Organization to sponsor a child in Vietnam?

I’ve been sponsoring a child in Phu To Province for 8 years through Plan International. Living in Vietnam, I’ve seen firsthand how my contribution, along with those of other sponsors, has really helped improve the living conditions of my godchild’s village community. Everything is very professional, well-managed, and Plan International has accomplished a lot across Vietnam, including in the most remote areas. There’s just a bit of rigidity, which comes from precautions against political or religious proselytism and pedophilia—hard to fault them for that.

They have offices in many cities across Vietnam.

I also know about Corsica Dong Da, which handles sponsorships at the Dong Da Orphanage in Hanoi, and I can give you the contact details for the permanent staff member there: Tran Thi Dung.

I’m an NGO correspondent, but the ones I work with don’t offer sponsorship programs.

Thanks on their behalf,

Hi,

Here’s another site link that might interest you: http://www.lesenfantsdudragon.com or Marc De Muynck’s blog http://marcopolo1949.skyrock.com/

Best regards, Tam

Hi,

CHILDREN OF THE MEKONG might be a good option for you. This organization lets you sponsor a child in Vietnam or other Asian countries. For 24 € per month, you send a child to school and help the whole family. Every month or so, you receive a letter (translated into English) from your sponsored child.

Since it’s tax-deductible, it actually costs you around 6 € per month (a little less than the price of a fast-food meal).

In short, it’s good for your conscience—and most importantly, it gives a child the chance to stay in school instead of working in the fields or elsewhere.

It’s really touching when I get the report card from my 10-year-old sponsored child in Vietnam.

See you!++++++++

Thanks so much for your replies! I’ll check out the websites. Have a great day, everyone.

I’d definitely recommend a small organization that lets you sponsor children from HUE: http://lessampaniersduvietnam.over-blog.org/ A documentary was made about them a few years ago on the show *Faut pas rêver*. I’m a sponsor myself and highly recommend it!

Thanks so much, I’ll check out the site you recommended. Have a great day.

Hello, I’d like to share my experience so you’re fully informed about the "sponsorship" program. I sponsored a little girl in Vietnam through Plan France, visited her twice, built a relationship, and then suddenly, Plan’s project in that village ended (the community no longer had needs), leaving me with NO way to communicate with my goddaughter! PLAN doesn’t provide addresses at the end of sponsorship (contrary to what their brochure says). I sent emails to Plan’s local office, Paris, and Vietnam, but all I got was a flat refusal... Frustrated and really angry, I wanted to share this disappointment. I’ll use every possible method to find my little goddaughter, no matter what PLAN does. I *will* succeed, but it won’t be easy. Anyway, make sure you know the ins and outs before sponsoring... Best,

I totally get you—I stopped working with Plan International because of their "precautions" that often don’t take into account the bonds that form between sponsored kids and sponsors... And the latest news is that we’re no longer allowed to give small gifts because some sponsors were hiding their addresses in them. On the other hand, message me privately—my Vietnamese daughter works for Plan and might be able to look up the info you’re asking for. I just want to highlight the incredible work Plan International does on the ground, especially in the most remote areas where the need is greatest and few NGOs dare to go.

Hello, I understand your disappointment and don’t know what else to say but: good luck! Jean Michel.

Hello and thank you for your help. I sent you a private message as you advised. Thanks again and kind regards. indo1950

I’d like to add something important. Every month, sometimes twice a month, I take Route 24 (Kon Tum–Quang Ngai). It’s a stunning road… a bit deserted. In Kon Tum Province, Kon Long District, I visited two boarding schools sponsored by Plan. These schools are in a disastrous state. The dormitory doors don’t lock… the kids are very dirty… Then I pass through Mang Den, a cool mountain resort, and I see a huge 4x4 with a Plan sticker on it. Bottom line: Plan should use its funds to actually help the kids, even if it means having a less flashy car.

I personally sponsor a girl from the SeDang minority in Kon Tum... She lives in an orphanage, and the "sisters" take very good care of her. I visit her regularly, assess her needs, talk with her, and buy her what she actually needs—not what I’m told to buy.

😉 Hi there, I sponsor an 8-year-old girl through the organization "Children of the Mekong" for 24 € a month. This allows a child to go to school, receive medical care, eat, and buy clothes—especially a new school uniform once a year. If there’s money left over, it goes to her family and helps a brother or sister go to school too.

You correspond with your sponsored child, receive their grades, letters, and photos. It’s really rewarding, and what’s more beautiful than giving a child a little happiness and helping them go to school instead of working in the fields? Don’t hesitate—sponsor a child!

"Children of the Mekong" is a serious organization. Nuns take care of these children, they’re very polite, it’s well-managed, and they receive a great education. Don’t hesitate—these children need us.

I’m heading to Vietnam in March to visit my sponsored child at the Kon Tum orphanage. I can’t wait to meet her—I’m going to spoil her rotten! Do the same, it’s amazing!

Hi Jean Michel,

Congrats on taking this step!

I just got back from VIETNAM and CAMBODIA (one month) where I met two children I sponsor through ENFANTS DU MEKONG—definitely the most professional and longest-standing NGO in this field.

In CAMBODIA, I visited a little boy with his "bamboo," his local contact who acts as the go-between for you, the children, and EDM. In other posts, I’ve talked about that first meeting—so moving, so rewarding! There’s just too much to say; it’s all about the feeling! After that, I met a little girl (still in CAMBODIA), who’s VIETNAMESE and lives in a Vietnamese village near the capital. The encounter was wonderful, almost surreal—this child (11 years old, like the boy) is just adorable. This time, it was a French "bamboo," an amazing young woman, who accompanied me. What a breath of fresh air to meet such genuine, responsible, and simply human people!

Despite the exhaustion (heat), my fragile health, losing 4 kg, and my 70 "spring rolls," I can’t wait to go back next year. THIS SMALL GESTURE we make is so crucial for them—they have nothing! Why aren’t more people getting involved in this?

Hang in there!

Others on this site confirm how serious ENFANTS DU MEKONG is (I think they’ve been sponsoring children since... 1958?)

hi sorry to contradict you back in 2012 I met two associations in Vietnam and I checked their services: EDM and Plan and I have to tell you I was disappointed by both. especially regarding the membership fees they receive, which are too little allocated to the sponsored child. I could tell you more about it, but I’d rather do it in a private message. still, welcome to Vietnam. I’m 100% for sponsorship, but ideally it would be best to sponsor the child directly (like I do) without any intermediary (though at 10,000 km it’s not easy)

Hi Venissian,

Regarding your "on-the-ground" life, your experiences, and what you share, I think it’s credible. That said, concerning EDM, you’d just need to read their work modalities and see how sponsorship funds are allocated to realize that, overall, compared to other NGOs and associations, they keep their so-called administrative costs to a minimum and do their best for redistributing funds to the children! Sure, these are annual reports, but since I started contributing occasionally (without sponsoring) to this association over... 30 years ago, if there had been any mismanagement, I would’ve noticed, no doubt.

Of course, direct sponsorship (like I did for over 12 years in Africa) is the best way to help these children, but as you said, Vietnam and Cambodia are quite far from my Brittany!

Just to clarify, I have absolutely no personal interest in defending EDM—I’ve never even been to their headquarters in Asnières—and I’d be the first to call out any potential mismanagement.

On the other hand, the two "bambous" I met—a Cambodian and a French woman—were extraordinary, and as for the local leaders (in my department) and the director in Asnières, their long experience and seriousness have earned my full trust.

Looking forward to reading more from you, and bravo for your "pedigree"!

hi Jacques, I understand and respect your opinions. I simply shared what I saw in Kon Tum, and in my province here in Kon Tum. I don’t want to criticize anything. I’m just saying that after talking with the sponsored child in question and the sisters who accompany her, I realized she only received 10 euros out of the 24 euros sent monthly by her sponsor... that outraged me. Best regards and thank you for your kind heart

hello, I just read your message because I’ve been in the same situation as you since June 2013. It’s a disgrace, and I’ve been searching online for a solution. The last message from my goddaughter was, “tears flow through my days because I won’t see you again.” It’s been twelve years—we’ve visited her twice in the Thai Nguyen region and exchanged many letters. The bond between us is real, and I’ll do everything I can to continue supporting her and help her pursue her studies. Have you found a way to get her address or other details? Please let me know what steps to take. See you soon, Danielle Maimone France

Hello, I went to Vietnam to visit my goddaughter in Kon Tum for a little over 3 weeks. It was such a joy to finally meet. I went through the association *Les Enfants du Mékong*, and I was able to see my "heart daughter" as much as I wanted. I spoiled her and her three little sisters a lot. My only wish is to go back soon to help them, as well as the Vinh Son 3 orphanage and Sister Gabrielle in Kon Tum. It’s pure happiness to help these children. I regularly receive updates, her grades, and photos. Thank you to everyone who helps these children.

Best regards,