Start date: October 2002
Expected end date: September 2015
Support office: World Vision Taiwan
Location: Northern part of Ma river, Cam Thuy District, Thanh Hoa Province

Program background

Cam Thuy North Area Development Program (ADP) is located in Cam Thuy District. This is a semi-mountainous district, 73 km from Thanh Hoa City (the capital city of Thanh Hoa province), and 240 km from Hanoi. The district roads are in poor condition and transportation from village to village is by narrow, dirt trails. Rivers are very important means of transportation in the district, especially for transporting forestry products.
 
Cam Thuy is divided into 19 communes, one district town and 201 villages. It occupies a land area of 42,410.85 hectares, including 10,382.83 ha of agriculture land and 6,625.18 ha of forestry land. There is about 22,340.75 ha of uncultivated land, of which 14,489.32 ha is bare-land.
 
Cam Thuy’s population is about 110,185, consisting of more than 22,790 households. Three ethnic groups live in the district, including Muong (50%), Kinh (49%) and Dzao (1.0%). Nearly 90% of Cam Thuy’s population is involved in agricultural activities such as rice farming and cassava, sugar cane and maize planting. However, lack of skills, knowledge, equipment and unpredictable weather conditions make it difficult for many households to consistently produce enough food to eat and sell.

Program description

Cam Thuy North ADP is an integrated, long-term program working closely with local partners to directly support more than 57,579 people combat the effects of poverty and improve their standard of living. Interventions focusing on agriculture, income generation, education, health-care, childcare and protection, economic assistance and capacity building are tailored specifically to the communities needs. This holistic approach encourages community participation and ownership, builds a firm foundation for the program’s sustainability and addresses the root causes of poverty.

Program development

Health

• Mothers receive training on safe motherhood practices and nutrition.

“After attending training courses on safe motherhood, I have a much better knowledge about nutrition. I go to the commune health centre for natal check-ups periodically and take enough iron tablets. I feel healthier and my expecting child grows well. Thanks World Vision so much.”
Mrs Thu, Cam Thuy North ADP

• School children receive annual health check-ups to monitor their growth and development.
• HIV/AIDS awareness raising campaigns are organized for teenagers.
• Twice a year de-worming tablets are provided to school children.
• Community members receive assistance to build household latrines and clean water systems. Appropriate hygiene education is conducted at schools and at community meetings.

Agriculture

• Farmers receive training on crop diversification, animal husbandry, integrated pest management (IPM), and on the Sloping Agricultural Land Technology method (SALT). These trainings provide opportunities for farmers to increase their technical skills, share best practices and adopt more appropriate farming practices, which will assist them in increasing their crop yields and improving their earning capacity.  
• An environment and sanitation campaign was organized for farmers, educating them about the importance of environmentally friendly farming practices.
• Poor households are provided with economic assistance, giving them the opportunity to engage in animal husbandry.
• Small-scale irrigation systems have been improved, benefiting rice-cultivating conditions for farmers.

Education

• Assistance is provided to construct primary school and kindergarten classrooms and a vocational center, providing students and young adults with suitable learning environments.
• Children in especially difficult circumstances receive scholarships, alleviating the financial burden from their families.
• Teaching equipment is supplied to primary school and kindergarten teachers, enabling them to improve the quality of lessons they deliver.
• Teachers receive training on new teaching methods, supporting students to be more interactive and engaged in lessons.
• Extra-curricular activities for school children are organized, providing them with an avenue to interact in a relaxed environment.

Economic assistance

• Women are provided with small loans so that they can start their own businesses and earn an income.

Capacity building

• Gender awareness and child rights awareness raising is conducted at the hamlet level.
• PMB members and hamlet facilitators receive program management training, building their capacity to implement program activities.