Today, we had our third site visit to VinaCapital Foundation. Personally, I think this was the most impactful visit so far, just because of the nature of the causes. I thought the way the foundation approaches the problems Vietnam faces was amazing. They target the root causes of these issues, starting from the ground up—beginning with the children, then focusing on improving women’s health, and ultimately transforming communities.
They recognize where the potential for success lies, and they don’t just look for quick fixes—they think long-term and adjust as needed. For example, in addressing women’s education, they understand that one of the root issues is men. So instead of only giving women more choices, they also focus on educating men to change the long-term normalization of abuse.
Specifically, Rad’s perspective was really impressive. While the foundation could easily rely on emotional appeals, they instead choose to use facts and science to achieve real results. I think this really helps their credibility because they are not just talking—they’re delivering solid, measurable outcomes, which undoubtedly helps gain support.
The foundation as a whole has a great heart. The leadership is driven purely by a desire to improve Vietnam. I appreciated how Rad consistently brought the conversation back to women and children, and how collaboration has made their work possible. The story about the chair of the board of directors and the ventilators was especially moving. These are good people doing great work, and I think it would be an incredible opportunity to work with them someday.
Some of the programs that resonated with me were, of course, the women’s empowerment initiatives, but Heartbeat Vietnam has also made remarkable strides. The fact that they’ve been able to grow the program and save so many children is incredible. The global support they’ve received proves how vital this program is. I think Care to Rise is one I’d like to learn more about, especially since I come from an orphanage myself.
I believe the solutions they’ve implemented are very advanced for a developing country. The level of government support and foreign investment has definitely helped. I was particularly impressed by the quality of the doctors. They clearly know what needs to be done—such as addressing capacity issues—and they’ve been very successful in meeting their goals.
Of course, they’ve faced challenges. Since surgery in other countries is expensive, they’ve had to come up with creative solutions. The next challenge they’re addressing is cancer care. Rad mentioned that while cancer programs do exist, the doctors, training, capacity, and psychological support needed aren’t quite there yet.
Other interesting things we did today includes our classes at UEF – specifically painting the non la hats, and taking a water boat trip to Thanh Da where we tried some street food. It wasn’t my favorite so far, but it was a great experience to walk around all the different carts.
