Ending poverty & inequality in Vietnam

Context

The UNDP report recorded in April 2020 shows that the proportion of households living below the poverty line increased from 11.3% to 50.7% due to the COVID pandemic. With 55.5% of Vietnam’s population under 35 years old, today’s generation has the best chance to end poverty and serve as an engine for the global fight against inequality. Yet despite efforts to eradicate poverty in the country, over 50% of young adults aged 16 to 20 still lack access to education.

Since 2010, 

• 433 graduates. 

Selection/Professional Orientation

In 2022

• The information sessions were completed online in 15 provinces in 67 high schools. (262 youth)
• 201 took the written exams
• 101 passed the motivation interviews. 
• 85 home visits were conducted
• 47 students were selected ( 63% girls) 

Training and Innovative Pedagogy Approach

• January - The students of class 2019-2022 had the opportunity to join 6 weeks of on the job training - Specialization module with 3 IT leading companies in Da Nang. This helps the students acquire new competencies and skills needed for a job in a real working environment, bridging the gap between business and academia.

• July - Second-year students of Class 2021-2024 finished 4 weeks of studying and practicing at the Debate Module, a part of the Professional Life Training curriculum to enhance their critical thinking, problem-solving and presentation skills.

• In November, 40 students of Class 2020-2023 joined the phase 1 of the Entrepreneurship Program 2022. They spent 5 weeks developing the IT start-up ideas and pitched them in the Pitching Contest “Orca Tank” in December. 9 out of 14 ideas were chosen to move on to phase 3 - turning ideas into real products in 2023.

Education 

• In June and December, the students of class 2020-2023 and 2021-2024 respectively conducted 12 community projects to dedicate themselves to environmental conservation and supporting underprivileged communities like them. 

• In 2022, PNV put more effort in maintaining healthy mental conditions for the students. Many psychological workshops and counseling projects with the professionals were held. The Education department also organized various extracurricular activities to help the students ease their stress, including outdoor activities, singing & sport contests…

Center Highlight:  PN Vietnam (PNV), established in 2010

Country context (see video for a recap of PNV 2022):

• Low-skill, elementary jobs are generally those at the highest risk of displacement through automation. Unfortunately, these roles make up nearly 74% of jobs in Vietnam.
• 85% of Vietnam’s employed workers have not been trained to achieve any level of qualifications - and this trend is worse for girls and women and youth in a rural setting.One of the most critical issues facing Vietnam is insufficient on-the-job training and apprenticeship opportunities

How PNV addresses these challenges? 

• Our selection team reaches out across 7 provinces to find the most disadvantaged and motivated youth to participate in a 3-year program that takes them from having never touched a keyboard to becoming software developers to find jobs locally – often in European companies like some of our partners, Bollore and Ubisoft, that have branches in Vietnam. 
• PNV aligns with local market needs alongside our private sector partners to allow students to learn both practical and soft skills in real life working conditions.  
• PNV offers internships that are critical to the success of the student.
• PNV graduates earn an average monthly income of 361 USD from their entry job compared to 26 USD combined income of working family members before joining PNV.
• PNV graduates include 51% female alumni. 
• 30% of the graduate’s salary is donated back to the family 

Links:

• PNV 2022 Class Achievements

• Testimonial (PDF)