Viet-Nam Assistance for the Handicapped to Educate Vietnamese Children about Dangers of Unexploded O

McLean, VA -- Viet-Nam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) has been awarded a $100,000 grant by the U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement to educate children in Nghe An province about avoiding unexploded ordnance (UXO) and not trying to sell it to scrap metal dealers or play with it. Nghe An province remains affected by significant concentrations of UXO from the Vietnam War.

VNAH will use this funding to develop and deliver educational programs and materials to several hundred schools, as well as health clinics, community centers, and the media, in two of Nghe An's four districts that are plagued with a high numbers of UXO. The goal of the program is to raise the awareness of the risk and reduce UXO casualties in those two districts. The program is expected to reach hundreds of thousands of school children.

While the project is funded by the U.S. Department of State, the participation of the Vietnamese government is critical to its success, says Ca Van Tran, president of VNAH. "This is truly a joint humanitarian effort," he said. "We will work closely with the provincial government in Nghe An, including the military, education and social affairs agencies, to ensure that this program reaches as many children and families as possible. Landmines and UXO are responsible for many of disabling injuries each year in Vietnam. We hope this educational program will help reverse that."

Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) is a non-profit, non-political organization dedicated to meeting priority humanitarian and development needs in Vietnam. VNAH's projects focus on helping people with disabilities lead rewarding and productive lives that include the ability to fully participate in their nation's and their community's social and economic affairs. For more information about VNAH, visit our website: www.vnah-hev.org