Effective mobilization of international resources

Connecting resources, spreading compassion

Recently, the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations, in cooperation with the People's Committee of Thanh Ha Commune, distributed donated gifts to local women. The activity was part of the Union's aid reception and distribution program funded by Good Neighbors International (GNI) of South Korea, aimed at supporting disadvantaged individuals and families in the locality.

In 2026, the Union received a shipment of 1,062 boxes of donated goods from GNI, with a total value of more than VND 7.2 billion. The donations were distributed to over 12,800 women in the communes of Chi Minh, Thanh Ha, Ha Nam, and Ha Bac. These gifts helped many families reduce their living expenses while demonstrating the care and solidarity of international friends toward the people of Hai Phong. More importantly, each aid program is implemented based on careful assessments of actual needs, ensuring that assistance reaches the right beneficiaries and maximizing the value of every contribution.

In addition to supporting women, the programs mobilized by the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations also focus on disadvantaged pupils and university students—young people who need opportunities to continue their education.

Under an education support project funded by the Tzu Chi Foundation (Taiwan, China), N.T.V.A., a student at Hong Quang High School, is one of the beneficiaries whose story has touched many people. After losing his father at an early age, his mother worked as a casual laborer with an unstable income and was unable to support him. Since he was only six months old, he has been cared for by the owner of the boarding house where his family once lived. A scholarship worth VND 3 million not only helped cover his educational expenses but also encouraged him to continue pursuing his dream of staying in school.

Similarly, T.C.N., a student at Thanh Dong University, grew up in extremely difficult circumstances. His parents divorced when he was just three years old, his mother left the family, and his father struggled with drug addiction. He and his sibling were raised by their grandmother, who is over 80 years old and in poor health. Through the project, nearly VND 61 million in tuition assistance was provided, enabling him to continue his studies and easing the financial burden on his family.

These are only two of the thousands of people whose lives have been positively impacted by humanitarian assistance programs. Behind every gift and every scholarship lies the dedicated efforts of the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations in building long-term partnerships with foreign non-governmental organizations, transforming international resources into meaningful and tangible benefits for local communities.

Continuing to strengthen its role as a bridge

The achievements made in recent years demonstrate that people-to-people diplomacy not only strengthens friendship and international cooperation but also directly contributes to the city's socio-economic development through social welfare programs.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Nhang, Vice President of the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations, the Union currently maintains cooperative partnerships with nine foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Hai Phong. In the first six months of 2026 alone, the Union coordinated the implementation of 10 programs and projects, mobilizing more than USD 1.36 million (approximately VND 35 billion) in funding, of which over USD 1.1 million (approximately VND 28 billion) had already been disbursed.

Several projects have delivered significant and measurable results. In partnership with the Tzu Chi Foundation (Taiwan, China), the Union distributed 1,237 Lunar New Year gift packages worth approximately VND 1.5 billion to disadvantaged families. It also provided educational support to 1,000 disadvantaged pupils and university students during the 2025–2026 academic year, with total disbursements exceeding VND 2.1 billion. In addition, monthly assistance totaling more than VND 1.3 billion was provided to 71 disadvantaged households, while four houses were completed and handed over to needy families in Tu Ky and Lac Phuong communes under a project valued at more than VND 800 million.

The Union also worked with Good People International (GPI) of South Korea to implement several community support projects. These included providing monthly assistance—including essential household items and school supplies—to 499 disadvantaged students in Tran Nhan Tong Ward, Nguyen Trai Ward, and Ha Bac Commune, with a total value of nearly VND 1 billion. Another project, worth approximately VND 1 billion, supported the installation of domestic water supply systems for disadvantaged households in Tran Lieu Ward.

In addition, the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations partnered with Giving It Back To Kids (GIBTK) of the United States to receive and distribute 520 wheelchairs to persons with disabilities facing financial hardship, with a total value of more than VND 955 million. The Union also continued its cooperation with Good Neighbors International (GNI) of South Korea by receiving donated containers of goods worth nearly VND 20 billion, which were distributed to disadvantaged women and girls, while expanding support programs to additional localities across the city.

Cooperation programs with foreign non-governmental organizations have become increasingly effective, ensuring that assistance is delivered to the right beneficiaries and achieves its intended objectives. Through the coordinating role of the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations, substantial international resources have been mobilized to improve people's livelihoods, support vulnerable groups, and promote Hai Phong's image as a responsible and compassionate city in international cooperation.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thu, President of the Hai Phong Union of Friendship Organizations, building on the success of ongoing programs, the Union will continue to mobilize additional international assistance, with priority given to social welfare, education, healthcare, and support for women, children, and other vulnerable groups.

By doing so, the Union will further strengthen its role as a trusted bridge connecting international resources with beneficiaries throughout the city, contributing to inclusive and sustainable development, improving people's quality of life, and deepening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Hai Phong and the international community.

Bui Hanh