CASE STORY: Initiatives from the heart

"I love children deeply and have many ideas for them, but resources are limited," shared Ms. Diem, Vice Chairperson of Tan Thong Hoi commune, Ho Chi Minh City. Tan Thong Hoi, with over 50,000 people, is a populous commune in Cu Chi district, home to many migrant families whose children often lack access to educational, social and protection services. “It’s really sad, there is even a 15-year-old who is illiterate,” Ms. Diem said. 

In response to this issue, Save the Children in Vietnam has been partnering with UNICEF to implement the “Work: No Child Business” project in 4 districts in Ho Chi Minh City including Cu Chi. The initiative has a comprehensive approach with diverse interventions to improve the access to services, including strengthening the capacity and coordination of local Child Protection Committees, enhancing the learning quality environment for children, and preventing the school dropout through providing direct livelihood support to community and supporting their household economy through microfinance programs. 

Ms. Diem is a dedicated member of the local Child Protection Committee in Cu Chi district. Witnessing the challenges of migrant children in the area, she is determined to support them. “Since working with the project team, I have been able to approach a charity school (operated by local nuns) which takes in students who are illiterate and have challenging circumstances. They offer classes from preschool to grade 5. When students finish grade 5, we connect them with a primary school for assessment tests and those without identification documents are assisted in obtaining them. So far, nearly 20 children have received their identification documents and are able to attend schools". 

With support from the project, Ms. Diem also established a community center where disadvantaged children can participate in extracurricular activities. “With the technical support from the project, we organize a commune-level Children's Forum, facilitating open dialogue between children, experts, local authorities and social organizations. Last year, more than 200 children participated, asking questions so enthusiastically that the experts couldn’t answer all at once." Ms. Diem happily recalled.  

To prevent school absences and dropouts, Ms. Diem set up a reporting network. "For a 5th grade child who dropped out because of family difficulties, I came to his house 8 times to convince him and his family so that he can continue learning. We also worked with the school to waive his tuition fees and supported his return to school." 

"Thanks to the project, many of my ideas have been realized. The number of absences and dropouts has significantly decreased. Even after the project ends, I will continue these activities, hoping to extend them to other areas so that disadvantaged children have the chance to learn and enjoy their childhood." 

After 4 years of implementation (2020-2024), the project “WORK: No Child’s Business” has contributed to increasing the school attendance rate to 97.7% by supporting scholarships, learning tools for hundreds of students, while building a safe and friendly learning environment. The project is part of Save the Children’s efforts to ensure that all children in Vietnam have access to education, protection, and supportive environments for their development. 

Unwavering dedication of people like Ms. Diem has strongly motivated us to continue our efforts of bringing a brighter future to all children. Initiatives from hearts will be able to touch and open other hearts, extending the journey towards a world where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.