Mennonite Central Committee

MCC began work in Vietnam in 1954, focusing on refugee assistance and expanding later to include medical work and community development. After re-unification in 1975, MCC focused on reconstruction and reconciliation projects administered from Bangkok, Thailand. In 1990 MCC was once again allowed to open an office in Hanoi. Since the early 1990's MCC’s program has consisted of two parts: integrated rural community development and English teaching. The integrated rural community development program is carried out in the two northern provinces of Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc. In these projects, MCC has responded to needs of community development and poverty through key partnerships with mass organizations linked to the government: Women’s Unions, the Commune Health Centers and Youth Unions. Capacity building for partners is provided at both the District and Commune levels. MCC staff have worked with partners to implement projects in agriculture, water, women's and children's health, income generation and HIV/AIDS. Key initiatives have been projects in clean water and HIV/AIDS. Additional projects have been focused on supporting preschool education in rural areas. Over the past 15 years, MCC Vietnam has had integrated community development programs in Vinh Phuc and Phu Tho Provinces, several hours outside of Hanoi. The implementation of these projects have been in cooperation with the Women's Union. The projects are designed to empower the Women's Union to be better able to respond to locally identified needs. Areas of cooperation have been in: water and sanitation, HIV/AIDs awareness, agriculture, preschool education, health, and income generation. Peace work has also been a priority for MCC Vietnam. Presently peace work has consisted of conflict resolution workshops given to community development partners and other local leaders. In 2008, domestic violence became a primary focus of peace work in communities. MCC has also responded to national level disasters. Four times in the last five years MCC resources have been accessed in response to a natural disaster.