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More than 30 years after the war ended, Vietnam still remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Millions of children in crowded cities and remote villages receive little or no help for education. Deep poverty is everywhere as the poor are falling far behind in their daily struggle for economic survival. Only education and business development efforts will give them the hope and real opportunities to emerge from poverty and build a better life for themselves in the future. Vietnam Vision, Inc. was founded in the State of California in 2000 as a non-profit entity with 501 � 3 tax-exempt status. The founders are a group of Vietnamese and Americans who share a deep concern about the widespread abject poverty faced by students, families and especially by women and children in Vietnam. Our commitments focus on providing direct financial resources and training opportunities for the underserved people to help themselves improve their living conditions and build a better future. Reduction of hunger and eradication of poverty through education, small business training and employment, along with humanitarian assistance to orphanages, constitute the major components of our program activities. Through direct assistance in education and small business development, Vietnam Vision is committed to help the needy people at risk, to encourage them to build a strong foundation for economic self sufficiency, and to contribute towards a healthier society.

2.1 Student Sponsorship Program: In the past 6 years, Vietnam Vision's main objectives have been providing financial support in education in the form of scholarships to qualified senior high school and college students in Vietnam. These students must earn at least above-average grades and are truly in need of financial assistance to stay in school. As of January 2007, Vietnam Vision has provided 190 scholarships (ranging from $120/year for each senior high school student to $240 for each college student) in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, Nha Trang, and Da Nang. Those students who maintain their grade points above average will continue to receive financial assistance until graduation.

2.2 Humanitarian Program: Vietnam Vision also works with orphanages, nursing homes, and hospitals in Vietnam. We have collaborated with other charity organizations to provide financial and medical relief to handicapped children, including the hearing- and vision-impaired, and children with heart diseases, etc. Our organization has directly provided funding for orthopedic care and surgery for deformed children among thousands severely affected by polio and toxic defoliants released during the war. We have also provided financial relief to the disaster-stricken victims and several orphanages in Vietnam. Several trips to these project sites have been made by the founding members of Vietnam Vision in the past few years. Our organization is staffed by volunteers from all backgrounds who donate their time and/or money, including travel expenses, to the organization's scholarship and humanitarian projects.

2.3 Vocational Training Program: A new Vocational Training Program is being developed to provide training for practical job skills for the unemployed and under-employed to participate actively in the local labor force. These employment training and services efforts aim at teaching marketable skills currently in demand and developing job opportunities in the fast growing sectors of the local economy. Potential labor demand now exists in export-oriented industries, including transnational corporations, small businesses, and the trade and services sector. Vietnam Vision staff will seek to establish cooperative agreements and linkages to connect the supply and demand of trained workers, in collaboration with existing vocational schools and private employers. Facilities, equipment, and instructors for the training program will be developed and managed by program staff and volunteers. A network of potential employers will be developed to provide employment opportunities for qualified trainees.

To effectively reduce abject poverty and promote education and economic progress in Vietnam, our organization is committed to reach out to all areas of Vietnam, from crowded urban centers to remote villages. Your generous donations are vital to support the programs being developed. Your contribution can be in a variety of forms:

3.1 Financial Contributions.Your donations will be used in the sponsorship of students as well as in other humanitarian efforts and vocational training programs. You can also designate your donations to a specific program or a project site to be developed. For instance, your donation for scholarships can be channeled to any university, high school, orphanage, nursing home, or a patient of your choice.

3.2 Participation. Vietnam Vision encourages donors to join us on our periodic trips to Vietnam for a visit to project sites. Some have come to see our scholarship program in operation and enjoyed the excellent opportunity to motivate the students sponsored by us. Your presence and participation is truly a great source of pride and encouragement to us in our efforts to carry out the noble humanitarian mission of Vietnam Vision, as well as to those disadvantaged students and other needy participants. They will cherish forever the rare opportunity to meet their generous benefactors.

3.3 Personal Motivation.Your time and efforts devoted to motivate your friends and colleagues to support Vietnam Vision's activities as Donor and/or Volunteer are much welcome and deeply appreciated. Supported by your generosity, Vietnam Vision is committed to help the disadvantaged to build a better life for themselves and their society. Through partnerships and collaboration with other international agencies and NGOs and local agencies, we can look forward to see more Vietnamese students graduate, more deserving families and children enjoy the fruits of their own efforts in small businesses, higher level of employment, and a society steadily gaining economic progress and higher standards of living.