Today we visited VinaCapital Foundation, a NGO in Vietnam focused on improving the country’s health. This experience was totally different than our previous site visits. We arrived at the foundation and were warmly welcomed into their space. We all took a seat around a table with the CEO, Rad Kivette. Mr. Kivette, though having a slideshow presentation ready, took the entire time to have a conversation and answer questions about the foundation that he runs. He started off talking about himself, which was interesting because he is an American who moved to Vietnam and stayed. After this, he talked about the different programs that the foundation runs and who the programs benefit. The group then started asking questions which he answered in full detail. Though we were not able to walk around a facility, this visit was special because of how personable Mr. Kivette was. He told us everything we wanted to know and spoke about Vietnam’s problems and his programs passionately.

VinaCapital Foundation focuses on the following idea: healthy children, healthy mothers, healthy community, healthy country. Most of their attention is spent in rural Vietnam. Here, they set up programs to benefit children and women. These programs take place in hospitals and schools, and the way they implement them is interesting. The implementation process is a process that is requested by the government. VinaCapital and the Vietnamese government have the same goals, and Mr. Kivette explained to us that these programs are extremely successful. They are so successful that Mr. Kivette speaks to other countries about his programs, giving away the process for free. In the future, the organization hopes to address cancer in rural Vietnam. Though their programs are very detailed and have high success rates, the reason that the company makes such a big difference is their passion for change. Every person I spoke to at the company was enthusiastic about helping people and truly desired a better Vietnam. This mentality makes such a difference, especially in social work, and the company has proven how significant mentality is. It was such a great time being able to learn about social work in a developing country. It was much different than anything I’ve heard of or done back home in the United States. Companies like this in Vietnam are pioneers, paving the way for a better future as the country develops. It was a pleasure and a privilege to talk to and learn about a company like VinaCapital.