THAI BINH, VIETNAM—September 12, 2007

Over 15,000 people in the northern coastal province of Thai Binh will directly benefit from the Support Network for People with Disabilities (SN-PWD),  a new two-year program funded by the Ford Foundation and implemented in partnership by the East Meets West Foundation (EMW) and the Thai Binh Red Cross.  The Ford Foundation awarded a $105,000 USD grant to the Thai Binh Red Cross and $370,100 USD to EMW to operate SN-PWD in Dong Hung and Tien Hai Districts. It will act as a comprehensive care model for people with disabilities in Vietnam.

“The Ford Foundation has made it a priority in Vietnam to assist people with disabilities, particularly those living in areas that have been exposed to dioxin contamination,” said Dr. Charles Bailey, the foundation’s representative in Vietnam.  “The Support Network for People with Disabilities will go a long way in helping these residents become more independent, and in turn contribute positively to Vietnam’s future development.”

Thai Binh is home to over 130,000 people with disabilities, 31,000 of whom are thought to be suffering from the long-term effects of dioxin contamination.  SN-PWD, like its sister program in Quang Ngai Province, will provide direct assistance to these local residents, including children, in the form of corrective surgery, functional prostheses, physiotherapy, educational support, and vocational training.  The program also seeks to significantly improve the capacities of the local health care system and train social workers.  “The assistance provided by the SN-PWD is targeted to ensure that people with disabilities in Thai Binh will receive as many chances as possible to live normal, functioning lives,” said Dr. Bui Vu Khuc, Chairman of the Thai Binh Red Cross.

SN-PWD was designed in response to the key findings of a study conducted by staff from EMW and the Thai Binh Red Cross; the Thai Binh Provincial People's Committee; the Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs (DOLISA); the Vietnam Association to Aid Victims of Agent Orange; and the Dong Hung and Tien Hai district hospitals. “EMW is very proud to partner with the Ford Foundation on such an important project, our second, that will assist people living with disabilities and help them become self-reliant,” said John Anner, EMW’s Executive Director.

About Thai Binh Red Cross
The Thai Binh Red Cross Association is a civil humanitarian organization operating upon the seven rules of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and upon the Vietnam Laws.  The Association has its own office, official stamp, and bank account.  The Association directs humanitarian works in eight districts/cities, 285 communes, and over 600 schools.  There are 15 official staff members at the provincial level and 23 official staff members at the district level, all of whom are paid from state budget.  At commune level, there is a large network of 285 volunteers.  The Association has much experience in such sectors as primary health care, disaster prevention and mitigation, and loans for small and medium enterprises. 

About East Meets West
The East Meets West Foundation (EMW), a 501(c) (3) organization, has been working with the people of Vietnam to build a peaceful and prosperous future for over 19 years. Currently the largest non-governmental organization (NGO) working in Vietnam, EMW has built a reputation of implementing high-quality programs and projects in areas such as health and education that make a lasting impact on hundreds of thousands of children and families living in poverty.  With headquarters in Da Nang, Vietnam and California, USA, EMW employs an exceptionally dedicated and knowledgeable staff committed to sustainable development in Vietnam.

About the Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization. For more than half a century it has been a resource for innovative people and institutions worldwide, guided by its goals of strengthening democratic values, reducing poverty and injustice, promoting international cooperation and advancing human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Russia. For more information about the Ford Foundation, go to http://www.fordfound.org/global/office/index.cfm?office=Hanoi.