Annual fundraiser raises more than $100,000 to end child poverty in Central Vietnam
A semi-truck roared past, giving a wide berth, but its draft caused a few cyclists to falter a little and to jerk. Handlebars were gripped with focused intent. The cyclist continued pedaling, up and over a bridge spanning Cam Le, a river—the source of which can be traced from Vietnam’s central highlands—that pours out into Da Nang Bay.
A quieter, more rural road awaited the cyclists on the other side of the bridge, as did a busy schedule of beneficiary visits, for the group of staff, board members, and benefactors of Children of Vietnam (COV). This was part of their annual “Cycle to End Child Poverty” benefit ride.
Leading the pack on that hot, humid morning was Ben Wilson, the 93-year-old founder of COV. While many of the other cyclists might have felt a little out of place, Wilson was right at home—a large smile across his face. Almost 30 years ago, he took a similar ride around Da Nang for the first time in 1995, which inspired the creation of COV.
“Each morning, I pedaled alongside other cyclists in the local biking club. It was during those outings that I discovered not just stunning landscapes in Vietnam—but also the stark realities of poverty,” reminisced Wilson of his time living in Vietnam in the late ‘90s. “Most mornings, we would ride down Bach Dang Street to Nguyen Tat Thanh along Vinh Danang to Highway One and then back to the city.”
Wilson continued, “It was a beautiful route that passed schools where local craftsmen would be selling wooden toys, or soy milk in small plastic bags for less than the equivalent of five cents. However, the hopeful eyes of the poor children I encountered along my route created a spark within me.”
Not long after that first ride, Wilson’s bike became a tool for delivering aid. By 1998, his altruistic acts had grown into something bigger.
In March 2024, the COV team embarked on a similar cycling route to raise funds and showcase the positive impact of the organization’s legacy. Their journey highlighted COV’s commitment to comprehensive care, leading them to a school part of the “Educating for the Future” initiative and then to the homes of beneficiaries. The annual fundraiser raised 133,000 to end child poverty in Central Vietnam.
Why Your Support Matters
Across Vietnam, peoples’ standards of living are steadily increasing, however, pockets of chronically poor families—particularly those who suffer from multidimensional poverty—remain at risk of being left behind.
COV’s comprehensive care programs are designed to specifically address the challenges of multidimensional poverty, taking into consideration each beneficiary’s specific needs; and then providing targeted support.
Stepping into a Brighter Future
Malnutrition, lack of resources, or distance to school can all hinder attendance; however, increasing school participation and ensuring children receive basic education is a proven way to end the cycle of poverty. Completing secondary school could be the key to cutting in half the world’s poverty, according to UNESCO research.
COV’s education program has a proven track record to helping families break the cycle of poverty. Therefore, the first stop on the bike route was Nguyen Phu Huong, a secondary school that joined COV’s Study Steps program in September 2023. Of the 25 students in attendance, seven had lost a parent to illness or accidents, significantly increasing the likelihood that these students may drop out of school due to the pressures of poverty.
Since the school became a beneficiary of COV’s Study Steps program, 25 stuents have received support, including:
- 1 million dong ($39) scholarship per student, at the beginning of 2023
- Tutoring classes in Math, Literature, and English
- A life skills class centered on the topic of “positive conflict resolution and effective problem solving”
- Participation in a nonviolent communication class
Such support prepares the students at Nguyen Phu Huong for pathways into university and vocational programs, which can ultimately lead them to successful careers and help them break their families out of poverty.
Further along the route, the cyclists stopped to visit Tran Dang Phuong Thao, a young teenage girl. After Thao’s father was permanently disabled in a work accident in 2015, her mother, Dang Phu Hau, became the family’s sole breadwinner, working at a nearby industrial park.
“I want to study hard, become a good person, be a strong pillar for my parents, and help others,”
shared Thao, 14 years old
As a Study Steps scholar recipient, Thao has been able to continue her education instead of dropping out to support her family, and has been achieving excellent academic results, all while helping out with chores at home.
Supporting Children with Disabilities
The group of cyclists continued riding until they reached the humble home of Pham Van Hieu, who was 10 years old and was born with Cerebral Palsy. For most of his life, Hieu’s condition prevented him from walking, talking, or even sitting up.
In Vietnam more than 700,000 children suffer from disabilities like Hieu.[2] Many of these childrens’ illnesses can be traced back to the deadly use of agent orange—a chemical defoliant that was used during the war to destroy crops and forests.[3] Oftentimes, children with disabilities require significantly greater amounts of care; it’s not uncommon for one parent to give up their job in order to meet such demands. Additionally, specialized care for the treatment of disabilities is very expensive and unaffordable for most families.
Previously, Hieu’s father worked as a laborer in an industrial park, while his mother operated a small market stall. However, due to Hieu’s demanding care needs, his father had to leave his job. As a result, the family now relies solely on Hieu’s mother’s income—which has been very difficult for them.
In 2020, Hieu began taking part in COV’s Hope System of Care program, which was designed specifically for supporting children with disabilities. Over the course of four years, Hieu received financial support for health checks, institutional therapy, rehabilitation, medical costs, hospital costs related to his disability, and a walking device. Additionally, Hieu’s father received special training and support to increase his caregiving skills.
Since receiving support, Hieu’s life has been transformed: he is happier; he experiences greater stability in his health; and he experiences less pain. Before participating in the Hope System of Care, Hieu was immobile and hardly spoke. He can now understand what people are saying, and he interacts with people around him. He can also sit and stand by himself—and take steps with the help of others or a walker.
“Four years ago, my son was unable to sit up, and my family had almost given up hope. However, thanks to COV’s support, I was determined to fight alongside my son against fate. After more than a year and a half of continuous rehabilitation, Hieu can finally sit up, which is almost a miracle for our family.”
shared Hieu’s father, Phạm Phúc.
Empowering Single Mothers
Several more miles of riding underneath the hot afternoon sun led the cyclists to the home of Nguyen Thi Hong, a single mother of an adult son and a teenage daughter. As a fish seller at Tuy Loan market, Hong’s income is unstable, averaging about $7 USD per day—making it hard to provide for her family’s basic needs.
What Hong really needed was capital. In 2022, COV was there to help, providing Hong with a microloan and other support totaling $625. That allowed her to obtain chickens; it covered general health checkups for her and her family; ensured that her daughter Tho could get to and from school, and had a place to study; and allowed Hong to attend a training course to foster her entrepreneurship and empower single mothers.
Once Hong acquired chickens, she was able to raise and reproduce them—providing both eggs and birds to sell at the market, which created a sustainable source of income for herself that she could grow on her own.
“COV provided me with 50 chickens and additional capital to start selling fish. From those initial chickens, I now sell eggs and chickens every 3–5 months, and my income has increased to about $10 per day. Importantly, my income and my life has become much more stable. I hope that other single mothers facing challenges like mine can receive similar support and create better lives for themselves.”
Ms. Hong
Providing Opportunities for Children in Vietnam
In 2024, COV has the goal to raise $150,000 to fund comprehensive care programs like those explored on COV’s annual fundraising to cycle out poverty. To date, we are 90% toward our goal. To participate in the impact and spread the program’s reach, donate here.
