Thai Nguyen Province

Area: 3,541 sq. km
Population: 1,087,000 inhabitants
Ethnic groups: 8 main ethnic groups including the Kinh, Tay, Nung, San Diu, H'Mong, San Chay, Hoa and Dao
Districts and communes: 1 city, 1 township and 7 districts, 181 communes
Sponsored children: 7,073

Plan Vietnam has been working in Thai Nguyen since 2001. All Plan Vietnam-supported projects are implemented and managed by the community with active participation of villagers and children in the areas of community health, quality education, early childhood care and development, sustainable livelihoods and child protection.

Programme highlights

Community health

Communication campaigns are being organised in 147 villages, 51 pre-school sites and 8 primary schools to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS, safe motherhood and reproductive health. Health stations with proper healthcare facilities have been constructed and health workers have been trained to deliver better healthcare services.

Early childhood care and development

Plan Vietnam is promoting holistic early childhood care and development at both home and in school. Training courses for parents and teachers are provided to improve childcare and early education and child-friendly kindergartens with classrooms, latrines, playgrounds and water systems have been constructed.

Quality basic education (primary and lower education)

During Global Education Weeks, communications campaigns are organised to raise awareness of the importance of education. Pupils have opportunities to discuss education issues with leaders.

Plan Vietnam promotes a child-friendly learning environment by training teachers on proactive learning methods, appropriate teaching aids and better hygiene practices and by encouraging children and parents' participation in the running of schools.

Sustainable livelihoods

Plan Vietnam trains farmers living below the poverty line in new production techniques. We also support village libraries and demonstrate appropriate models on agricultural and forestry development activities, such as resource use planning, sloping land cultivation and organic tea plantation.

Furthermore, we rehabilitate traditional occupations for women and support vocational training for unemployed youth. Women's participation is advocated through the Grassroot Democracy Decree project. To increase crop productivity, dams, pump stations and irrigation channels are being upgraded and constructed.

Child protection

Training in the enforcement of the Convention on the Rights of the Child has been organised. Child participation and abuse prevention is advocated via children's groups, young media club activities, campaigns and forums on child injury and accident prevention, and child abuse prevention.

Children have also participated in activities aimed at raising awareness of physical and emotional punishment.

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