What We Do in Lang Son

Rural Lang Son:

Our mission for the Lang Son Program is simple . . . we support education, initiate and build “give-forward” projects, and assist in basic necessities to empower families in Lang Son.  While the people in Vietnam are working hard to eradicate poverty, there are malnourished children living without basic needs such as adequate nutrition, a warm bed, shoes or a winter coat in a climate where the temperatures can drop to below freezing.  These children are part of our Families in Vietnam (FIV) Rural Lang Son Program.

The home of one of our sponsored families in Lang Son.

The bone-chilling wet winters are getting colder in Lang Son, and it has snowed for the past two winter seasons.  The classrooms have no heaters or insulation.  When the temperature drops, students are expected to stay home to keep warm.  If you click to enlarge the pictures, you will see there is not even glass in the windows of their homes.  We met families that had no blankets, or just one blanket to share amongst them.  Sponsors join us to provide blankets, coats, shoes, sweaters and other warm clothes for as many children as possible.

 

 

Meeting Basic Needs

Delivering food to a hungry family

Delivering food to a hungry family

Our goal in Lang Son is to assist in providing basic needs.  We work with the school, our families, and our staff to figure out what are the most pressing and immediate needs.  Our mission began by digging a well and providing filtration systems for the school, the Clean Water Project.  Next, we started the Food for Thought Lunch Project, see details below.  Also, please take a look at our other projects: The Sustainable Vegetable Garden Project, The Tooth Fairy Project (Personal and Dental Hygiene), and our latest The School Chicken Coop Project.

 

Food for Thought and “Lay-It-Forward” Chicken Project

With a basic emphasis on give-forward projects we found ourselves looking into the eyes of hungry students.  How difficult is it to learn or to concentrate when you are hungry and your next meal is not guaranteed?  Launched in 2007, our Food for Thought Lunch Project provides cooked nutritious lunches for the 55 poorest students.  For most of these students this meal is the best meal of their day.  Sadly for some, it is the only full meal of their day.

Sponsored children's homes

Sponsored children's homes

Home of one of our families

Home of one of our families

 

To provide a way to feed the children and their families, contribute to the lunch program, and help these families in poverty earn some income, FIV launched the “Lay-It-Forward” Chicken Project in 2008.  Through gracious donations of Families In Vietnam supporters, families are given 30 chickens and starter feed.  In turn, they send the chickens or the eggs to the school for lunches.  When the flock doubles, they are then asked to give chicks to the school to be given to another family in need.

Cooking area in a family's home

Cooking area in a family's home

 

An additional practical aspect of this project is if a student leaves school after the 5th grade to work, which many do, they will have chickens and eggs to eat and sell at the market. Chickens are valued and used for trade. While we hope the students will continue in school, if they do not they still know how to raise chickens and already have a starter flock. This enables them to increase the income for their family and eat well.

Inside the home of one of our sponsored children

Inside the home of one of our sponsored children