Over recent years, many children in Da Nang’s Son Tra District have benefited much from the ongoing Son Tra Urban Area Development Programme (UADP) which is being funded by the US World Vision International organisation.  Thanks to this meaningful project, many children, teenagers and youths have accessed necessary knowledge and life skills.

A view of the newly-upgraded library of the To Vinh Dien Primary School

The project is being implemented between 2015 and 2027, and it is divided into 3 stages.  The 1^st stage runs from 2015 - 2018, the 2^nd from 2018 – 2023, and the 3^rd from 2023 – 2027.

The ongoing 1^st stage of the project, worth 763,489 USD, is bringing benefits to over 67,000 local residents in the district’s wards of Tho Quang, Man Thai and Nai Hien Dong, 25,466 of whom are children. 

Under this stage, the focus is on enhancing the district’s childcare and education programmes, creating future opportunities for young people, and ensuring child sponsorship and protection, as well as helping local residents increase their resilience to the effects of climate change and disaster risks. 

In detail, priority is being given to increasing the quality of education and care programmes for children at local private pre-schools and improving nutrition for local poor children under 5.  Special attention is also being paid to enhancing soft life skills for pupils from local primary to senior high schools, and offering career orientation programmes for young people aged between 19 and 24.  In addition, training courses are being offered for local residents to help them cope with natural disasters and the effects of climate change.

Over the first 3 years of the implementation of the project, a total of 37 clubs have been established in local schools and in community organisations.  World Vision International has also partly funded the construction of swimming pools and libraries at some local primary schools.  

Thanks to financial assistance from World Vision International, the main library of the To Vinh Dien Primary School in Nai Hien Dong Ward has been upgraded, and it looks more attractive to pupils here.  Moreover, this school has been helped to open a ‘green’ library.  Accordingly, several bookcases are placed under large green trees in the school yard, which has made the school pupils feel comfortable whilst reading books during their break times. 

As for local residents living in coastal areas, they have been given financial aid by this international organisation to build their new multi-purpose storm-resistant shelters or reinforce their existing weak ones.  In addition, multi-functional community houses exclusively for local children have been built. 

Last, but not least, special groups comprising of local teachers, Youth Union members and members of local women’s association have been set up to conduct their child protection activities.