Daring to Hope Again

8 Jun 2018 - 5:44pm

When her marriage buckled under the pressures of poverty at 36 years old, Trang bravely carried on with her two daughters and a son. Earning between S$0.90 to S$1.18 a day from selling groceries, life was a struggle for the single mother with three kids.

While Vietnam has made significant progress in reducing poverty, children and families living in rural areas and among ethnic minorities are still trapped in poverty. In Tien Lu Area Development Programme, 30% – 40% of the population earn an average of less than S$30 a month.

Trang (story above) is one of many mothers in Tien Lu fighting for a better life for their children. There, up to 20% of children under the age of five are malnourished. Poverty-stricken mothers hoping to get loans to improve their lives face insurmountable roadblocks as banks refuse to lend to them.

Before World Vision phases out of Tien Lu Area Development Programme in 2020, we need your support so they can Dare to Hope Again. Empower them to move from “can’t” to “can”!

Help 8,741 people, including 5,877 kids
with integrated economic livelihood

Run a feeding programme
for 220 kids & pregnant mothers

Help 1 household start a microenterprise
to feed 2 vulnerable children

Train 15 families
in livelihood skills

By investing in World Vision’s integrated economic livelihood interventions, you are giving more than just loans. You are enabling people to move up the economic ladder. Our goal is to see them being self-sustainable, able to support their children’s needs and give back to the community!

In 2016, World Vision’s MFU in Vietnam was accorded these awards by Citibank’s CitiFoundation for excellence in microfinance work:

– Outstanding Microfinance Institution
– Micro Entrepreneur of the Year

According to Singapore’s charity regulations, the total expenses incurred in a financial year must not exceed 30% of total donations. At World Vision Singapore, the total expenditure was 14.7% of total funds raised in FY17. As a result, 85.3% of our total donations were used for programmes that benefit children, families, and communities in need.

Picking Up the Pieces

Trang’s children were frequently hungry. Her first kid was only 6kg at the age of one. They cried all day. Trang was desperate to feed her children. She woke up early each day to sell grocery items. All her earnings were spent on food and medicine for her children.

She dreaded the winter rainy season. The house had a roof made from palm leaves. In the winter, wind and cold weather made the house a freezer. Rain leaked in. Walls were not stable because they were iron pillars linked together. Trang wanted to start an animal husbandry business but no one was willing to lend to her because they doubted her ability to repay the loan.

More than a Loan

In 2013, World Vision’s Micro Finance Unit (MFU) in Vietnam brought a new repayment method to her village. With customised financial guidance and entrepreneurship training, it was more than a loan.

Trang managed to borrow S$353 for raising four pigs. After one year, she not only repaid her loan but also had a profit of S$47 per month from raising four piglets. “It was better than my wildest dreams. The ‘can’ts’ in my life started to turn to ‘can’. I dared to hope again,” Trang shares.

Path of Recovery & Hope

“I could afford to buy more nutritious food for my malnourished child and cover my eldest daughter’s college tuition fee.

“I learnt from World Vision better ways of ensuring the survival of my animals as well as ways of saving and growing my business.

“With the money, I started building a new yard for my chickens. I regained confidence and my love of life. My children and animals are my family. Through all the help I received, I realised that there’s still hope for single moms and children,” says Trang.

Written By:

World Vision Singapore