with school administrators to identify students in need of financial assistance.  These students all come from underprivileged families that are experiencing severe financial and/or medical hardships.  Each scholarship awardee has demonstrated outstanding scholastic potential and a desire to excel.

VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT HUE UNIVERSITY
Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế province

The VESAF scholarship program at Hue University was established in 2018.   Each year, starting 2021, 40 students participate in the program, 20 coming from Quang Nam province and 20 from within Thua Thien Hue province. Each scholarship awardee receives $400 USD per year (increased from $300 USD in previous years).  They will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support annually until graduation, as long as they continue to demonstrate a solid academic standing and good conduct.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021-2022 scholarships could not be distributed to the selected students in-person at the beginning of the academic year and were delayed until mid-March 2022.

03/10/2022: The VESAF Representative in Vietnam, in collaboration with Hue University, delivered the VESAF scholarships to 40 selected students.

VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT DA NANG UNIVERSITY
Đà Nẵng, Vietnam

The Foundation has established a VESAF scholarship program at Da Nang University in 2021.

The scholarship recipients, all of whom are from families experiencing severe financial and/or medical hardship, are awarded the scholarships for their strong academic performance.  They will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support until graduation if they continue to demonstrate a good academic standing and good conduct in the following school years.

Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 infection rates in Da Nang, the distribution of VESAF scholarship for the academic year 2021-2022 was postponed until mid-March 2022.

03/16/2022: The VESAF Representative in Vietnam and Da Nang University administrators delivered the VESAF scholarships to these 36 deserving students in-person at the University.

VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT HÀ TRUNG HIGH SCHOOL
Vinh Hà commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

The VESAF scholarship program at Ha Trung High School was established in 2020. Each year, 30 students are awarded, 10 in each grade. Each student receives $125 USD, which is sufficient to cover tuition, books, and school supplies for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout high school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a strong academic standing and good conduct.

10/14/2021: Although the COVID19 pandemic was still lingering, 30 students gathered at Hà Trung High School to receive their scholarships. Representing VESAF in Vietnam, Mr. Trương Trọng Khánh delivered the VESAF scholarship to the deserving students, in cooperation with the School administrators.

VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT VINH PHÚ MIDDLE SCHOOL
Phú Gia commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

Starting with the 2020-2021 academic year, VESAF awards scholarships to underprivileged students at Vinh Phu Middle School. Each year, 40 students participate in the program, 10 in each grade, from the 6th to the 9th, for the year. These students will continue to receive VESAF scholarship support throughout middle school, as long as they continue to demonstrate a strong academic performance and good conduct in the following school years.

10/14/2021: Mr. Trương Trọng Khánh and Ms. Vũ Hương Lan (representing VESAF in Vietnam) distributed the VESAF scholarship to the 40 deserving students, each receiving $100 USD, at Vinh Phú.

VESAF SCHOLARSHIP AT XUÂN LỘC PRIMARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Xuân Lộc commune, Phú Lộc district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

The VESAF scholarship program at Xuan Loc Primary and Middle School was established in 2019 to provide support to good students in need of financial help. Xuan Loc is a poverty-stricken mountainous community, with a population of 2,820 people, 85% of them being of Van Kieu and Ka Tu ethnics. Most of the local people earn their living by farming, and many do not have the ability to send their children to school.

Starting with the 2021-2022 academic year, Xuan Loc Primary School has become a Primary and Middle School, and as such, VESAF has increased the number of scholarships to 90, helping 10 needy students in each grade.

10/14/2021: Representing the Foundation in Vietnam, Mr. Trương Trọng Khánh delivered the VESAF scholarship to the selected students at Xuan Loc.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENTS

IMPROVING HAND WASHING FACILITIES AT PRIMARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS

Frequent hand washing with clean water and soap is a basic principle of sanitation that greatly reduces the risk of infection and disease.  However, hand washing facilities at many schools in rural Vietnam are in poor condition and do not meet the needs of students and teachers.

In cooperation with Hearts for Hue, VESAF has funded the construction of much-needed hand washing stations at primary schools in Thua Thien Hue province. These stations are built outdoors in convenient locations, allowing students to wash their hands before returning to the classroom from the playground. Schools are to provide soap and towels, and will maintain basic upkeep of these facilities.

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT HƯƠNG VINH 3 PRIMARY SCHOOL
Hương Vinh commune, Hương Trà, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT PHÚ DIÊN 2 PRIMARY SCHOOL
Phú Diên commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT HƯƠNG CHỮ 2 PRIMARY SCHOOL
Hương Chữ, Hương Trà district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT HỒNG QUẢNG PRIMARY SCHOOL
Hồng Quảng, Á Lưới district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT XUÂN LỘC PRIMARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Xuân Lộc commune, Phú Lộc district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT PHÚ LƯƠNG 2 PRIMARY SCHOOL
Phú Lương commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT PHONG CHƯƠNG PRIMARY SCHOOL
Phong Chương commune, Phong Điền district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT PHÚ MỸ 2 MIDDLE SCHOOL
Phú Mỹ commune, Phú Vang district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT TÔN THẤT BÁCH (HƯƠNG THỌ 2) MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hương Thọ commune, Hương Trà district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

ADDING A NEW HAND WASHING STATION AT NGUYỄN KHOA ĐĂNG (HƯƠNG VAN) MIDDLE SCHOOL
Hương Vân commune, Hương Trà district, Thừa Thiên Huế province

SOCIAL ASSISTANCE

SUPPORT FOR ORPHANAGES

“MÁI ẤM TÌNH THƯƠNG” ORPHANAGE AT QUANG CHÂU PAGODA
Hòa Châu Commune, Hòa Vang District , Đà Nẵng

02/24/2021: VESAF continued to provide financial support for MÁI ẤM TÌNH THƯƠNG CENTER, operated by Quang Châu Pagoda. This Center is home to more than 100 orphans, ranging in age from newborn infants to teenagers, and is also helping old, poor, and dependent individuals without families with lodging, meals, clothing, and medical care.

EMERGENCY RELIEF

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS IN SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Hoa My and Phuong Phu communes (Phung Hiep district, Hau Giang province), Hung Thanh ward (Cai Rang district, Can Tho), and Hung Nhuong commune (Giong Trom district, Ben Tre province)

In recent years, many workers from southern provinces left their towns to find work in Ho Chi Minh City, in offices, factories, manufacturing companies, etc. Unfortunately, with the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the City, many districts locked down and businesses were forced to close, leaving hundreds of these workers unemployed. Without employment, many returned home in southern communities, where they found themselves immediately retained at local quarantine centers for two weeks.

10/14/2021 - 10/16/2021: Thanks to the dedicated assistance of our regional project coordinator (Tiêu, Jenny Kim-Oanh), our friends and volunteers (Hồ Văn Sơn and Nguyễn Thanh Sang), and local authorities, VESAF was able to provide funds to assist 530 of these individuals so they could buy food and basic supplies during their stay in the quarantine centers.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN SOUTHERN PROVINCES AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Various communities in Hau Giang and Tien Giang provinces, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City.

With the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in southern Vietnam, many cities and districts locked down and businesses were forced to close, leaving inhabitants of these strictly controlled areas unemployed and suffering from lack of food and daily necessities.

09/16/2021 - 09/25/2021: Thanks to the dedicated assistance of our regional project coordinator (Tiêu, Jenny Kim-Oanh), our friends and volunteers (Hồ Văn Sơn, Tiêu Thị Anh Đào, Nguyễn Thành Đạt, and Nguyễn Thanh Sang), and local authorities, VESAF was able to provide funds to assist 277 families and individuals (each receiving 500,000 VNĐ) in southern communities severely affected by the pandemic: Cần Thơ (51 families), Hậu Giang (51), Tiền Giang (50), and TP. Hồ Chí Minh (120).

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES IN HUE CITY AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Dong Ba, Huong Van, Thuan Hoa, Vy Da, and Xuan Phu wards, Hue City, Thua Thien Hue province

With the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19 in Vietnam, many cities and communities locked down and businesses were forced to close, leaving inhabitants of these strictly controlled areas unemployed and suffering from lack of food and daily necessities.

09/15/2021: Collaborating with our Vietnam Representative, Hearts for Hue, and Thua Thien Hue Foreign Affair Department, VESAF was able to provide funds to assist 150 disadvantaged people (each receiving 500,000 VNĐ) in 5 wards — Đông Ba (40 families), Hương Vân (30), Thuận Hòa (40), Vỹ Dạ (30), and Xuân Phú (10) — in Hue City affected by the pandemic.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKERS IN QUANG NAM PROVINCE AFFECTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC
Dien Phong, Dien Quang, and Dien Trung communes, Dien Ban district, Quang Nam province

In recent years, many laborers from the Quang Nam province left their towns to find work in larger cities (such as Ho Chi Minh City) in offices, factories, and manufacturing companies, etc.. With the rapid spread of COVID-19 in southern Vietnam, many districts of large cities locked down and businesses were forced to close, leaving hundreds of these laborers unemployed. Without employment, many returned home to Quang Nam, where they found themselves immediately quarantined at local high schools for two weeks.

08/16/2021 and 08/20/2021: In cooperation with Sư cô Tuệ Ý and volunteers at Phổ Quang Temple in Dien Ban district, VESAF was able to provide money to 165 of these individuals so they could buy food and basic supplies upon leaving the quarantine centers.

10/24/2021: In addition, Sư cô Tuệ Ý and volunteers at Phổ Quang Temple visited some 100 disadvantaged families affected by the pandemic in Dien Ban district and provided them with VESAF financial assistance (300,000 VNĐ per family).

SUPPORT FOR EYE CATARACT SURGERY FOR NEEDY PEOPLE FROM SOUTHERN PROVINCES
Trung Tam Mo Mat Tay Nam (South West Eye Clinic), Ho Chi Minh City

11/18/2021 and 03/19/2021: In partnership with Eyes of Compassion Relief Organization (Canada), VESAF provided financial support for eye cataract operation for 180 patients who were in urgent need but financially unable, from various communities in the Mekong Delta.
The surgery was performed at South West Eye Clinic (Trung Tâm Mổ Mắt Tây Nam, 188-190 Lê Cơ, P. An Lạc, Q. Bình Tân) in Ho Chi Minh City.