On August 15, 2020, in Hanoi, Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD), in collaboration with several CSOs, held the official launch workshop of the project named “For a Vietnam with no one left behind amid COVID-19", and provide food packages, hygiene kits, and communication on COVID 19 prevention and response for vulnerable households affected by COVID-19. The project is jointly funded by United Way Worldwide (UWW), 3M, and Community Chest of Korea (CCK).
COVID-19 has been unpredictably spreading around the world. In Vietnam, after 100 days with no community coronavirus transmission, the second wave of COVID-19 has already swept through Vietnam, leading to an increased number of new infected cases and disruptions to social activities. The most vulnerable groups to COVID-19 include low-income and unofficial laborers, immigrants, people without personal documents, and the homeless who are unable to access the government’s COVID-19 financial aid package.
MSD has implemented the project named “For a Vietnam with no one left behind amid COVID-19" to support vulnerable households affected by COVID-19 for the period from August to December 2020 under the funding granted by United Way Worldwide (UWW), 3M, and Community Chest of Korea (CCK). To ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the project, MSD has collaborated with 15 CSOs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to provide basic food security packages, hygiene kits, and educational handouts for 400 vulnerable/disadvantaged households, (benefiting approximately 1,000 – 1,200 people). The total amount of grant pledged to the project is $78,500, which includes $50,000 from 3M and $28,500 from CCK.
“No one is left behind" has become a humanistic message, spreading the spirit of “A good leaf covers torn leaves” from Vietnamese traditional culture. There is a wide range of charitable activities in light of COVID-19. However, many vulnerable groups cannot access those support measures given different constraints. For example, some people lack personal identity documents, some are the elderly, children, or the disabled with mobility difficulties, etc. Many of them have been “left behind" in the fight against the pandemic.
MSD and 14 CSOs including non-government organizations (NGOs), shelters, and community-based organizations in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City directly visited and screened every household in the poorest areas in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and made a list of eligible households based upon a set of criteria. The beneficiaries of the project include underprivileged households, including those without identity documents, people with disabilities and HIV/AIDS, the homeless, children with cerebral palsy, immigrants, etc. CSOs will then organize events to provide gifts and communication campaigns on COVID-19 prevention and response.
Ms. Nguyen Phuong Linh – Executive Director of MSD shared about the project: “COVID-19 has completely changed our lives and each individual is gradually adapting to the new normal. However, for disadvantaged groups, such as low-income, unofficial, migrant workers, people without identity documents and people with disabilities, it is a challenge to afford basic necessities. Through the “For a Vietnam with no one left behind amid COVID-19" project, MSD Vietnam, United Way Worldwide, 3M, CCK, and other partners desire to partially ease the burden on those who have been adversely affected by the pandemic. Hopefully, this project will be the first step for MSD and partners to spread the model and support vulnerable groups in society with no one left behind".
(Ms. Nguyen Phuong Linh – Executive Director of MSD)
“It’s important that 3M holds true to its core values during this pandemic by supporting our communities and improving lives,” said Mr. Jacky Kang – Country Leader of 3M Vietnam. “The projects with United Way form part of a $20 million commitment made by 3M at a corporate level to support COVID-19 relief projects globally, and we’re grateful that some of this funding is helping stateless persons, migrants, and low-income families in Vietnam to access to food and basic hygiene as well as health education to strengthen awareness and resilience during these exceptional times. Together with United Way Worldwide and MSD, we can make a real difference to people’s quality of life as we navigate through the coronavirus pandemic”.
“This pandemic is a new challenge, but we have always possessed the community spirit needed to respond to a global crisis. For more than 130 years, United Way and our supporters have faced crises head-on, doing whatever is required to comfort and care for those in need. Vietnam is a well-known country with innovations and I believe that we can get over this unprecedented challenge by coming together and learning from each other” shared Ms. Hooyung Young – Vice President of Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan United Way Worldwide.
(Ms. Hooyung Young – Vice President of Southeast Asia, Korea and Japan United Way Worldwide)
As one of the CSO partners in the project, Ms. Cao Lan Anh – Vice Chairwoman of Cerebral Palsy Family Association Vietnam shared in the launching event: “With the objectives and benefits of the “For a Vietnam with no one left behind amid COVID-19” project, we are pleased to be working with MSD, donors, and CSOs to implement this project. When interacting with our clients, we shared their daily worries, as many people are unable to access the government’s support measures. We are very happy that households can receive support from the project and somehow meet their basic needs amid the pandemic. We will make a greater effort to support more and more households to access the project."
(Ms. Cao Lan Anh – Vice Chairwoman of Cerebral Palsy Family Association Vietnam)
Mrs. Bui Thi Lan – a mother of 3 children with disabilities, one of the constituencies of the project shared: “Actually, I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the project. Thank you. In the first Covid-19 wave, my family faced a huge of difficulties. When I heard about the project, I am very happy because I received food, essential hygiene kits, and guidelines on infection prevention. I will share information on how to protect and prevent COVID-19 with my family. I am very happy and grateful”.
At the event, we also delivered packages of food, medical equipment, and basic hygiene and communication materials on COVID-19 prevention to 15 representative households in Hanoi. These packages will continue to be handed to more than 400 households in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City once a month, for a 2-month period from August to October 2020.
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About Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD)
As a Vietnamese non-government organization, MSD makes efforts to act for an enabling environment for the development of the civil society sector and to promote the rights of marginalized groups, especially children, youth, women and people with disabilities. MSD now is recognized as a leading organization in coordinating, supporting and providing capacity-building, coaching and consultancy services for CSOs in Vietnam. It is also a professional organization effectively responding to the needs and protecting the rights of disadvantaged communities through implementing projects and providing services to children, youth, women, street and migrant groups and people with disabilities (PWD) in Vietnam.
About United Way Worldwide (UWW)
United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. Supported by 2.9 million volunteers, 9.8 million donors worldwide and $4.7 billion raised every year, United Way is the world’s largest privately funded nonprofit. We’re engaged in nearly 1,800 communities across more than 40 countries and territories worldwide to create sustainable solutions to the challenges facing our communities. United Way partners include global, national and local businesses, nonprofits, government, civic and faith-based organizations, along with educators, labor leaders, health providers, senior citizens, students and more. For more information about United Way, please visit www.UnitedWay.org. Follow us on Twitter: @UnitedWay and #LiveUnited.
About 3M
At 3M, we apply science in collaborative ways to improve lives daily. With $33 billion in sales, our 93,000 employees connect with customers all around the world. Learn more about 3M’s creative solutions to the world’s problems at www.3M.com or on Twitter @3M or @3MNewsroom.
About the Community Chest of Korea (CCK)
Community Chest of Korea, launched in 1998, has been a catalyst for change in Korean society based on citizens’ voluntary participation for the past 20 years. CCK leads the philanthropic giving movement in Korea by showing measurable outcomes, and leading innovations to grow with various partners, and thus making differences in the community. Its symbol, “The Fruit of Love” represents myself, my family and my neighbors. Its vision is to collectively build a caring society.
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Contact:
(Ms) Chu Thu Hà – Event and Communication Officer
Email: event.manager@msdvietnam.org
Tel: 024 62769056/ 0852577220
Management and Sustainable Development Institute (MSD)
Address: 6th Floor, No 15 Yen Lang, Trung Liet, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam
Website: www.msdvietnam.org
Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/www.msdvietnam.org