CHEER Projects - Healing the Wounds of War

The A Luoi Valley Project

“Reduced biodiversity of wildlife and forests, soil erosion, unproductive land and other affects of the war continue to plague the people of Viet Nam and condemn many to an unbroken cycle of poverty and economic hardship.”

A bomb crater at A Shau valley, A Luoi Province, thirty-one year later.

The A Luoi Valley

Thirty years have passed since the last bombs were dropped in this remote area of central Viet Nam, but the legacy of war continues to profoundly impact the environment, health, and economic development of the nearly 36,000 residents representing six of Viet Nam's 54 ethnic groups.

Massive bombing from 1965-72 and spraying of the herbicide Agent Orange from 1965-70 left behind huge areas of devastation and generations of secondary victims. The chemical warfare, described by a Vietnamese professor as "time-delayed violence against women," has had a dramatic effect on women's reproductive health, the general health and well-being of the population and on the environment. Some forest regrowth was reported after 18 years but Vietnamese scientists believe it will take 100 years for complete recovery.

Following extensive research in the valley during the 1990s, scientists concluded that "reduced biodiversity of wildlife and forests, soil erosion, unproductive land and other effects of the war continue to plague the people of Viet Nam and condemn many to an unbroken cycle of poverty and economic hardship."

Despite efforts by the government and a few international organizations to alleviate local poverty, today over half of A Luoi's 6,549 families (60%) still live below the government-defined poverty level with an average monthly income of less than 80,000 dong (around $5.2 USD) per month. It is estimated that 20% of the children suffer from malnutrition.

Most families in A Luoi live in earthen-floored huts without sanitation facilities. Only 12 of the 21 communes have potable water; polluted streams and a few wells are the sources for nine of the communes and all hamlets. "I'm afraid of drinking well water for fear of the dioxin contamination," said one teacher from Hong Kim village, "so I only drink water from the stream." Carrying water from the stream is usually done by young children; they carry the heavy load on their backs, walking a long distance from home and risking their lives to cross the busy highway. For many families this is not a practical solution: "So the people just use well water instead, despite our warnings," confided Ho Van Hanh, secretary of the People's Committee of A Ngo Village, with some frustration. Construction of a potable water system for Hong Kim village would cost approximately $3,300.

HONG KIM Village, A Luoi Province
A CHEER Pilot Project

Hong Kim village is comprised of six hamlets with 278 families of the Pa Co ethnicity; of those, 181 are considered "poor" by government standards and most work in the fields. Seventy-eight villagers suffer from Agent Orange-related health problems; of those, twelve cases have been confirmed by the government and they receive small stipends from the Red Cross.

CHEER has proposed a multi-level development project to be initiated in Hong Kim. Some facets of the project, including no-interest loans, scholarships and study corners, have been implemented for several years. However, the scope of the project as envisioned will require greater funding and the implementation of a long-range partnership with Hue University.

CHEER's proposal will tackle the overall health and welfare of the village. Each participating family will benefit from three programs: Family Economic Development (FED), Education Program (ED) and the General and Environmental Health Program (GEHP).

The Family Economic Development Program combines the no-interest revolving loan fund with mentoring and technical assistance on family economic and financial planning.

The Education Program provides scholarships to the children in the participating family for tuition, books and supplies to enable them to attend primary and secondary schools. The students will each receive a "study corner" (a desk, bookshelf and chair) which will provide a place for them to study at home. They will also have access to a library/resource center set up at the school site.

In addition, university scholarships are awarded to eligible high school graduates, with a two-year community service commitment following completion of studies.

The General and Environmental Health Education Program will consist of home visits, community meetings and campaigns, focusing on reproductive health and family planning, nutrition, mitigation of the effects of Agent Orange, and other prevalent health issues determined by a community profile.

Revitalize Traditional Crafts

Mrs. Mai Thi Hop, head of the 12-member Paco traditional bead weaving coop used the loans to perfect their arts and market their crafts in other provinces.