Can ‘Socially Responsible Beneficiaries’ provide sustainable solutions for the most vulnerable children?

Kim, from Tri Nang, is able to continue studying thanks to the village mutual fund
Tuesday, December 13, 2016

From my early days working with WV Viet Nam as a field worker I found that in villages there are many children living in especially difficult circumstances. Although the ADPs where I’ve worked have used an inclusive approach to development, we have a mission statement that says we work with ‘especially the most vulnerable’, and our sponsorship funds are supposed to focus on them, I’ve often seen that children with disabilities or those with serious illnesses have not been able to fully benefit from ADP’s interventions. Sometimes, there are urgent medical needs that are very expensive, which the family cannot afford to cover. They ask the ADP for help, but we don’t have budget for these kinds of things. I guess that’s because if the ADP pays for these emergencies, then this is not sustainable. So, there’s a paradox. We want to serve the most vulnerable children, but we often can’t respond because it would not be sustainable.

After four years wrestling with this paradox, a flash of light suddenly appeared in my mind.

After four years wrestling with this paradox, a flash of light suddenly appeared in my mind: Why I don’t persuade the contractors or suppliers, or even some of our direct beneficiaries to contribute to a fund for the most vulnerable children? World Vision budgets pay out lots of money each year to suppliers and contractors. Our Community Development Initiatives (CDIs) give livestock and livelihood support to many poor families. I wondered if they would be willing to share some of the income they derive from WV with the most vulnerable children that WV is serving.  

The businesses and suppliers and even the CDI beneficiaries happily agreed to contribute a small part of their income to support local vulnerable children.

 

So I explained to the contractors and suppliers, and the CDI beneficiaries, where WV’s budget comes from, what it is for and whom it is supposed to help.  I also explained WV’s vision for long term, sustainable change for vulnerable children; we are not just a seasonal charity. The businesses and suppliers and even the CDI beneficiaries that I spoke to immediately realized the paradox and happily agreed to contribute a small part of their business income or savings to support the local vulnerable children.  

 

 Now things are beginning to change! As an initial result, in FY15, direct beneficiaries of CDIs in Lang Chanh ADP contributed 9 million VND (about US$450) and gift-in-kind to the vulnerable children. In Lac Son ADP, from March 2016, direct beneficiaries, contractors and suppliers contributed nearly 23 million VND (US$1,050) (including 4 million VND from contractors/providers) to support 49 MVC with disability or illness. The contributions were given directly to the children or their parents.  

I call them ‘socially responsible beneficiaries’.

It is not so unusual for businesses to be charitable in Vietnam. But I wanted to make the link with the most vulnerable children in the villages. And, I wanted to encourage the CDI beneficiaries to use think about how they could help others. I call them ‘socially responsible beneficiaries’. Sometimes, if we’re not careful, they see us as the ones who will solve their problems. But we need to encourage them to think about how they can come together to solve their own problems. It’s so impressive to see how beneficiaries and businesses are responding to this challenge. As a result, there is stronger solidarity with the MVC as people and businesses become aware of their needs and get actively involved in helping them.

"I have never seen any ADP working in this way. Lac Son ADP inspires me” said Ms. Tham, a construction material provider for many ADPs.

MVC and their parents have been encouraged to overcome difficulties. “Lac Son ADP way of working is very human centered.  I strongly support this way. Sharing a portion of income for vulnerable children gives me a sense of peace in mind, it’s the right thing to do. I have never seen any ADP working in this way. Lac Son ADP inspires me to do likewise” said Ms. Tham, a construction material provider for many ADPs.

For me, the lessons from this experience are (i) to consider that businesses, suppliers and even beneficiaries have the potential to be  “social responsible”; (ii) ideas and solutions may spring from the sensitive heart, not just the clever head; and (iii) being proactive and creative are necessary skills for  field workers. We will document this practice to share to the partners as well as other ADPs in Vietnam and hope the practice can be replicated.