Vietnam Children's Fund

Vietnam Children's Fund

Vietnam Children's Fund (VCF) is a non-profit organization based in Unionville, Virginia, United States helping children of Vietnam. [ [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/7976.htm VCF in Charity Navigator] ] [ [http://ngocenter.org.vn/RunScript.asp?page=Organisation_Listings&Abbr=VCF&DIR=DIR&
]
]

It builds "turnkey" schools to modern standards ready for occupation.

[http://www.vietnamchildren.org The Vietnam Children's Fund (VCF)] is a non profit organization whose mission is to build a network of elementary schools in Vietnam as a living memorial to all those who perished in the war.

History

The Vietnam Children’s Fund was founded in 1993 by the late Lewis Burwell Puller, Jr. A Pulitzer Prize winning writer and severely wounded Marine. Puller believed that in war no one goes unscathed but that children, the most vulnerable of all, suffer the greatest hardships. He felt the Vietnam Children’s Fund was a gesture that could not only help close the past but ensure a brighter future for the children of Vietnam.

The first school, located on the old demilitarized zone in Quang Tri Province, was dedicated in Puller’s name in April 1994, the 20th anniversary of the end of the war.

VCF has now completed over 40 schools which serve more than 21,000 children. Many schools are built in the poorest and most remote areas of the country where the need is greatest.

Nature and Goals

VCF's signature design is a modern 2-story facility that serves 350 children (or as many as 700 attending in shifts) and provides eight classrooms, a library, electricity, and bathrooms. As the schools are often the newest and most structurally sound buildings in these communities they are also used for town gatherings, meetings and celebrations. In areas prone to flooding the VCF school may be the only 2-story building in a region where villagers can go to escape disaster. Quality control, accountability for funds, and sound engineering and design are keystones of the VCF activity in Vietnam.

VCF is a lean organization, maintaining low overhead and monitoring costs carefully. Normally 85 cents of each dollar raised goes directly to school construction! VCF does not take Government funds. Funding is all private from individuals, foundations, corporations and the Combined Federal Campaign. Corporate gifts include those from FEDEX, Coca Cola, Citigroup, Conoco and American Eagle Outfitters.

With a million babies born in Vietnam each year the need for new schools could not be met even with the most generous imaginable foreign aid from all countries and World Bank assistance. Thus, funds used by VCF do not duplicate or substitute for any activity of other donors. VCF meets a need that otherwise would simply not be fulfilled.

VCF hopes to build one elementary school in each of Vietnam’s provinces and to create enough classroom space to teach 58,000 children – the number of names on the Vietnam Memorial Wall in Washington, DC.

Board of Directors

Terry A. Anderson, Co-Chair

Mr. Anderson is a former U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam. He was Associated Press Bureau Chief in Beirut when taken hostage by radical fundamentalists and remained a captive for seven years. He is Honorary Chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Kieu Chinh , Co-Chair

Twice a refugee in her homeland, Ms. Chinh is an award-winning actress and lives in California.

Anthony W. Accamando, Jr., President

Mr. Accamando, a Vietnam veteran, spent over three decades in the cable industry and is President of the Cable Television Foundation for Community Concerns, Pittsburgh, PA.

Susan Baker Watts

Ms. Watts has over 20 years experience in children's policy, nationally and internationally and is a dedicated children's advocate.

Thomas W. Kennedy

A retired Account Executive in the earth moving equipment industry, Mr. Kennedy maintains two antique homes in New England and travels extensively.

References

External links

* [http://www.vietnamchildren.org/ Vietnam Children's Fund Home Page]

ee also

*List of non-governmental organizations in Vietnam.
*Non-profit organizations


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vietnam — Socialist Republic of Vietnam Cộng hòa Xã hội chủ nghĩa Việt Nam …   Wikipedia

  • List of non-governmental organizations in Vietnam — This is a list of non governmental organizations working in Vietnam or connected with Vietnam. This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. Contents: 0–9 A B C D E F G …   Wikipedia

  • Vietnam Veterans Against the War — (VVAW) is a tax exempt non profit organization and corporation, originally created to oppose the Vietnam War. VVAW describes itself as a national veterans organization that campaigns for peace, justice, and the rights of all United States… …   Wikipedia

  • Vietnam — /vee et nahm , nam , vyet , vee it /, n. 1. Official name, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. a country in SE Asia, comprising the former states of Annam, Tonkin, and Cochin China: formerly part of French Indochina; divided into North Vietnam and… …   Universalium

  • The Alliance for Safe Children — Founder(s) Pete Peterson Founded 2002 Location Vienna, Virginia; Bangkok, Thailand Key people Michael Linnon (technical director) Area served Asia …   Wikipedia

  • Prostitution of children — Statue of a young 19th century prostitute Prostitution of children or child prostitution is the commercial sexual exploitation of children in which a child performs the services of prostitution, for financial benefit. The term normally refers to… …   Wikipedia

  • Commercial sexual exploitation of children — (CSEC) constitutes a form of coercion and violence against children and amounts to forced labour and a contemporary form of slavery.[1][2] A declaration of the World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, held in Stockholm… …   Wikipedia

  • Blue Dragon Children's Foundation — (Blue Dragon) is a charitably funded non governmental organization based in Hanoi, Vietnam. Its mission is to help children escape from the poverty cycle by offering them chances at education and improved living conditions. It also helps children …   Wikipedia

  • Mongolia–Vietnam relations — Mongolia Vietnam relations Mongolia …   Wikipedia

  • Save the Children — is a leading international organisation helping children in need around the world. First established in the United Kingdom in 1919, separate national organisations have been set up in more than twenty eight countries, sharing the aim of improving …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”