The challenge

Since the late 1980s, Vietnam has seen impressive economic growth and reductions in its poverty levels, dropping from over 60% in the 1990s to 13.1% today. Many families in Vietnam are, however, living barely above the official poverty line—and these families are at great risk of falling back into poverty if the parents are unable to find sustainable livelihoods. Unable to afford daycare or schooling, parents are often forced to leave their children unattended while they go to work.

Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s economic and commercial capital and, with over 7 million inhabitants, it is the country’s largest city. In the suburb of Thu Duc, many parents have to leave their children to their own devices while they go to work outside the home (in nearby textile factories, for example).

The solutions we're proposing

Responding to the dire need for safe, high quality, and trustworthy childcare, W4’s field program runs a daycare center and nursery in Thu Duc, providing a safe, nurturing environment for girls and infants who come from extremely poor families or are orphans or have been left on the streets to fend for themselves.

The daycare center welcomes girls between the ages of 5 and 12. At the center, girls are provided with nutritious daily meals and the opportunity to participate in fun and educational activities—workshops, dance and singing lessons, computer courses, and field trips engage the girls in physically and intellectually enriching ways. The new nursery now also offers vital care and attention to the area’s most vulnerable babies and infants.

The impact of giving

You can help protect Thu Duc’s infants and young girls by sponsoring the supplies and services they need in order to learn and play in safety. Your donation allows infants and girls to grow into educated, creative, and talented women who will ensure that Vietnam’s poverty rate continues on its downward track!