Solidarité - Organisation de Solidarité Internationale

Organising and developing rural communities and helping local NGOs in Vietnam

Project region :

Vinh Long province, Binh Minh district, Mekong delta
Long My and Phung Hiep, Hau Giang province

Duration : 5 years (December 2003 to December 2008)

Aim : Participative community development for the most deprived, the women and the ethnic minorities.

Course of action :

create a Self Help Group for micro-credit
create a savings reserve
organise communities thanks to schools, women’s groups, farmer’s association
implement farming and veterinary training courses (basics)
train 6 local coordinators to manage the programs
improve farming techniques
help commercialise local productions
develop craft work and employment
bring awareness of the position of women
preventive health care and hygiene

A snowball project

The project first covered the Vinh Long province in the Binh Minh district, before spreading to Long My and Phung Hiep, districts of the Huang Giang province (following initiatives from local coordinators seeking our support).

The project now covers an area 4 times bigger than originally planned, while still working with the same budget. The project has benefitted 13 villages and a total population of 20,000.

The micro-finance program for the most underprivileged is a success; annual incomes have been raised by an average of 25%. Local agriculture is up to 20% more efficient and around one hundred new jobs have been created
Many new infrastructures have been built: bridges and roads.
The communities’ participation in this project is remarkable: the villagers cover 80% of the cost of the roads and 60% of the cost of the bridges. On a socio-economic level the project is also a success as these villages are now opening up. Health and safety issues have also been addressed as the number of clean wells and latrines has risen substantially