Laura and I observed the local NGO, Enfants & Développement based in Bac-Ha in the North of Vietnam near to the border with China. The humanitarian team was made up of Isabelle, the French manager and a dozen Vietnamese employees who implement the NGO’s projects locally. The organisation has been present in Vietnam since 1993 but only extended its activities to the mountainous regions in 1998. The EU provides most of the financial support for this organisation. Since 2007, the Child Friendly Communities and District Project has been working in 4 key fields:

• Education (access to schools)
• Healthcare, nutrition and protection
• Community development
• Management (training courses in schools and villages and reinforcing respect for children’s rights).

A presentation by Isabelle immediately revealed the problems experienced by the ethnic minorities in this region. We were impressed by her staff’s approachability, educational approach, involvement and motivation. Without the help and support of this NGO, it would have been impossible for Colas to be involved in this sponsorship programme.