“If a country is to be corruption free and become a nation of beautiful minds, I strongly feel there are three key societal members who can make a difference. They are the father, the mother and the teacher.”
— A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
VULNERABLE CHILDREN CARED FOR
COMMUNITY BASED CHILDREN'S HOMES
STUDENTS PROVIDED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES
FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS TRAINED
FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
At YWAM Mercy Vietnam we strongly believe that community development has to start in the family. Where a safe family environment is not available the care of children is best done in and by the community.
Access to quality education at all age levels is the first essential opportunity available to children that can be built on throughout their life.
Change in a community begins in these families and through these children.
PROGRAMS BENEFITING FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
COMMUNITY-BASED CHILDREN’S HOMES
Some children do not have the option of a family environment either because they have lost their parents or because their home is no longer a safe place for them. YWAM Mercy Vietnam works with communities to help provide care for these children without removing them from the community.
In partnership with community leaders, YWAM Mercy Vietnam has set up children’s homes in three different communities where these children are lovingly cared for. Each home cares for 20-30 children and has a home mother and home father who provide care and support.
Before a child is placed in one of these homes, a comprehensive assessment is done by YWAM Mercy Vietnam staff and community leaders to evaluate the child’s situation.
Currently there are 64 children living in 3 children’s homes. Since the homes began, 138 children have benefited from time in the homes.
EDUCATION ASSISTANCE
Education is the first essential opportunity available to children. However families facing financial challenges struggle to provide the required educational supplies such as text books, workbooks, exercise books, schoolbags, uniforms, pens and pencils.
Often the difference between children staying in school or being forced to withdraw is the simple requirement of school supplies.
Over the last 12 years YWAM Mercy Vietnam has provided educational supplies to help over 7000 children stay in school.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE
Some families find themselves in circumstances that are extreme and they truly need help to provide for basic needs. For each family these circumstances are different. Common needs include medical, housing, transportation, or dealing with disabilities.
Each family requesting assistance goes through an assessment process with local leaders and YWAM Mercy Vietnam staff.
EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT
Early Childhood Development (ECD) is a program focused on children 0-6 years of age. YWAM Mercy Vietnam trains community volunteers to provide in-home support and training to families with young children.
YWAM Mercy Vietnam also works by training pre-school teachers and working with the community leaders to find solutions for community issues pertaining to children in this age group.
COMMUNITY RESOURCING AND TRAINING
Every community has different challenges. When YWAM Mercy Vietnam first starts working in a community we do a comprehensive assessment of the community. We connect these communities with resources that support the different needs revealed in the assessment.
Resources provided to our communities have included family management, family finances, child-care, domestic violence reduction, anti-trafficking and reproductive-education.
LIBRARIES
Access to information is important for communities to develop. YWAM Mercy Vietnam has worked with several communities to set up libraries either to supplement what the school system provides or to provide for adult access.
Libraries are created through a partnership with local leaders and are run by the local community.