Visiting with Rad Kivette, the CEO of Vinacapital Foundation, was one of the
most powerful experiences I have ever had. Mr. Kivette is a seventy-seven-year-old
American from North Carolina who has been working charitably in Vietnam for
nearly thirty years. Even though he has been living abroad in Vietnam for an
extended period of time he kept his southern drawl and the ability to tell a
moving story. Mr. Kivette did not go in depth into the structure of his NGO
charity, but rather stressed to us the importance of the issues he treats.
Vinacapital has seven programs to combat several issues among repressed ethnic minorities
in Vietnam. His organization provides money to poor families for congenital
heart defect surgery and advocates for rural women. His charity has provable
saved tens of thousands of lives by paying for life changing surgery. Mr.
Kivette described abusive, somewhat horrific, situations which his organization
is trying to change the culture around. He said that in many rural villages
forced marriage, child marriage, and a patriarchal society still thrives. This
was horrific to hear I did not think many of the issues he combats still exist
in the world today. His message was depressing and urgent.
Their operating methods are different from many American charities in that
100 percent of money donated goes directly into solving infant mortality and
the abuse of women. The issues which Vinacapital deals with are also often
cultural. According to him, many of the women who suffer abuse are not educated
on how to report it to the police or that abusive behavior is not normal.
Vinacapital has over 1000 outreach education centers that educate rural girls
on their rights as equal citizens. They collaborate closely with the Vietnamese
government, Communist party and the Ministry of Health to aid in the areas of
greatest need.
Honestly, I was extremely moved by his life’s work to the point of tearing
up. I’ve heard many charities pitch their work in schools and really have not
felt connected with their missions. Mr. Kivette was personal, powerful and
truly moving.
