Poverty
Reduction
Development Workshop undertakes actions in Central Viet Nam that help families, communities, community leaders and civil society reduce vulnerability to natural disasters and develop the opportunities and the environment that contribute to poverty reduction
Vulnerability
Reduction
Since 1999 DW has implemented a programme for the preventive strengthening of
existing houses in central Viet Nam. Roughly 70% of rural housing has been rebuilt
by families since 1985, but the quality is poor and the result unable to resist
the effects of storms and floods. DW helps families strengthen their existing
home, at an average extra cost of 20% of the total value of their house. DW
subsidises this up to 50%, the remaining costs are covered by family contributions.
Access
to safe schools and infrastructure:
DW partners with communes in Thua Thien Hué to strengthen existing public infrastructure
and build safe new schools, markets, health facilities. At village level, providing
kindergartens helps small children access early education. DW works with schools
to train teachers about disaster prevention, and runs workshops with children
about their concerns. Children are active in school and in the community in
promoting the vulnerability reduction message.
Skills
and development
DW provides training to local building brigades in all the commune where it
works, in order to improve the general quality of building and in order to develop
skills in disaster resistant construction. Trained builders both work on local
construction programmes that brings in revenue, and act as building advisers
to families in the community.
Institutional
Support
DW works with the people’s committees, the unions and associations to strengthen
the institutional capacity to develop action plans for vulnerability and poverty
reduction and to be able to assist families. DW has promoted democracy in the
village decision making process to ensure equitable selection of partner families
and a balanced gender approach.