In Vietnam, minority children in mountainous areas live in extremely precarious conditions, and few have access to education. The enrolment rate for these children is very low, mostly because of language barriers (education is available only in Kinh language), drop-out rates from school (to work in the fields), poor sanitary conditions, and parents who are unaware of the value of education and sanitation.

• To prevent the marginalization of children from ethnic minorities
• To improve schooling and sanitary conditions in pilot areas of Vietnam

Intervention sites: Communes of Suoi Tien, Dien Tan (Dien Khanh district) and Suoi Cat (Cam Lam district), Khanh Hoa province

• Provision of the essential infrastructures, in link with the educational authorities
• Direct implementation of the project, in terms of conceptualization, follow up, and evaluation of the activities in the field in partnership with the local authorities
• Education of parents and children on the value of schooling and hygiene

PARTNERS: Education Department of Dien Khanh district and Community Base Organization

• 400 families in average were supported
• 406 (98%) minority children attend school all day
• 4 classrooms, 5 kitchens, 10 wells, and 370 septic tanks were built or renovated

Attendance rates are ensured and the quality of children's scholastic work, especially ethnic minority children has considerably improved.