By Wong Sze Zen, World Vision Singapore
World Vision Singapore is overjoyed to celebrate with the children and families of Phu Cu (pronounced “Foo Ker”) Area Development Programme (ADP) in Vietnam as they reach the end of the ADP lifespan and break out of the poverty cycle to achieve self-sufficiency.
Phu Cu district is located in northern Vietnam about 90 km in the southeast from Hanoi. It has a population of about 90,000. Almost all the people are completely dependant on farming. The Vietnamese government recognised part of Phu Cu as the poorest in the country.
At the start of this community development journey, World Vision worked closely with the people of Phu Cu to identify long term and practical ways for the people to gain self-sustainability. Improved agricultural technology, better accessibility to quality education and healthcare, the empowerment of local leadership, and holistic physical, cultural and mental development of children were identified as key groundwork to lead the people out of poverty.
Phu Cu ADP has achieved significant progress since the programme started in 1999. Although the ADP is slated to completely phase out in 2011, the people’s hard work and cooperation with World Vision has fast forwarded several development plans and part of this ADP is ready to relinquish assistance from World Vision.
We are glad to share some of the achievements made in the last ten years in Phu Cu ADP.
In the first years of the project, the average annual household income was around $105 - $180 per year. That has now increased many folds to an average of $817 - $825, lifting the people out of serious financial poverty.
World Vision helped the community to improve food security and increase household income through a comprehensive programme that includes:
- Construction of irrigation systems and pumping stations, and upgrading of dykes;
- Providing farming technology courses in new seeds production, cattle and poultry raising, pest management and crop diversity;
- Providing start up seeds for more farming opportunities; and
- Introducing micro enterprise development and providing training in basic business and finance education.
The rate of children attending kindergarten increased from 75% in 2000 to more than 83.3%, while the rate of children in primary and secondary school is up to 95%. Various programmes were carried out to improve the quality of education and to encourage children to remain in school. This includes:
- School construction, provision of school furniture and supplies;
- Construction of 55 kindergarten classrooms and 58 primary and secondary school classrooms, with many more upgraded and furnished by World Vision;
- Provision of books, uniforms and stationery;
- Provision of bicycles for children who live faraway from their schools;
- Provision of hearing aid for students with hearing problems;
- Teacher training on child rights, computer skills, teaching methods and English; and
- Parents are educated on early childcare development to kick start a child’s learning progress.
Training, health awareness programmes and improved accessibility to medical facilities and clean water were key tools used to improve the overall health of the people.
The rate of malnutrition among children under five years old was reduced by half in eight years. Similarly, the rate of diarrhoea due to drinking contaminated water was also reduced by half. Trachoma, an infectious eye disease that can lead to blindness used to inflict many and now is almost completely diminished. Healthcare improvement programmes include:
- Campaigns and training on nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, and HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programmes were conducted;
- Two health stations were constructed in the community and the upgrade of old healthcare facilities;
- Well pumps, rainwater storage and filter tanks and latrines were constructed to improve accessibility to clean water; and
- Construction of proper hygienic latrines.
The people of Phu Cu are empowered to sustain their livelihood via capacity building programmes implemented to educate and promote project management. Such programmes include:
- Transfer of effective knowledge and skills application on project management;
- Cultural education such as gender and child rights awareness; and
- Computer skills and English language courses.
Click here to download a copy of the Phu Cu Partial Phase-out Report.
Click here to sponsor a needy child today.
Click here to read the story of a sponsored child from Phu Cu ADP.
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