Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien...

28
Annual Report 2007 Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam annual report da sua lai text.indd 1 7/31/2008 10:18:54 AM

Transcript of Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien...

Page 1: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam

annual report da sua lai text.indd 1 7/31/2008 10:18:54 AM

Page 2: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

annual report da sua lai text.indd 2 7/31/2008 10:18:55 AM

Page 3: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Content

Content

Foreword and Acknowledgement

Save the Children Sweden and the Vietnam Programme

Project Partners 2007

Where We Work

Hightlights of Achievement

2007 Programme Budget Summary

Contact Us

Abbreviations

0403

06081011242526

03

annual report da sua lai text.indd 3 7/31/2008 10:18:55 AM

Page 4: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Despite Vietnam’s impressive development in 2007 thousands, even millions, of children are still not fully enjoying their rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Vietnam needs to implement well its legal framework to assure children the future they deserve.

A huge change in 2007 was the dissolution of a key partner of Save the Children Sweden (SCS), Committee for Population, Family and Children (CPFC), who had responsibility for children and families. We look forward to the positive impact for children that CPFC’s absorption into different ministries, especially Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), will make. It is hoped that MOLISA, with the support of Save the Children (SC) and others, will lead the way in the creation of an effective national child protection system to ensure the nation’s children are well protected.

During 2007 Save the Children, with Government and Civil Society, addressed: violence against children, access to school for children with disabilities, protection of street children - especially with regard to HIV/AIDS, children in emergencies; how children in conflict with the law are treated, helping teachers to provide child-friendly learning environments, enabling families to support their children and local authorities to take into account issues affecting children, the way social workers and the media can better recognize and respond to children’s issues and rights, and capacity building for many adults and children on the CRC and children’s participation. In this report are selected highlights of this work. Without our excellent partners and supporters such impact for children could

Foreword and Acknowledgement

Ms. Lynne BensonCountry Manager

04

annual report da sua lai text.indd 4 7/31/2008 10:18:56 AM

Page 5: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

not have been achieved, so my sincere thanks to you all. We look forward to continuing our productive relationships; there is still a long way to go together.

However, a very significant announcement was made by Save the Children Alliance and our Head Offices at the end of 2007: that all the Save the Children members operating in Vietnam will merge during 2008. This is to maximize the benefit for children in Vietnam, to do more for children together as one: we can increase impact for children through greater effectiveness and achieve more for children through greater efficiency.

2008 will be interesting and challenging as we effect this decision whilst maintaining our existing programmes in Vietnam. Accomplishing this aim will require our shared vision, commitment, hard work and flexibility to harmonize our organizations into one, to plan our programmes to ensure all our good work is continued and to plan for a brighter future in Vietnam. We hope to complete this by end 2008.

Be assured that this process aims only to improve the work of Save the Children in Vietnam so that more children can have their rights protected and can lead happy and productive lives.

Lynne Benson

05

annual report da sua lai text.indd 5 7/31/2008 10:18:56 AM

Page 6: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Save the Children Sweden and the Vietnam Programme

Save the Children Sweden is a broad based democratic movement. We are a politically and religiously unaffiliated non- governmental organisation founded on the principle of voluntary, individual membership.

Save the Children Sweden is guided by the fundamental values expressed in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and the UN Declaration on Human Rights and is founded on the conviction that:

• All children and adults are of equal value• Children have special rights• Everyone has a responsibility to respect and promote the rights of the child, but the State has particular

obligations

To achieve sustainable improvements in children’s lives and to encourage societies in which we operate to respect, protect and realise the rights of the child, we use a combination of four work methods: research and analysis, direct support, knowledge dissemination and capacity building, and advocacy and awareness raising.

All four methods are of equal importance in our work. None of the methods can be used in isolation. Advocacy and capacity building efforts are always based on practical, direct experience and/or solid research and analysis. Direct support projects as well as research and analysis work are always linked to advocacy or capacity building efforts.

Save the Children Sweden started its work in Vietnam during the second half of the 1980ies with a focus on children with disabilities. These children have remained one of our priorities, however we now have a broader, more comprehensive programme. We work effectively, stretching our budget and concentrating our resources in order to best support a sustainable realization of children’s rights.

06

annual report da sua lai text.indd 6 7/31/2008 10:18:56 AM

Page 7: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

At the core of our program one finds children’s rights in general and children’s rights to participation in particular. Through a process of Child Rights Programming issues of violation of children’s rights, children’s participation, non-discrimination, good governance and the development of local civil society organisations are addressed.

In Vietnam we have always maintained good partnerships with many governmental institutions, non- governmental organisations and community groups Our collaboration with such partners aims at mutual learning and enhancing the partner’s capacity to be an active promoter of the rights of the child. Our relationships are built on mutual trust, transparency and respect.

Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam works together with Save the Children Australia, Save the Children Japan, Save the Children UK and Save the Children US, for the best interests of children.

07

annual report da sua lai text.indd 7 7/31/2008 10:19:02 AM

Page 8: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

08

Committee for Population, Family and Children of Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

Centre for Studies and Applied Sciences in Gender-Family-Women and Adolescent (CSAGA), Hanoi

Health Education and Information Centre, HCMC

Thao Dan Street Children Program, HCMC

Committee for Population, Family and Children of HCMC

Department of Education and Training, HCMC

Hanoi Teachers Training College, Hanoi

Department of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education and Training

National Legal Aid Agency, Ministry of Justice

Academy of Justice

Vietnam Barrister Association

People’s Committee of District 4, HCMC

Faculty of Journalism, Institute of Journalism and Communications, Ha Noi

Centre for Legal Aid and Law Dissemination for Vietnam Central Farmer’s Union

General Statistical Office (GSO), Ha Noi

Science Institute of Population, Family and Children, Ha Noi

People’s Committee of Chau Thanh District, Dong Thap province

Committee for Population, Family and Children of Dong Thap Province

People’s Committee of Cao Lanh Town, Dong Thap province

Dong Thap Teachers’ Training College

School for Hearing Impaired Children, Dong Thap Province

Club for Parents of Children with Disabilities in Dong Thap Province

Child Welfare Foundation in Ho Chi Minh City

Hanoi Medical University

Family and Children Magazine, Hanoi

Project Partners

annual report da sua lai text.indd 8 7/31/2008 10:19:02 AM

Page 9: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

09

Departments of Education and Training of HCMC, Vinh Phuc and Tien Giang Province

National University, Hanoi

Bureau of Education and Training of Yen Lac District, Vinh Phuc Province

Institute for Social Development Study, Hanoi

Women’s Union Training School, Hanoi

Vietnam Union of Scientific and Technology Associations

World Vision International/Vietnam

Oxfam GB

Action Aid

Care International

Spanish Red Cross

Vietnam Red Cross

Red Cross of Thanh Hoa Province

External Relations Department – Thanh Hoa Province

Department of Planning and Investment – Yen Bai Province

Bureau of Storm and Flood Response and Preparedness – Thanh Hoa Province

Bureau of Storm and Flood Response and Preparedness – Yen Bai Province

External Relations Department – Da Nang City

External Relations Department – Quang Binh Province

Bureau of Storm and Flood Response and Preparedness – Tien Giang Province

Department of Education and Training - Tien Giang Province

Department of Education and Training – Yen Bai Province

Asia Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC)

Disaster Management Center (DMC)

Central Committee of Storm and Flood Response and Preparedness

annual report da sua lai text.indd 9 7/31/2008 10:19:02 AM

Page 10: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

10

Where We Work

Yen BaiVinh Phuc

Bac Kan

Ha Noi

Thanh Hoa

Quang Binh

Tien Giang

Dong ThapHo Chi Minh City

In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in the following cities and provinces:

annual report da sua lai text.indd 10 7/31/2008 10:19:03 AM

Page 11: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Ending Violence Against Children

11

Every child has the right to a life free from violence. However, many children are still subject to various forms of violence and ill-treatment, including corporal punishment (CoP), child abuse and neglect. Save the Children Sweden has been working with partners at different levels to bring CoP to an end in Vietnam.

In cooperation with our partner, Centre for Studies and Applied Science in Gender – Family – Women and Adolescents, a project was implemented at Bo De Ward, Long Bien District, Hanoi, to develop a ward without CoP . Project participants were trained on child rights, child protection and positive discipline. They have become aware that CoP is harmful and is a violation of children’s rights. In 2007 a campaign which

involved primary school children, teachers, parents and the People’s Committee of Bo De ward was held, with the message “No tolerance of CoP against children”. A TV talk-show was also organized with the presence of representatives of project participants and functional authorities such as a Deputy Head of the Children’s Department of the former CPFC, Mr Nguyen Trong An and Education Deputy Minister Mr Pham Vu Luan. Many questions about CoP in schools and teachers’ capacity in class management were raised to Mr Luan and he pledged to take actions to address the issue of CoP in schools.

On October 19th 2007, the SC Day of Action to end violence against children, the former CPFC officially launched the “Good

Nguyen Thu Ha, 10, of Bo De school says at the TV talk-show “...my mother has changed and become more understanding”

Parenting” manual which had been developed with support from SCS. The material was disseminated and used by family clubs, a network of CPFC, helping parents and educators to bring up children without CoP.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 11 7/31/2008 10:19:04 AM

Page 12: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

12

When I was growing up, school was a place where I had fun. I remember playing football after school and bragging about the newest Japanese cartoon stickers drawn from a bag of potato chips. Students I met at Bo De Primary School in Hanoi, Viet Nam did not only refresh my memories of yesteryears but also brought new light on what young children in Viet Nam today do – speaking out to stop violence against children.

I spent a morning with children at Bo De Primary School, observing how they prepared materials to use in their awareness raising campaign.

9 a.m. I arrive at the school. By this time, students’ bicycles fill the lot next to the fence.

9:05 a.m. Children perform morning exercises before going to their classes. We meet staff from the Centre for Studies and Applied Science in Gender – Family – Women and Adolescents, (CSAGA) our local partner organisation in Viet Nam. Since 2005, Save the Children Sweden has been working with CSAGA to support them in speaking out about the issue of violence against children and support students and teachers to make their school a safe learning environment, free from violent disciplining.

9:30 a.m. Children walk into a room where staff from CSAGA are waiting. Children quickly put their skills to work, adding information and colours to cut-out posters they made the previous night.

9:50 a.m. When asked what picture a girl is colouring, she says she is colouring a picture of a mother who hits a girl for not doing well in school. She adds, “When my mom hits me, it’s not painful. But it hurts inside.”

A Morning with Young Student Campaigners

annual report da sua lai text.indd 12 7/31/2008 10:19:14 AM

Page 13: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

13

10:05 a.m. Proud and pleased, a student lifts his work showing it to his classmates. One of the students says, “I want my dad and mom to see these posters. I know that they love me but hitting is not the right way. I always tell them to talk to me like an adult.”

10:15 a.m. A girl shows CSAGA staff a drawing she and her friend did. The picture, titled ‘humiliation’, shows a mother yelling at a child, calling her stupid. The girl stresses that parents should encourage their children to do better in school not yell or make them feel bad about themselves.

10:30 a.m. Children post their posters on a school bulletin board. When asked what good will this do, one of the young campaigners replies, “This helps parents know how we feel about corporal punishment. When parents hit us, it hurts our feelings.”

10:40 a.m. Just before lunch, a parent and a group of children swarm around the bulletin board looking at the new posters posted by the young campaigners earlier.

11 a.m. I exit the school’s front gate, recalling what children said to me about corporal punishment, and how hitting and humiliating punishments affect them physically and emotionally. I hope parents will learn that they could raise their children in a positive and warm climate. Parents and even teachers will be better off if they use a parenting approach that teaches children and guides their behaviour positively and respects their rights to healthy development, protection from violence and participation in learning.

Photo by Jack PiconeBlog by Pariphan Uawithya

annual report da sua lai text.indd 13 7/31/2008 10:19:22 AM

Page 14: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

14

Vietnam has made good progress in implementing the National Plan of Education for All 2003 –2015. The government called for the whole of society’s efforts to improve education quality and equity. Education budget increased from 15.8 % in 2003 to 17.8 % for 2005 and is expected to reach 20% in 2010. However, not all children have enjoyed a schooling environment that promotes active learning, inclusion, participation and protection.

Strongly believing in a child friendly learning environment that enables children’s overall development, Save the Children Sweden cooperated with the Ministry of Education and Training and Departments of Education of Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Phuc, Tien Giang and a number of schools in Hanoi to develop models of child-centered

Child Friendly Learning Environment

Children of Nguyen Viet Xuan Primary School in Vinh Phuc province enjoy a ‘non-violence’ learning environment.

teaching and promote positive discipline in schools.

In 2007, 35 education managers and teachers of the four cities/provinces were involved in the development of the manual “Reforming Class Management – The Use of Positive Discipline” which was highly appreciated by MOET. The manual will be printed and introduced to all the 64 provinces as teachers’ handbook on class management starting 2008-2009

school year. Commenting on the manual, an official from MOET says “This manual is of great help for teachers and education managers of primary and secondary schools, especially when corporal punishment is still widely used in schools” and “As teachers, we find the manual very interesting as it provides us with effective suggestions to educate children. We want to share it with parents and others so that all could work together to improve education for children” says a primary school teacher.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 14 7/31/2008 10:19:25 AM

Page 15: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

HIV/AIDS and Children’s Right to Good Health

15

HIV/AIDS infection has become a serious health issue in Vietnam. SCS has been working in partnership with Thao Dan Street Children Care Programme and the HCMC Health Information and Education Centre to provide children, especially street children, with knowledge about their right to health care, reproductive health, life skills to prevent HIV/AIDS transmission, and ways to protect themselves from sexual abuse and at the same time help HIV-positive children have access to support such as counseling and appropriate health care.

About 150 street educators and 70 social work students in HCMC have improved their knowledge and skills on working with children with HIV/AIDS and helping other children to protect themselves from being infected. 300 street children

had access to the Volunteering, Counseling and Testing service through various health clinics and hospitals around the city.

Save the Children Sweden was also invited to give comments to the draft of the National Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS affected children which was coordinated by Ministry of Labour, Invalids and social Affairs (MOLISA) with the involvement

Two street educators on their way to meet with street children in the parks and talk about HIV/AIDS prevention.

of ministries of health, education, planning and investment, justice and the General Statistics Office. It is expected that the final draft will be ready for submission to the Prime Minister in mid 2008.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 15 7/31/2008 10:19:25 AM

Page 16: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

16

Phung, a former street child, returns to the streets of Ho Chi Minh City to help young street children understand about children’s rights and basic health issues, including protection against HIV/AIDS, the disease that affects more than 280,000 children in Viet Nam today.

Phung, 15, walked about Gia Dinh Park, looking for children about her age. The search began from a parking lot, up the sidewalk where couples are dancing to the cha-cha-cha, past a miniature merry-go-round, and across the street to a sidewalk where vendors sold jellies with coconut crème soup. It

was a fine winter evening for most park-goers, but for street children, this was when they made their living to support their families.

“One, two, three… There they are!” says Phung, pacing towards a group of children.

Despite Viet Nam’s fast growing economy, there are more than 12,000 children making their living on the streets in Ho Chi Minh City. Children roam the city, selling chewing gums, lottery tickets, and flowers or collecting plastic bottles from trash bins, or in some cases even selling themselves. They are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS transmission, drug abuse, and sexual exploitation.

“HIV/AIDS is a big, big, big, problem here. Ho Chi Minh City has

the second highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Viet Nam,” says Le Thi Thu Thuy, Thao Dan Programme Manager.

Phung led the children to relax on the sidewalk where they quickly exchanged stories of the day. Then, Phung started singing a song. Others quickly joined and clapped along. They were in their world and for a short moment,

Teens Talk!

Phung, in white and her friend Tam, in black, speak to street children by a major arterial road in Ho Chi Minh City

annual report da sua lai text.indd 16 7/31/2008 10:19:26 AM

Page 17: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

17

they muted the noisy honking of motorcycles and the harsh reality of street children’s lives.

After the group finished singing, Phung handed out leaflets about HIV/AIDS and drawings about children’s rights.

“We talk about HIV/AIDS, children’s rights, girls’ puberty and physical development. At the beginning they don’t know anything about HIV prevention and transmission. Now, they know how to protect themselves,” Phung says with a smile.

Phung and her friend Tam sat chatting with the group for the next 20 minutes until the children stood up, walked away and disappeared among the crowd.

Teens talking to teens

Since 2005, Save the Children Sweden has been working with Thao Dan Center to establish and train peer educators like Phung to help other street children.

“We teach young peer educators about their rights, life skills, knowledge on HIV/AIDS, and sexual and reproductive health of young teens,” says Trinh Tuan Minh, Thao Dan’s project officer who is still continuing to work with 12 other peer educators.“The young peer educators’ self-confidence has increased. Now they can organise activities by themselves with little support from adults,” Minh says.

For Phung, she is now back in school, helps her mom preparing desert mix in the late afternoons, and

meets street children in the evenings. “I feel happy doing what I do. I feel very happy when other street children share things with me and confide with me about their problems. It’s important to let them know that there are people who care for and can help them. I hope that they will continue to learn more about HIV/AIDS,” Phung says.

Phung and Tam wait in a park t to distribute pamphlets to street children.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 17 7/31/2008 10:19:26 AM

Page 18: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

18

Vietnam is a natural disaster prone country. Every year millions of children and their families endure hardships as a result of floods during which children’s lives are even lost due to drowning. In order to support a better protection of children in emergencies, Save the Children partnered with a number of international non-government organizations and local partners in the provinces of Thanh Hoa, Yen Bai, Da Nang, Quang Binh and Tien Giang and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre to improve local capacity in our project areas for preparing and responding to disasters in a child-focused manner.

In Tien Giang children were supported to participate in swimming lessons. No cases of child drowning were reported in

Emergency Response and Preparedness

the province in 2007 unlike the year before. Children in flooded communes received free health checks every two months. In 30 communes of Tien Giang, Thanh Hoa and Yen Bai, children and school teachers were trained to enhance their skills in hazard identification, risk mapping and how children can protect themselves in flooding seasons.

In terms of disaster response, 3,369 children in two districts of Quang Trach and Tuyen Hoa of Quang Binh province were provided with school facilities, learning kits and school uniforms and books after the severe typhoon and flood in August 2007. This timely support enabled the children to resume schooling quickly and reduced the likelihood of drop-outs.

School children in Quang Binh with learning facilities supported by Save the Children

annual report da sua lai text.indd 18 7/31/2008 10:19:30 AM

Page 19: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

A Civil Society for the Rights of the Child

19

Communities and civil society organizations (CSOs) have a key role to play to demand children’s rights and to support children to do so themselves. This is possible, particularly by working through networks, coalitions and movements which can mobilise great forces for changes in children’s lives. Research on current situation of CSOs working in health care, education and children’s protection in Dong Thap, Tien Giang and Ho Chi Minh City was conducted in collaboration with the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA). By being involved in the research, VUSTA has become committed to supporting child-focused CSOs and a first action plan to help the network in the

South has been proposed.

In early 2007 the first Parents Club in Dong Thap province was established by the School for Hearing Impaired Children. The Club aims to provide parents of children with disabilities with knowledge and skills to take care of and rehabilitate their children. Club members learned about children’s rights, parenting and sign language to communicate with their children. They were also

Together, parents and children with disabilities learn to communicate with one another using sign language.

trained on how to help their children exercise with rehabilitation tools and equipment. After one year of operation, club members have gained confidence to bring their disabled children to join their community’s activities. Very good news for the Club is that the Association of Education and Psychology of Dong Thap province agreed in December 2007 to legalise this Parent Club and required procedures for registration are being processed.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 19 7/31/2008 10:19:31 AM

Page 20: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

20

Vietnam has put much effort into the implementation of the CRC, including issues relating to juvenile justice, that is, ensuring the right to special protection of children in conflict with the law and child victims of delinquency. However, there are still limitations in applying local laws and international standards in administrative and judicial proceedings in child-related cases.

Working in partnership with the National Legal Aid Agency, SCS aims to strengthen awareness and competence of civil servants and policy and decision makers in Vietnam in assuming their accountability with regards to children’s right. SCS supported activities that increased the quality of representation and defence of children in courts and raised awareness of principles and standards in juvenile justice among targeted children, their guardians and law enforcement professionals.

In 2007, 70 legal aid officers and collaborators received training on diversion and child rights issues in juvenile justice and 15 lecturers of the Vietnam Judicial Academy were provided with training-of-trainer courses to facilitate the process of mainstreaming juvenile justice components into the training

curriculum of judicial students and professionals. Throughout the year 5,486 children in contact with the law and without sufficient family support were provided with legal aid services. The legal rights of those children were protected in administrative and judicial proceedings.

Juvenile Justice

A legal aid mobile clinic in Bat village, Tan Thanh commune, Ham Yen district, Tuyen Quang province

annual report da sua lai text.indd 20 7/31/2008 10:19:34 AM

Page 21: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Child Friendly District

21

District 4 in Ho Chi Minh City, an urban area surrounded by rivers and canals, is one of the poorest districts in the city. The majority of its population are workers with unstable incomes, low education levels and low standards of living. The goal of a ‘child-friendly district’, initiated by Save the Children Sweden and our partner, People’s Committee of District 4, was to make children the first priority in developing policies of the district and to create the best environment for the holistic development of the child, with an emphasis on children in especially difficult circumstances.

Capacity building is a main component of the project. Training was provided for adults on child rights, child participation, child-centered working methods

and for children themselves on their rights and obligations, communication skills, life skills, etc. Children have gained more confidence to raise their voices about issues relating to them, which were then seriously taken into consideration by parents, adults and district authorities and consequently a number of policies at district level have been adapted for the best interest of children in District 4.

Children in District 4 organized many activities through which their messages were conveyed to district authorities

As a result of our advocacy work, simpler administrative procedures for birth certificate issuing were introduced, which, in 2007, benefited 320 children in especially difficult circumstances in the district and made these children eligible to access basic services such as education and health care.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 21 7/31/2008 10:19:37 AM

Page 22: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

22

The ‘Child Rights and the Media’ project, implemented in cooperation with the Faculty of Journalism, aimed at holding media professionals accountable for the fulfillment of children’s rights. One of the main components of the project is awareness raising and capacity building for journalists and media leaders on child rights and child rights based journalism. Nearly 300 journalists from media agencies at central and provincial levels were inspired to work on children’s issues with a ‘new perspective’ of the role of media in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in Vietnam.

A shocking video clip about violence against children in a

private kindergarten was aired by the National Television. The clip was recorded by a journalist of Dong Nai Television, one of the media agencies trained by SCS and the Faculty of Journalism in 2007. Viewers throughout the country were extremely furious and put pressures on government to take action, which led to the imprisonment of the perpetrator and a comprehensive inspection of all private kindergartens in big cities and provinces by the Pre-school Department of the Ministry of Education and Training. The issue has become very controversial and the public are now far more aware of this issue. Consequently, many parents have been able to report to authorities cases when their children or other children were victims of violence in schools or other settings.

Child Rights and the Media

Children of Bo De School, Hanoi are posting their writings and drawings on non-violence against children on the school’s information board.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 22 7/31/2008 10:19:38 AM

Page 23: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Child Rights and Child Rights Programming

23

Although there is a general awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child and a growing interest in human rights in Vietnam, children’s rights and the implications of these rights are not well understood by children themselves, nor by adults and duty bearers. The rights-based approach is interpreted differently among a number of organizations.

Save the Children Sweden has a long experience in supporting child rights related projects in Vietnam. To build capacity for partner organizations to work on this issue, Save the Children Sweden committed ourselves to providing a package of child rights programming that covers awareness raising and capacity building on child rights, training of child rights trainers, child

rights based project design and monitoring and evaluation. About 90 professionals working with and for children have strengthened their knowledge and skills in applying child rights principles into their daily work. We continuously explored innovative ways to make child rights training more learner-friendly and created opportunities for those who work on the issue to meet and share lessons learnt and difficulties encountered.

In 2007 the revised “CRC Training Manual” was completed thanks to the great efforts of SCS and our committed partners from Youth Institute, National Institute of Education and Strategy, Tien Giang DOET, Academy of Journalism and Communication, Justice Academy, Kon Tum Secondary School, Child Welfare

Foundation- Ho Chi Minh City, CSAGA and Pedagogical University of Hanoi. “When giving comments to articles of the website ‘Children and Media’, I often use the CR principles as a tool to give practical instructions for student collaborators”- said Do Thi Thu Hang, Lecturer of the Faculty of Journalism, Academy of Journalism and Communication.

annual report da sua lai text.indd 23 7/31/2008 10:19:39 AM

Page 24: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

24

Programme Budget Summary

Programme expenditure in 2007

annual report da sua lai text.indd 24 7/31/2008 10:19:42 AM

Page 25: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Contact Us

25

Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam

Country Office 6 Ton That Thiep, Hanoi, Vietnam

Phone: (84-4)8 232 393Fax: (84-4)8 232 394

[email protected]

Liaison Office26 Dang Tat, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Phone: (84-8)8 480 405Fax: (84-8)8 480406

[email protected]

http://www.rb.sehttp://www.savethechildren.net

http://seap.savethechildren.sehttp://www.savethechildren.net/vietnam

annual report da sua lai text.indd 25 7/31/2008 10:19:42 AM

Page 26: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

CR Child Rights

CRC United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

CRP Child Rights Programming

CPFC Committee for Population, Family and Children

DOET Department of Education and Training

HCMC Ho Chi Minh City

MOET Ministry of Education and Training

MOLISA Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs

PC People’s Committee

SC Save the Children

SCS Save the Children Sweden

Abbreviations

26

annual report da sua lai text.indd 26 7/31/2008 10:19:42 AM

Page 27: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Annual Report 2007

Nhà xuất bản: Hồng ĐứcChịu trách nhiệm xuất bản: Giám đốc Hoàng Chí DũngTrình bày và sản xuất: HakiGPXB số: 323-2008/CXB/5-73-24/HĐ cấp ngày 15/07/2008In xong và nộp lưu chiểu tháng 07/2008

annual report da sua lai text.indd 27 7/31/2008 10:19:42 AM

Page 28: Save the Children Sweden in Vietnam...Yen Bai Vinh Phuc Bac Kan Ha Noi Thanh Hoa Quang Binh Tien Giang Dong Thap Ho Chi Minh City In 2007, Save the Children Sweden had projects in

Save the Children fights for children’s rights. We deliver immediate and lasting improvements to children’s lives worldwide.

©SCS

-080

515/

HAKI

annual report da sua lai text.indd 28 7/31/2008 10:19:42 AM