Orphans into loving families in Vietnam

Dear Friend,

We’re so grateful for your support of our work to bring vulnerable children out of institutions and into safe, loving families. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to build the key relationships we need to break ground in Hue, a key city in Vietnam.

Much of our energy has gone into building the right foundations for long-term success. This past quarter, we’ve been working closely with government officials in Hue, a region where a high percentage of children in institutions live with disabilities. We are encouraged by the strong level of government interest in partnering with us to pilot family-based care.

This government buy-in is key in Hue, as we need strong support to begin to reshape Vietnam’s alternative care system away from institutional care. Decades of research show that institutions, no matter how well-run, cannot provide the stable, loving relationships children need for healthy development. Children raised in these settings often face delays in emotional, social, and cognitive development, and they are more likely to struggle with attachment and independence later in life.

Hue has been chosen as the focus of our pilot because it has one of the highest proportions of children with disabilities living in institutions in Vietnam. These children are among the most vulnerable and at risk of being overlooked by society. By piloting family-based care here, we can demonstrate that with the right training and support, local families can provide the nurturing environment every child needs to thrive.

“This collaboration is rooted in transparency and trust, where we openly address challenges and work together to find solutions at every phase of the project.”

Chau Nguyen, Vietnam Project Manager

Our team has been drawing on over two decades of experience across Cambodia, Thailand, and China, where more than a million children have already grown up in families instead of institutions. The lessons from these countries are directly informing how we shape our work in Vietnam, especially when it comes to more complicated placement cases like children with disabilities.

In the coming months, we hope to:

• Finalise our partnership agreement with the Vietnamese government for the next stage of this project.
• Finish converting training materials to the local context.
• Begin training staff and local families for the first family placements in Hue.

Every step we take brings us closer to ensuring that vulnerable children in Vietnam can grow up in the safety and love of a family. Thank you for walking with us on this journey.