Context:

Xin Man is a mountainous district inhabited by 68,000 people in Ha Giang province, at the northernmost point of Vietnam. The district is one of the poorest in the country, with a poverty rate of 51%. The income of the inhabitants primarily depends on agricultural activities (farming, forestry, and livestock). Ninety percent of the population belongs to ethnic minorities and speaks Vietnamese with difficulty, since it is only learned at school. Reported issues include isolation (mountainous terrain, unpaved roads, difficult movement and transport), poverty, malnutrition (19% of children under 5 are underweight, and 29% have stunted growth), school dropout, early marriages, and a lack of water infrastructure for agricultural and domestic use.
In Xin Man, people with disabilities are, in most cases, excluded from education and professional activities, leading them to live in isolation at home, cared for only by their relatives. A large part of minors with intellectual and physical disabilities does not attend school: there are 134 certified disabled students enrolled in school programs across the entire district, out of a total of 160 certified disabled children (ages 0-16). However, there is no data on all minors who, lacking disability certification, have been led to drop out of school. Schools lack adequately trained staff and enough personnel, as well as support projects, materials, and specific infrastructure (elements that could prevent school dropout and bridge learning difficulties for children with disabilities). Finally, families of disabled minors face major challenges in daily caregiving, without any kind of training or services. Only in cases where disability is certified can they receive financial support (20/40 € per month depending on the severity), but there is no rehabilitation or recreational center for people with disabilities in the district.

Actions:

The general objective is to contribute to improving school inclusion and the well-being of children with disabilities in the Xin Man District.
Specific objectives:
O1: Improve the inclusiveness of schools;
O2: Support families of children with disabilities;
O3: Support access to financial aid and dedicated services for children with disabilities;
O4: Raise awareness among the population about the rights of people with disabilities

The project will take place in particular in four communes of the Xin Man District: Quang Nguyen, Ban Diu, Na Chi, and Trung Thinh-Ngan Chien (with a total population of 21,988 people) and will focus on the 27 primary and lower secondary schools in these areas. In these communes, there are currently 70 certified disabled minors between the ages of 0 and 16, of whom 65 are enrolled in school. The Xin Man People's Committee (a project partner) coordinates all the schools and health centers involved in the project. Its contribution will enable the implementation of all planned actions.

A1: Training and improving school inclusivity
A1.1: Training teachers in inclusive education
A1.2: Classroom visits by expert trainers
A1.3: Distribution of educational materials and equipment to schools
A1.4: University student internships in education at target schools

A2: Training and support for families of children with disabilities
A2.1: Training courses for families on the rights of children with disabilities, healthcare, and psychological development
A2.2: Home visits to children with disabilities
A2.3: Distribution of materials to the homes of children with disabilities

A3: Actions directed at children with disabilities
A3.1: Individual specialized medical visits
A3.2: Assessment of the placement of children with disabilities in specific educational centers

A4: Communication and dissemination
A4.1: Final events in target communes
A4.2: Online communication and communication in Italy

Expected reuslts:

The project aims to contribute to:
R1: 27 schools have teachers trained in school inclusivity and have implemented actions for disabled students with appropriate equipment.
R2: 100 families of disabled children are trained on the topics of rights, caregiving, and communication with their children, and have received tools and equipment for their well-being.
R3: Medical visits are organized in four communes for children with potential disabilities, and the potential placement of disabled children in educational centers has been evaluated.
R4: GTV has communicated the progress of the project and disseminated the results achieved in the project communes, online, and among its Italian supporters and partners