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Vietnam
7. The project has used the World Health
university and its graduates will still be
Organization CBR training manual, the
there engaging with the local community.
handbook Disabled Village Children (David In short, NGOs “need to partner more
Werner, 1988), Training in the Community with universities, making them part of our
for People with Disabilities (WHO, 1989) project design... they are a wonderful
and Nothing About Us Without Us (David resource”. 10
Werner, 1998). The project has also
The practices described in the CBR project
created many new activities of its own
are in keeping with key recommendations of
making, as events warranted.
the CAN study: 11
8. Integration is a primary aim. According to
• Families are supported in practical ways.
World Vision Vietnam CEDC specialist Dr
Michael Hegenauer, who helped establish
• Children with disabilities are increasingly
this project,
included in the concept of community. The
community becomes richer as it involves its
“It is not developing ‘special services’; it is
disabled children. Attitudes and practices
simply having the community and our
that are harmful to its most vulnerable
development programs include children with
members can be challenged and changed
disabilities in the activities that are already
with tangible results.
being delivered (health care, education,
culture/leisure/play, child participation, etc.).
• The participation of disabled children is
Part of key learning here is that it's not that
encouraged, has an avenue and their views
children with disabilities can't participate – it's
are heard as issues affecting them become
that we don't let them participate... we don't
recognised. Communities, local government
even think about letting them participate.”
and volunteer CBR workers together have
started to organise social occasions (with
Development agencies need to
project funds), such as a Têt (lunar new year)
intentionally develop project designs,
party and a Christmas party, to which all
objectives, activities, indicators and
children are welcome – whereas before
benchmarks that engage this target group.
there were none for children who did not go
Many project designs appear very weak in
to school (not only children with disabilities,
this area and in the Vietnamese context it
but street children, and children without
has been critical to address this.
residence registration or a birth certificate).
9. Sustainable impact is greatly enhanced
• Links with the University have assisted with
when the project has the support of
outcome-focused research.
active partners. University involvement
has been especially important: partnering
• Changes in attitude and action have
with the University of Ho Chi Minh’s
followed planned awareness-raising efforts
Departments of Social Work and Women’s
where both the problem and the potential
Studies, for example, has led to exchanges
have been presented. This is important, as
on medical and psycho-social rehabilitation/
awareness-raising does not always move
CBR, and cultural aspects of disabilities.
beyond the problem. If the potential for
Exposure assists with training of students;
change is not presented when the attention
it is here that the bright young people of a
of families or the broader community has
country can learn and get involved. It is
been brought to an issue of social
here that research can be delivered and
importance, there is a risk of apathy.
it’s here that national policies can be • Working with people in positions of power
developed or challenged. Agencies can helps to gain support on child protection
influence, but when that NGO packs up from local authorities. Projects need to
and leaves or that donor stops giving, the actively inform and involve key figures in
10 Dr Michael Hegenauer, World Vision Vietnam
11 Dorning, K, Crying Out, World Vision International, 2002
81