In addition to ensuring accommodation and education, the village also organizes skill training programs, psychological counseling and career support for the children. Photo: CDC Hue

Resource constraints

SOS Children's Village Hue (abbreviated as the Village) is currently caring for 58 children aged 3 to 21, operating under the "family house" model, each house consists of 6-8 children and a foster mother. In addition to ensuring accommodation, education, the Village also organizes skills training programs, psychological counseling and career support for the children.

Since its establishment, SOS Children's Village Hue has nurtured nearly 150 children, many of whom have now returned home, have jobs and started families. At the present stage, maintaining stable activities for the children living in the Village is not only the responsibility of the management unit, but also the common desire of many families whose children are sent here.

“I have two grandchildren who are both orphans. My family has sent them to the Village for 5 years now and they are all well educated and cared for. Now hearing that the Village lacks funds to raise orphans, we are very worried because we are “powerless”. If the children have to return to their hometown, my family will have a hard time coping because their grandparents are both old and weak,” said Mr. NVH (residing in Vinh Thanh commune, Phu Vang district).

From January 2025, according to a joint announcement from SOS Children's Villages International, a number of SOS Children's Villages in Vietnam, including Hue, will no longer receive annual financial aid. SOS Children's Village Hue has just been transferred to the Hue City Department of Health for management. The change of the responsible person means that some financial and administrative procedures will need time to complete. While waiting for the re-issuance of the seal of the SOS Children's Villages Vietnam Office, regular expenses such as food, living expenses, children's tuition fees and staff salaries will be suspended until the end of April 2025.

Ms. Phan Minh Nguyet, Deputy Director of the Hue City Department of Health, said: “The Hue SOS Village has just been transferred from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to the Department of Health, so there are still some minor problems. However, the Hue City People's Committee will continue to provide financial support to the Village until the end of 2025, and will coordinate with other departments to resolve difficulties and ensure that the Village operates according to its goals.”

Proactive solution

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Phuoc, Director of the Southern region, SOS Children's Villages Vietnam, in addition to local budget support, SOS Children's Village Hue is also developing many plans to operate more flexibly and sustainably.

“We have proposed immediate support policies such as: Issuing health insurance cards for children, subsidizing food expenses, and supporting non-salary allowances for staff during the transition period. At the same time, the Village also hopes to create conditions to mobilize social resources from businesses, charitable organizations to the community.”

In the long term, Mr. Phuoc also said that the Village will gradually move towards partial financial autonomy through appropriate local models, such as: organizing skills education activities, cooperating in vocational training for youth or connecting with volunteer programs inside and outside the province.

“In some other localities, SOS Children’s Villages has successfully implemented community fundraising activities, or connected with universities and vocational training centers to open up development directions for older children. With cultural potential and local support, Hue is completely capable of implementing similar models,” Mr. Phuoc added.

Currently, SOS Children's Village Hue and relevant agencies are coordinating to implement appropriate solutions to ensure continued stable operations. The common goal is to maintain an environment for caring for and nurturing children in special circumstances, helping them to study, develop and gradually build their future.