Founded by disabled combat veterans in 1978, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) returned to Vietnam in 1981 when the first of many delegations arrived to engage discussions with the Government of Vietnam on issues of common concern, and to begin the long slow road to healing and reconciliation. In 1994, with the lifting of the US embargo against Vietnam, VVAF quickly established a representative office in Hanoi and since then has been active in launching humanitarian assistance programs. Our involvement has grown substantially, and up to now, VVAF was active in 20 provinces with a variety of assistance programs.
Since 2009, the VVAF management in Washington, DC was assumed by The International Center (IC), an America non-profit organization that focuses on issues between the United States and the developing world.
Now working under The International Center and renamed as IC we focus on Mine action, Assistance for People with disabilities, Mental health and Education.
Summary & Overview of Programs:
The International Center currently has two ongoing programs with a variety of sponsors and donors, and the other primary historical programs.
Mine Action Program:
This project focused on capacity building for demining in Vietnam. This program is funded by grants from the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) at the United States Department of State. The goal of this program is to continue to support the effective operation of MAPG; the development of a new government decree on management of mine action and the directive to guide the implementation of the decree; and the engagement and cooperation between Vietnamese national mine action stakeholders and the international community, while supporting MOLISA to develop and implement an effective tracking system of PWDs including ERW victims. Prior to the capacity building program, IC focused on demining efforts and conducting a survey on the impact of landmines and unexploded ordinances in Vietnam.
Disability Program - Moving Without Limits:
With a grant from USAID, IC in partnership with the Ministry of Health started its program of supporting people with disability. An expansion of this program has led to IC providing expert screening services to various rural provinces and also providing patients with quality assistive devices that aid in the enrichment of their lives.
Historical Programs:
Dioxin Resolution Initiative in Vietnam (DRIVE) Program:
The DRIVE project, works to correct the impacts of Agent Orange and dioxin in Vietnam. From 1962 through 1971, an estimated 72 million liters of herbicide containing dioxin, commonly called Agent Orange, were sprayed over Vietnam. Exposure to dioxin might result in serious health effects including blindness, poliomyelitis, deafness, brain diseases and mental disorders, blood diseases, and congenital birth defects. The aim of was to provide rehabilitation services to those who are affected by Agent Orange.
Education Program:
Boeing started its partnership with IC in 2004. In 2006 Boeing and IC worked on the Education Program. Through this partnership we have had successful handover ceremonies of six schools, one vocational training center, and four rehabilitation centers for people with disabilities, and scholarships for disadvantaged students. These have benefited thousands of students and teachers, thousands of people with disabilities and their communities at large.
Mental Health Program:
In Vietnam, the majority of mental health problems remain unidentified and therefore untreated. The National Mental Health program in Vietnam, conducted since 2001, mainly focuses on schizophrenia and epilepsy. The treatment relies heavily on pharmacotherapy with limited psychotherapy, social intervention, and rehabilitation. IC started its new program on Mental Health in January 2006 with the financial support of Atlantic Philanthropies. The first phase focused on need assessment, while the second phase worked on introducing community-based management system for depression.
