Children of Vietnam


Project Title: Empowering Foundations for Women and their Children (EFWC)

Location: Vietnam

Additional Information

Children of Vietnam was granted $26,947 in April 2009 for a vocational program that provided family housing, vocational training for mothers, educational scholarships for children, and bicycles for transportation. We sponsored five families in which a woman is the head of the household and sole breadwinner and gave scholarships to 40 women at the Vocational Training School supported by COV. Furthermore, because children in Vietnam do not receive free education and families are required to pay approximately $38 a year to send a child to school, COV helps children attend school, and DFW will give 100 scholarships through COV’s program. Finally, children from poor families have no means of transportation and often walk 4–5 miles to school. To help, DFW will purchase bicycles for 35 girls through COV’s bicycle program.

In 2012, we granted $60,098 over two years to support the Empowering Foundations for Women and Their Children (EFWC) program.  EFWC is a special initiative to promote income sustainability for struggling, single mothers. DFW supported 75 women through EFWC that will work to develop personal empowerment plans to lift families out of poverty through training, microloans, healthcare and improved housing.

In October 2013, the organization provided this update with its interim report:

The last six months of 2013 in Empowering Foundations for Women and Their Children we have focused on enrolling additional women and also providing skills training. During our workshops we provided information on business management and childcare. Importantly, we also wanted to build each woman’s self-esteem and sense of community. After one of the workshops the words of one woman says it all:
“Now I know I have a community of women in similar situation. I do not feel lonely anymore.”
The women being assisted communicate best the impact of the Dining For Women grant, “My life has changed so much since I joined in EFWC Program. In the past, when the new school year came, I had to borrow money from our relatives to spend on school fee, school supplies, and course-books for my daughter and son. Now, I can bear these expenditures.”  Thank you Dining for Women!

Why we love the EFWC program:  This is a powerful program with an individual approach as these women face a myriad of barriers that trap them in poverty.   It requires a multi-faceted effort to confront the causes of poverty as a single solution often fails .  EFWC will work collaboratively with each woman to develop an empowerment plan by assessing needs, identifying strengths and defining personal goals.  Ultimate GOAL:  for each mother to be in charge of her future and to earn a stable income that sustains the family.



Grant Amount: $26,947.25

Grantee Website: www.childrenofvietnam.org

Areas of Impact: Economic Sustainability, Education, Safety and Security

Mission of Children of Vietnam
Changing the lives of impoverished, homeless and handicapped children in Vietnam by addressing the root causes of poverty for vulnerable populations including impoverished single mothers with dependent children.

Project Summary
EFWC is a special initiative to promote income sustainability for struggling, single mothers. DFW will support 75 women through EFWC that will work to develop personal empowerment plans to lift families out of poverty through training, microloans, healthcare and improved housing. DFW's goal is to provide a grant for $45,000 to be disbursed over a 2 year period.

Why We Love This Project
This is a powerful program with an individual approach as these women face a myriad of barriers that trap them in poverty. It requires a multi-faceted effort to confront the causes of poverty as a single solution often fails . EFWC will work collaboratively with each woman to develop an empowerment plan by assessing needs, identifying strengths and defining personal goals. Ultimate GOAL: for each mother to be in charge of her future and to earn a stable income that sustains the family.


Video

Location Map


Thanh’s Story

During a February 2014 visit, a DFW travel group met several women involved with the EFWC program. This is Tranh’s story.