Thanh Hoa

Country information

SOS-Kinderdorf International started its activities in Vietnam in 1967. The first two SOS Children's Villages were opened in Go Vap (Ho Chi Minh City) and Dalat two years later. Vietnam was one of the first countries outside Europe where SOS-Kinderdorf International was operating. Unfortunately, the SOS Children's Villages were closed by the government in 1976. SOS-Kinderdorf International continued its efforts to negotiate with the government of Vietnam about the re-opening of the SOS Children's Villages. However, it took until 1987 before an agreement was reached: a new SOS Children's Village was to be established at Mai Dich (Hanoi) and the SOS Children's Village at Go Vap was to be re-opened. In 1988, the SOS National Office was established within the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. This office moved to SOS Children's Village Mai Dich two years later. Both the new SOS Children's Village at Mai Dich and the already existing one at Go Vap opened their doors in 1989. The same year saw the re-opening of SOS Children's Village Dalat and the start of the construction of another new SOS Children's Village at Vinh. Over the years, several new SOS Children's Villages and many ancillary facilities, such as SOS Social Centres, SOS Medical Centres, SOS Schools and SOS Youth Facilities have been established in the country. Thanh Hoa province is the second largest province of the country with an area of 11,200 sq. km. 70 per cent of the province is mountainous terrain. In the remote regions near the Laotian border, there is hardly any infrastructure. People there toil in the fields that hardly yield any crops. Spring tides often inundate the coastal areas on the Gulf of Tonkin in the east of the country during monsoon season. In 1996, more than 200 fishermen died during a hurricane, which caused heavy damage all over the region. Thanh Hoa is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, with an average per capita income far below that of the whole country. Local authorities try to attract investors to the industrial areas and achieved a respectable economic growth of 7.3% during the period from 1996 to 2000. However, there are by far not enough financial means to support the region's many needy children. According to official estimates, there are about 10,000 orphaned and abandoned children in Than Hoa province. The actual number is probably even higher. These children depend on being supported by their relatives or by the public. From early childhood on, they have to contribute towards earning their living. In rural areas, they usually take care of the animals, pick grass or look after their relatives' younger children. In the cities, they usually work in restaurants or pubs, they polish shoes or they sell newspapers. These children have neither enough time nor means to attend school. They face a life in poverty. The local authorities approached SOS Children's Villages several times for help for the large number of children in need. Finally, the provincial government provided a piece of land for a new SOS Children's Village in the province capital of Thanh Hoa. Apart from that, the government has pledged its assistance in recruiting qualified co-workers. SOS Children's Village Than Hoa will consist of 15 family homes, a community house, the Village Director's house, staff quarters, a house for the SOS aunts (family helpers) and an administrative building. There will be an SOS Kindergarten with six class rooms for up to 180 children. Both children from the SOS Children's Village and from the neighbourhood will attend this kindergarten.