US embassy cable - 01HOCHIMINHCITY648

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HO CHI MINH CITY 000648 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV AND EAP/PD/JMARTIN 
STATE ALSO FOR PRM 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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STATE ALSO FOR DRL/IRF 
STATE ALSO FOR USAID/SOULES 
CINCPAC FOR FPA 
SECDEF FOR ISA/EA/LSTERN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SOCI, PHUM, PGOV, KIRF, KHIV, VM 
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC NGOS IN HCMC 
 
 
1. SUMMARY:  AFTER 1975, VIETNAM'S COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT 
CLOSED OR TOOK OVER THE ADMINISTRATION OF SCHOOLS, 
ORPHANAGES, HEALTH FACILITIES, AND OTHER CHARITABLE AND 
SOCIAL FACILITIES IN SAIGON THAT PREVIOUSLY HAD BEEN 
MANAGED BY RELIGIOUS OR OTHER PRIVATE ENTITIES.  IN THE 
PAST FEW YEARS IN HCMC, AND IN SOME OTHER PARTS OF 
VIETNAM, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ALLOWED A QUIET BUT REAL 
RESURGENCE IN BOTH THE NUMBER AND THE ACTIVITIES OF 
DOMESTIC, USUALLY RELIGIOUS, NGOS.  ALTHOUGH THESE 
ORGANIZATIONS ACT OUTSIDE OF DIRECT GOVERNMENT CONTROL, 
SOME ARE ASSOCIATED WITH A GOVERNMENT OR PARTY AGENCY. 
THE EMERGENCE OF SUCH GROUPS PROBABLY REPRESENTS A GROWING 
TOLERANCE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS A 
GROWING RECOGNITION OF GOVERNMENT INABILITY TO MEET THE 
CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL NEEDS OF THE CITY.  THIS REPORT 
PROFILES SOME OF THE NGO'S ENGAGED IN CHARITABLE AND 
SOCIAL WORK IN HCMC.  GROUPS SUCH AS THESE, ESTABLISHED BY 
AND EMPLOYING PERSONS WITH A GENUINE ENTHUSIASM FOR WHAT 
THEY ARE DOING, MAY EVENTUALLY HELP VIETNAM CREATE A MORE 
CIVIL SOCIETY WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO 
CHARITABLE NEEDS AND SOCIAL CAUSES WITHOUT FEAR OF 
GOVERNMENT IMPEDIMENTS OR PUNISHMENT.  END SUMMARY. 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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FRIEND TO FRIEND CLUB 
--------------------- 
 
2. A FEW YEARS AGO, A HCMC HEROIN ADDICT (WHO PREFERRED 
NOT TO GIVE HIS NAME TO POLOFF) DISCOVERED HE WAS HIV- 
POSITIVE.  RATHER THAN SUCCUMB TO FEELINGS OF DESPAIR, HE 
GAVE UP HIS HABIT COLD TURKEY, FOUND A FRIEND WHO SHARED 
THE SAME FATE, AND THE TWO OF THEM BEGAN TALKING WITH 
OTHER HEROIN ADDICTS THEY KNEW ABOUT THE DANGERS OF NEEDLE- 
SHARING.  BEING FORMER ADDICTS, THEY WERE ABLE TO STRIKE 
CHORDS IN THEIR LISTENERS THAT GOVERNMENT OUTREACH 
PROGRAMS SIMPLY COULD NOT DO.  THEY ENCOURAGED THEIR 
LISTENERS TO GIVE UP THEIR ADDICTIONS IF THEY COULD, BUT 
THEIR MAIN MESSAGE WAS TO STOP THE PRACTICE OF SHARING 
NEEDLES.  SOON THEY BEGAN HOLDING MEETINGS AT A ROW HOUSE 
ON A SIDE STREET IN PHU NHUAN DISTRICT, CLANDESTINE 
MEETINGS, SINCE A GROUP OF HEROIN ADDICTS MEETING TOGETHER 
AND DISTRIBUTING CLEAN NEEDLES WOULD INVITE ARREST BY 
LOCAL POLICE.  OTHER ADDICTS AND FORMER ADDICTS 
VOLUNTEERED TO HELP.  THEY CREATED A GROUP CALLED "FRIEND 
TO FRIEND CLUB." 
 
3. TODAY FRIEND TO FRIEND IS FORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE 
HCMC AIDS COMMITTEE FROM WHICH IT RECEIVES FUNDING.  IT 
HAS A STAFF OF 15 WHO RECEIVE A LIMITED SALARY AND A 
VOLUNTEER FORCE OF 100.  MOST OF THE VOLUNTEERS ARE HIV- 
POSITIVE AND THREE QUARTERS OF THEM ARE LESS THAN 25 YEARS 
OLD.  THE VOLUNTEERS GO HOUSE-TO-HOUSE, TO HOSPITALS, AND 
BY INVITATION, TO SCHOOLS, TO GIVE SUPPORT TO PEOPLE WHO 
HAVE HIV/AIDS, THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS, AND/OR CAREGIVERS AND 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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TO GIVE ADVICE TO THOSE WHO ARE AT RISK OF ACQUIRING THE 
DISEASE.  THEY CONTINUE TO HOLD MONTHLY MEETINGS AND TO BE 
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR HEROIN ADDICTS.  THEIR ASSOCIATION 
WITH THE AIDS COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN THEM THE CAPABILITY TO 
OPERATE MORE OPENLY AND WITHOUT FEAR OF POLICE 
INTERVENTION. 
 
THANH XUAN SHELTER FOR GIRLS 
---------------------------- 
 
4. TWO CATHOLIC NUNS ESTABLISHED A SHELTER IN 1996 IN 
HCMC'S BINH THANH DISTRICT FOR YOUNG GIRLS WHO HAVE 
EXPERIENCED LABOR EXPLOITATION OR SEXUAL ABUSE.  TODAY, 
THE SHELTER IS OPERATED BY SEVERAL CATHOLIC NUNS AND LAY 
PERSONS AND IS HOME TO 22 GIRLS FROM THE AGES OF SIX TO 
FOURTEEN.  THE GIRLS ARE EITHER ORPHANS OR COME FROM POOR 
FAMILIES WITH NEGLECTFUL, ABUSIVE OR EXPLOITATIVE PARENTS. 
(SOME OF THE PARENTS HAVE FORCED OR SOLD THEIR CHILDREN 
INTO PROSTITUTION.)  AT THE SHELTER, THE GIRLS ARE 
PROVIDED FOOD, CLOTHING, AN EDUCATION AND A PLACE TO LIVE. 
RECOGNIZING THAT THE CHILDREN OFTEN COME FROM BACKGROUNDS 
WHERE THE NOTION OF "TRUST" HAS BEEN SHATTERED, THE NUNS 
AND LAYPERSONS AT THE SHELTER STRESS INTERDEPENDENCE BY 
HAVING THE CHILDREN SHARE RESPONSIBILITIES IN HOUSEHOLD 
WORK, HELPING EACH OTHER TO LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM, AND 
PLAYING TOGETHER.  THE SHELTER HAS AN INFORMAL ASSOCIATION 
WITH THE HCMC COMMUNIST PARTY YOUTH UNION, WHICH PROVIDES 
COUNSELING TO THE GIRLS TO MAKE THEM AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS 
IN SEXUALLY EXPLOITATIVE SITUATIONS.  IT ALSO IS 
ASSOCIATED INFORMALLY WITH THE HCMC WORK INSTITUTE, WHICH 
PROVIDES THE GIRLS WITH SOME TRAINING IN COMPUTER 
LITERACY, EMBROIDERY/SEWING, AND HAIR STYLING. 
 
5. THE GOAL OF THE THANH XUAN SHELTER IS TO REUNITE THE 
CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES UNDER THE CONDITION THAT BOTH 
PARTIES ARE WILLING AND ACCEPTING OF ONE ANOTHER. 
ALTHOUGH 12 OF THE GIRLS ARE ORPHANS OR OTHERWISE CANNOT 
BE REUNITED WITH THEIR FAMILIES, OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS, 
24 GIRLS HAVE SUCCESSFULLY BEEN REUNITED WITH FAMILY AND 
LOVED ONES.  FUNDING FOR THE SHELTER COMES COMPLETELY FROM 
PRIVATE DONATIONS, USUALLY FROM INDIVIDUALS. 
 
FRIENDS FOR STREET CHILDREN ASSOCIATION 
--------------------------------------- 
 
6. IN 1993, A CATHOLIC WOMAN TOOK THREE HOMELESS CHILDREN 
INTO HER HOME IN THU DUC DISTRICT.  BY THE END OF 1995, 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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SHE HAD TAKEN IN FOUR OTHER HOMELESS CHILDREN AND BEGAN 
TEACHING READING AND WRITING CLASSES TO THEM AND 13 OTHER 
CHILDREN IN THE DISTRICT WHOSE FAMILIES WERE UNABLE TO 
AFFORD SCHOOL FEES AND BOOKS.  IN 1997, THE WOMAN AND HER 
SCHOOL BECAME A PART OF "FRIENDS FOR STREET CHILDREN," A 
CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED IN 1993 THAT RAN THREE 
OTHER SIMILAR SCHOOLS, THE OLDEST OF WHICH DATED BACK TO 
1984.  TODAY, FRIENDS FOR STREET CHILDREN MANAGES AND 
OPERATES SEVEN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, WHICH ARE, IN FACT, 
SCHOOLS FOR CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES TOO POOR TO AFFORD 
MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS.  IT HAS A STAFF OF ABOUT 50 SOCIAL 
WORKERS, EDUCATORS AND NUNS, MOST OF WHOM ARE VOLUNTEERS. 
 
7. IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN ATTENDING 
FRIENDS' DEVELOPMENT CENTERS INCREASED FROM 520 TO 812. 
ABOUT 160 OF THE CHILDREN LIVE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE 
DEVELOPMENT CENTERS AND WOULD OTHERWISE SLEEP ON THE 
STREETS.  THE OTHER CHILDREN LIVE AT HOME, BUT ATTEND 
CLASSES (AND ARE PROVIDED A MEAL) AT THE CENTERS.  THE 
CENTER IN THU DUC DISTRICT IS NOW HOME TO 29 CHILDREN 
WHILE 76 OTHERS ATTEND CLASSES THERE.  THE STAFF OF TWELVE 
TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS INCLUDES THREE DOMINICAN NUNS. 
IT IS THE GOAL OF FRIENDS FOR STREET CHILDREN TO PREVENT 
THEIR VULNERABLE STUDENTS FROM BECOMING STREET CHILDREN BY 
PROVIDING A BASIC EDUCATION AS WELL AS VOCATIONAL TRAINING 
IN EMBROIDERY, TAILORING, HANDICRAFTS, CARPENTRY AND 
COMPUTER CLASSES.  FUNDING IS LARGELY DEPENDENT ON LOCAL 
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, BUT FRIENDS DOES GET SUPPORT FROM 
SOME INTERNATIONAL DONORS IN FRANCE AND JAPAN. 
 
HOUSE OF LOVE 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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------------- 
 
9. THE HOUSE OF LOVE IS AN ORPHANAGE MANAGED AND OPERATED 
BY ONE BUDDHIST MONK AND ELEVEN BUDDHIST NUNS WHO RESIDE 
AT THE DIEU GIAC PAGODA IN HCMC'S DISTRICT TWO.  IN 
ADDITION, THERE ARE SEVEN PAID STAFF (TEACHERS AND SOCIAL 
WORKERS) AND TWELVE LAY VOLUNTEERS.  THE ORPHANAGE WAS 
ESTABLISHED IN 1989 FOR NEWBORN BABIES WHO WERE ABANDONED 
AT THE PAGODA (WHICH IS LOCATED IN ONE OF THE CITY'S 
POOREST AREAS).  OF THE 101 CHILDREN CURRENTLY RESIDING AT 
THE ORPHANAGE, 30 ARE THREE YEARS OLD OR LESS AND 71 ARE 
FROM 4 TO 11 YEARS OLD.  SEVENTY-NINE WERE ABANDONED AT 
THE ORPHANAGE, TEN ARE ORPHANED, AND THE REMAINING TWELVE 
GIVEN OVER TO THE ORPHANAGE FOR VARIOUS REASONS.  ABOUT 
HALF ARE GIRLS AND HALF ARE BOYS.  THE ORPHANAGE SENDS 
SOME OF ITS RESIDENTS TO MAINSTREAM SCHOOLS, BUT ALSO 
PROVIDES PRIMARY SCHOOL CLASSES ON ITS PREMISES.  FUNDING 
FOR THE OPERATION OF THIS ORPHANAGE COMES ENTIRELY FROM 
INDIVIDUAL PRIVATE DONATIONS. 
 
OTHER CHARITIES 
--------------- 
 
10. A CATHOLIC NUN IN BINH THANH DISTRICT RUNS AN 
ORPHANAGE FOR AUTISTIC AND MENTALLY DISTURBED CHILDREN. 
ANOTHER CATHOLIC NUN MANAGES AN ORPHANAGE AND SCHOOL FOR 
POOR CHILDREN FROM ONE TO EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD IN THONG NHAT 
DISTRICT IN DONG NAI PROVINCE.  A GROUP OF DOCTORS AND 
NURSES HAVE ESTABLISHED THE BEN SAN LEPROSY TREATMENT 
CENTER IN BINH DUONG PROVINCE.  A PRIVATE GROUP OF 
INDIVIDUALS OPERATES A HOME/SCHOOL FOR 44 BLIND PEOPLE 
(AGED 5 TO 29 YEARS) IN HCMC'S DISTRICT TEN.  TWO WOMEN, 
ONE VIETNAMESE AND ONE WESTERN, RUN A SHELTER FOR HOMELESS 
GIRLS IN HCMC'S DISTRICT FOUR.  A PRIVATE GROUP OF 
INDIVIDUALS CALLING THEMSELVES "CARE FOR CHILDREN IN 
ESPECIALLY DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES" MANAGE A SHELTER FOR 
SEXUALLY ABUSED GIRLS AGED 12 TO 16 AND AN ORPHANAGE AND 
SCHOOL FOR 100 CHILDREN AGED 6 TO 16 IN DISTRICT FOUR. 
THE CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS OF CHARITY OPERATE SEVERAL 
KINDERGARTENS IN HCMC, AND PRIESTS ASSOCIATED WITH NOTRE 
DAME CATHEDRAL IN HCMC HAVE ESTABLISHED A SCHOOL FOR THE 
DEAF AND DUMB IN THE MEKONG DELTA. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
11. THERE ARE LIKELY MANY MORE PRIVATE CHARITABLE AND 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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SOCIAL ORGANIZATIONS CARRYING OUT SIMILAR ACTIVITIES OF 
WHICH POST IS UNAWARE.  THE ABOVE SHOULD SUFFICE, HOWEVER, 
TO POINT OUT THAT THE NUMBER OF NGO'S IN HCMC AND THE GOOD 
WORKS THEY ARE ACCOMPLISHING ARE ON THE RISE.  POST 
APPLAUDS THE LENIENT MANNER IN WHICH THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT 
HAS PERMITTED THESE NGO'S TO OPERATE AND LOOKS FORWARD TO 
THE DAY WHEN A CIVIL SOCIETY COMPRISED OF MANY DIFFERENT 
NON-GOVERNMENT ACTORS, PRIVATE CITIZENS AND PRIVATE 
GROUPS, BECOMES A REALITY IN VIETNAM. 
 
RAY 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED