KIDS FIRST VIETNAM

In 2007 Childvision partnered with Kids First Vietnam (www.kidsfirstvietnam.org).  The CEO of Childvision discovered Kids First Vietnam during one of his many trips overseas.

Recent Accomplishments:
In 2007 Childvision funded the construction of a water tower to assist with water purification for the Kids First Vietnam village.

UPDATE:  Next on the list for Kids First Vietnam is the construction of the dormitory that allows the teenagers from orphanages to live at the village while they obtain their education and skill training. The total projected funding requirement to construct the dormitory is approximately $185,000.  The dormitory will house 128 students. All proceeds from our 2007 Childvision World of Hope Gala were donated towards the construction of this dormitory.

More About Kids First Vietnam:
Kids First Vietnam is carrying out an exciting project in Vietnam.  They continue to expand a village where they bring older children who are very poor and/or in orphanages to the village.  The children will live for a period of time at the village, receive any kind of medical attention/rehabilitation they may need to improve their health, and enroll in an educational/career training program at the village that will teach them applicable, marketable job skills that will enable them to be self-supporting when they must leave the orphanage.  Kids First Vietnam will provide education and job training in many areas, including English language training, mechanical trades, computer operation and repair, culinary arts, carpentry and woodworking, business management, agriculture, and other trades. To date, Childvision has contributed over $100,000 to Kids First Vietnam.

The really exceptional quality about the Kids First Vietnam village is that once completed, it will be self-sustaining because the village is also implementing several revenue generating businesses.  Kids First Vietnam has developed three Kids First Vietnam branded products for export to the U.S. and Europe – similar in principle to Paul Newman’s “Newman’s Own” salad dressings.  In addition, other revenue producing projects in operation or under development include a state of the art wheelchair factory, restaurant and bakery, hotel, and pig farm operation.  The revenue earned from these businesses should sustain the village once the initial capital is raised to complete the village.  And at the same time many of these ventures will provide the children with on-the-job training opportunities.  This is truly exciting – after the village is fully operational, there should be no more need for contributions or handouts.  Once completed, it is our hope and goal to be able to take this model to other countries like China, Russia, Guatemala, and others.

The total estimated funding requirement for the entire Kids First Vietnam village is about $3 million, of which about $1.2 million has already been contributed and invested in the construction of the village.  Approximately $1.8 million is needed to complete the village.

Kids First Vietnam already has accomplished:

• Major financial contributions from Atlantic Philanthropies, Rotary Foundation, and DeMatteis Foundation.
• Partnership with The Hue School of Tourism to teach culinary and hotel management.
• Partnership with The University of Hue for the Kids First Learning Resource Center.
• Partnership with Cal Thang Technical College for the Industrial Training Program.
• Partnership with Quang Tri Charity Association for the Medical Clinic and Quang Tri General Hospital for the Mobility Clinic.
• The design of a state of the art wheelchair that the village will manufacture and sell around the world.
• The creation of three branded products (place setting & chopstick sets, cashew products, and pepper products) that Kids First Vietnam is working to market in North America and Europe.

Childvision funded the construction of a water tower to assist with water purification for the Kids First Vietnam village and the construction of the dormitory that allows the teenagers from orphanages to live at the village while they obtain their education and skill training. The total projected funding requirement to construct the dormitory is approximately $185,000.  The dormitory will house 128 students. The funds from the 1st Annual Childvision World of Hope Gala were donated towards the construction of the Kids First Vietnam dormitory.