· 80 -;v,~etnamese;:s.taft, _r~dectinw ,¥NCSL eUlphlJsl~ onl\d~ye,loPUlg' 'n.~igeJlous;.le~a~r-ship,and_rflsponsibiUtll" " : ...... ",:.",.,! ,:,:,-,-')"' .. ,._:,1.': .; t, i'l

,At present, V'ietnam 0h,rishian ,$.erV;iQei hQ.$'lll ,nr,ogI:8jQ'.l; site:f! In,_tille-. S~lgQ~. area and personnel in.7' proy;inceet th!rQughQut v.~tnIl>W", i»dudJ:~lg ;"Ofl!Il.1 ::IR~Q" Da : Nang;i Da bat, Di t.Lnh,. ,Pl/,!iku" Quang.' DUJt;Rlld ~am-:KY!; (of. ~he :18 ,PJloj!(lct locations, 10 are supenvised·,bN. Vietnalillef!,e i$ta,tT~(. ,';rll~~~· ,prQjectsl i~plement programs, of meddenl '$e:.;vtaes,i !SQQial. ~el!ffaJ:ef,~,e.d:tWatt~w.j iI;lIJr\\Cult1ou:alJ .ft:x;t1!ll!· sion, community developJ;l3;en~j, material ,ai4[ 4i(;t·,,'Qlltjpn~!.&;n<Lft.efllge.~ .:raU~f. "-I', :-

Among the programs approved and budgeted for 1973, some 37 are specifiM cally designated to benefit the youngest's~1:!tor of Vietnamese society. In addi­tion, social services and, t'ecollfJnrqtiHJl,· !?,I;oj~c.t~t.:p~€!lIe,d, ~s ,family assistance include ben~:ftts fo» c};li~dr,en.,.QY,~J; ll;1,94!7,OOO VN pmsters (US$ 42,000) have been allocated, for, the1'e, pxpjept.s for 1973. '

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANOE " -"

I(tnderg(M"tenB.-This categtrry' takes '1rlS:'lly" '·forlils';' 'Thtdugh Sbcia~\ 'St!rv'ice,' Centers in Saigon, kindergarten classes are offered to help children pi'E~tJnre fQr first grade, and to encourage families who might not otherwise' do -so to' send­their' children, to school;'Bread,: ,rtIUk"andJ cbOkiesl'iire provtd-ed those' a:ttendlrtg. The' :Sahna'x ll-£i.nilet' of 'FIei' AI'e1) andl Vi~1mami' €hiVisWlh, t;'ervtce lfte' presentlw ' constructing- '0. ldrider-ga,'t,ten' where}' MontagnlWdl 'chlldren:'willl ' lea'rn 'their:, 'own;

/

language and receive an education which will enabl~"1.lhetn ,'1lO' enter" Grivellu·' ment schools. In the VNCS kindel'garteli· iat;'Di Linh, about 100 students are flr~t: t!;l.ught_ to. read and wr:it~, their ,~9;h9)~J;lg~a$r:.a};1d,,~h~p. are l~~t.t:oduc~d.to ~1~t)\'~)1¢S~ to prePMe them fRrentr:V:.ln,t~JRV~.. nt el.'l!¢i1~a~y S~ll?O)'S, We are 111~o .. paYlj}. g f.or n traJnlil.g.eo. u.rse. fbr .M.IMa:!&~.' ... ~.hli1.e.r.~.rtim .. t~.acli~rl'f.o.r. P)eqlJ,el Dor village, .. ., . '; . :' ,'.. .. ,: ': :. . .. . '.' . ..

,7tutqrlaZ AssiStance' Wncl SchoOl ,Suttplw.8.'-:"~itet!a:cy 'classes are oi'fere.d ItllQse c~tldr#~J;l! wPo. have had 'no '6ppottt1~ty, ,~O' :l~,api':aildl fn~" n'~ Ton'~er ,b.e UC~,~J?~ed: in,,~~.,e PUl:Il.iC scl).ool sys.te~. b.ec&USe' ,O.f the.i.r.$.ge .. ; ... rLh~h, ,~ge., 1?" .. F1tlpng~, a,~.~w!.fO lI:n'~. ;a~, age 11, are. 'thl'~e 'Ol'P~aJ,1S, ,\yl\o,w." th,tr'~~~,'.:Chiiju ~~n.ter. 'has.' 'been aSSls~thg with t~ei~' ed.ucatt9.n fo.r, sever. at y~a. ,r.s,. s.u. ,'pt;i1e!he.,trt,.illg. ". ,choOl e~p. ,~lls.es. with Hce money, Twellty Chinese stuaen~~'''lfes ,~i2' Me.'b~i"g taught to ,read and write Vietnam-ese ~9 t~e,y ',ma:y entol~ ,it1-. :V6Ca:~iQ~~1 )s~l.ro~lS. Fl?r elerrH;~htary' pubUc school'students ,who tu:e, n<)t dolPK we:1\' ,m _.theit, ,studle~, tutoring_ ·cla~.ses a,l'e offered l)lorning an~" afterndon' ~oe3ql '~t\j(lertt!3, '!~u~i,hg lit' -lOMmonth pertod .. ~'he rem~intng 2 mouths the ~eac!)ers"l~!t. Ih~Jl1mi)i~~:oUbe stu4ents" .'lie.~-· ing r?p:m~ are provi~eiJ')l1 co'mmunfti~s wh~rt¥ ther~,,,al'~; nl} l~brR:ry f_Rc1l1T:1es,' and text-bool<.s reCimUl' produced by t)le, $tiIJilller Instttut.·'Qf r.1~g1l,\litlc.' 4re provided f61' studying le~lIlng, arltl)meilc, sCl.ence 'll~"".~ttp;' Since s(,)rool,,,I!. Pt9ClJ.~~ outside VJ~triam,.' do. ,not ~ontaln, the. p.r~Jper '~~liS'; :venclls !\nd tabrets for use In the VlelMIJiese school system" /ind 1l~1\Q<> suppliesnr_ becol)llng. increaSingly ~xpen~ivet _ a,'. 'School ~up'ply (J60J?er~th:~_: .Jt$ l;le'en ~ormed, to bU~ supplle~ ",holesale and' t)\~n sell Jl'eII1 to st'ld~IitS. ~t cdst;.": . ... .. . .. ,.. . ,

Fln"1i-Ont/ AsaistaAUJe :,t,or . .!!!\fuc~l't~,,;,;-:V,eti\!l;m(jlirls~r~n. ,Setvlpe ~s,sl.ts' thr.,o.u'i\'P tuition. loa. ns, ..• 1;Ud •.. n~ ~i~.,,,.p. hO'~~Ii.h1))H)i. W)~kJl. ,Ol.t ... y. G~nte~. ~r ... '. )1.\;>' cbu~try prole.c.t units, Ill. ~am,~y, ~lImlte :ht\11>1)~~otS~jlqI4~~4~,~·.I)i"~.611'eref to a1l'ow promising studeii!s to cbntlniJot elf e~114 ~bl1: /i~ ~ ,s i)lld~rY 'Ieyel:, This year VNCS work scholarships wlll ire· given ~ 7ln .. ~dy t Iba! students who agree to help in the 1[l'fOS/cP,I. Wpl!, ,!l\"fllp~\~e,vlces, education, agricul­ture or economics progranls (Juring 'tneir 'vacation: pe~lod., Blind and handl· Cltpp</4· WO~lIg~t.rs are. ,often .·Iaft, ""JIlhQul, ,J1a!JilJiIY,·~llnnQ~tj/ 1\\11l, ,~\[tI)d$,; Iwve, ~Wln Qu<!gew<! ,tQ,,~!mist S\l~ .• t1\d.)\t~, Illi 11)!l~;, ,:WIlJiQ1lllli QIJiI\!I,I;I&Jl"f\~r'V,\~e, ,a)~qIiPFo., "ld.'i,t\ll\(ll".'~Q ,the.S.hQ\a~.h\Il' .. O~\\ee) Q~ P~;,(W;I\ <J,qM,Ql1u~Q1> ,:wJ>k1l­admlnMer • .' scpolars\lip$, ~Or!100.', )\IIQntnlWarW ·I\\gllr, ~el1oA\ ~t\1MnIA; in, l),., ,Ji'ap,1 Alld, ,w,MI}· schOol ,klta Call1lQ\,:b.e a!l'Qr~e!li Ilrlmatl\J))M alit t)}l1~ lIan 4.~ ,.~t,ab.~ 118he4 ,tr:iassl\\\" lu. ·ll11r.l1a •• ,,~wn.V.o~, iV.Qc~VlplJal1, t~ln!llgh~our~~a, a,re 1l1'tl1l" It(J:)lfdn Saj,g:QD)(,Put tQeYi,ar.~ ,~~tlMla·nd),Q;ut:ot~1iftf),Ql).f:~Pl,'\:m;R~Y;p.Q.Qli: tee~flg.ln'a (I a .. fund haslleen n"erv~ \0 Uail'·, ,%"ot,the,cOIIt,ot tulj,\on.and,,~ •• y.1 ,~or, ~O. v,-OmutioJaall',Stnld,&nts.," .[ '" ',' '" , .,':' '", r >1_ Ii . :,'''' ,c ," : "".', .:.'

Vop,atio'Va'·' fJ<t'<k, Itrwd,icr>a.tt ,Tr,<>Wrnu,,,.,,iJ,n, add\tioll··tQ"l\e1Pl~ Ilnanol\l1lly,. Vi~tn.amC""i8tl.n S.rv.lce. iu>s activelYlnitlat'ld :cl.&$O.o bF< tralnlnM alj.l}, supplying teachers to areas without them: Sewing classes at ce-rtain Cent~~i give .: ,5-"",nt)), tralil1lnjlHo".se·,iIljb,olcsl<\lI .. l!lmb~~dery, c):aHse. (6: monthS) ena,ble, ,ghrle to~ flnd: :em:ploy;ment. ·in S1101>,'fi Qr to: ,taJ.te> .. in' work 'nt 'home, '!jhese"

53

Centers also -provide hygiene instruction' 'and basic home 'economtcs 'clasSes. Some Cehters even 'in'Qinta:th a"rtrodm"8Ilvlngs program. In Tan Hoa, in a j'Olnt enterprise with the loctll Catholic Ohu.rch-; VNCS pro~lde's 10 sewing machines and the salary of a fullJtime -SeWing iilstl'Uctor afid a cleaning woman. The sewing classes given; are th~ 'only ones ltvaUable in the ·area and instruct girls 12 to 16 years old.,' -Each year there are '-6 Classes -composed 'of 30 girls' each. OfMh ho:ndicraft programs have bMn prov-lded In lieu of playground -space for creative use ot time. In particull1rl.y crowded areas, recreation 'Rnd period.fc excursions are planned for the chHdreti.

In Quang Due Province, Montagnard children' in 4 boarding schools are heihg taught how to start nUrBe'ries aO'd cal'e for fruit trees, with the hOlJe that the children will take this knowledge back to their villages and in '8-5 years will have fruit to eat '(}r 'seH. Anotller agriculhiral venture involves working with a church group' of 1150 youth to demonstrate cnsh cropping and double cropping through the use of mung beans and sweet potatoes.

YEIDICA'L SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG

no"pl1;a!" ,""here ' ment rate is high, DTothells'"t~be and new mothers and ,helping them undetstalnd how to ifutegrat'e the-)new baby ,into the already ·strained eco­nomics of the famillt. Th'ey Me rassisted wjbh IsmaIl cash Igrants, loans"and ,milk in an 'atteuipt to ,ease the Jfinancl.itd load 'of the familif' for a short period of time until they a-re able to Jnake ffrther 'arrangements enabling them to keep the baby. Well~baby clinics and immunization programs form part of the medi­cal services rendered by VNCS P.ubl1cl Health 'Workers in the tribal villages. Medica..! assistance and'Dutrdtlionai aid ,for malnourished babies are among 'the social services 'oft.'ered tn' the City Centers. Day Care Centers ,benellt both mothers and -children. At the .Jnt~Dnatb;mal Rescue Committee's Convalescent 'Center, serving''Chlldren who 'have <undergone plastic;,surgery &'s.a result of war injuries, birth defects or burns, VNCS maintains the occupational theL'il" pist (Hi duty there, ,and provtdes intuits :!lor progvam matel'i-als.

GTHElt PROlJE(JTS

A team ot, :V.NGS $Qc,ial workers is -assigned. to .the Chanh Hung Detention Oenter. PrCide-Hnq\lents ~re returned to their families a,nd helped to readapt themselves" Delinquents ,a,ra c:!ounselled and referred to re-education centers or street boys' associations. Illiterate street boys and delinquents are taught to read, and wrHe,:whUe theYi are in the Center." ' ' (. In IMQntagpav~t;soc~ety:, 'still governe,q :JllrgeJy, jJy customs and traditions that do not: in(!lu4e, fOD"mal ~ducation, it ,Is :nea€lI!lSl;try to bring home the impo~tan(!e and 'value ot·,education",'l'he <Drive for EdQcation initiated at DL Ltnh, is planned, organized and conducted during school vacation periods by Montag­nard elementary teachers and VNCS staff., ~~.:few :days are spent :in, -eaQh wll­Ila.ge, holqing general, meeting~,'an.d-rgiv~ng sItlts to demonstrate ~~e,.v:atue· of education and encourage school enrollment. In 1968 about 30 tpU>al ,~tn9~nts ,llIttend:ed,J)lJi,lnh hIgh s.hoo!, In 1972, there w.ere nearLy 30()-due,!arge!y: to this annual drive and the granting of scholarships to needy students,

Olt-lftD -W-$lJI!A~ GUIDE_:LWES

, 'J;lIe programs brietly noted aboye .. rell~ctaii eifQr~bY the Cl\rlstlli~¢hUreh to:' express compassion and CQucern for 't;h~ car~ an(t pi'otect1oh ,'at the _ Vietnam­ese children during and following the war crisis. 'So that this Ci)hceth may-'be expanded throughQut Indochina an4,~ven, substance with responsibility, crea­U:vlty and insight, Church World' Service developed the following guidelines (,siroila;'l' to those approved ,for ,the children of BangIade'sh, KOJ;en,,- iBi'Rfra: 'and Vietnam) and recommends them tor serious consideration:

-1,; '])he chUdren of, Indochi-Of! : and ,their' needs ·should· be ,sepa-nated ',fuom any political ideologies. ~

2/ ,Ev:'ery etrout-must be exerte4 to-"ena-ble a 'chUd to ;remain. within nirs Qwn :famll'Y \lnft :a'nd culture ,and! to !sinrengtilen the' culture',s ,ex,isting ,protections fGl' children.

. 8, ,lllmergeneyJ>n<l"lmmedlnte \&9)utloM,t~" i'ldly~qu~l, PI1Qb\ell1s ,pt JlOlll,I,ess ehi'lQren:- maYr.i ef(~ct:J;Vely", J)f);~1 :rp.~t~ ~\bX'/lf~(matru" imJ~\tp.ti9nAL ,/CR~.'~. }lo.w~Y:~F, eV.ery., _eff:o~t: ,;'slwuld' b~; made to ·Vf!:'P-n.U~'1 ~1;\.lQ.il1El"s" i tj:t :p:rqv:il).e~ fo~te~',cohQQl.fl" I .pll:J.'e, IUld to ·enoQ"rJ!g.,lndlgen~u.; a<\QPt.lpl1~,' r,Q!lg!.ter"Un.t~tut!01141 ,Cal!~, shpJ\ld be cOlJ.!1!,ider.ec;1L ol).ly', after .€!yerw, otJ1eJ!. p,npl'Q~cl1~4R.s·,bfl'en -,e~hy,u~ted., " " _', ;:: : "';'! "

. ~",NotonlY the cbild,"'ho.ls ,",ci~llIqn w,af ,ca."qitr,b,Qt !Ill c~Udren, s)lOul~ be.J'to,de(je.vepy OPPQrtunlly"tQl'medlca\,c •• e,and ·r.h.b!l(t~tlv\>, tren,tment. In ,!>-\$, D,wn co,untrY; by, the e~p.!)dlng .ot,m.dj<1Jl;'>1aelllt~e~, 'I)y, :exchange ,me~lc.l teams, and by training of indigenous pe:r~qJ;,1p~lj.,CNld,.ren ~oulc;l. be.,roe;r;J;lo:v:~(l tQ ()tber",countries -Pll'Y 'when i li;-, is ,:im~~cated,rtP,at: (tAls As. \fj."th,e ,c~md'~.\b~st. inter­est me"lca~ly, psyc4010g~cany an(l,; sO~llj.l1Y'i"nnd, _wb~p., ,.hls ~~g~lJ t9, ~·~tu!1~. ,1.$ aSf!,ured; .. , :.,.,' _, ' . ~ ,-,' ;':J ,~,.f,,'j .'I;'.;),) ,:: .. ', , !', ': ~<' "." ".. "

, ,{,)" .IPte,r,eounb:f ~!iOp.ti9nS, .,ll,OJlld',,~e.',cO.I1S,!,d,eJ,"~d ~, I} 8.,,' yaJ,',q.., ehU,,(l_ W6~,~.,J'e ,.s~ry,­illfl, ~Q,:be: 1,ttilized wl)en .. lt,ls, the,'Wrnt. ~9~ut(ql\.,'Qr; the~jl!ld, })le adQptlv.e parent, and the.countrYiQtOJ;lg1p.,'f, ',i\',;'-1 ',~',~.:' !,,' ¥f\l 't"":' '!(\i li',I":, ," ': ,;-,., I"'.,": !,,,r;

6. Imaginative and creative efforts must be mane to assist chlIdreh of mixed racial parentage to int€!gro;t~ in.tQ J;lJ.~ ~.tJ.nQ.Ls, PO,J;tlP,l.\ll\lty and culture by devel­oping a climate of acceptability for each child as a IIChild of GOd." : Gliul'ch World. -Ber,vias' a.li:fo· jbms, ,the:) !ArmerJ.can 'CouneIL' o:ll', Vo'luilta,ry '.Aigen­

bies· 'in ',commending; tlie; 'following: 'guiditfg ,JP!'mciples: idev:el'opetl 'l'in' ,a ,1966 ,con~ 8ultattidn 'on' "J child ; '.welfare' :-~ 'concelllu:I\(' noting ·rtllteil'! l' appUcation.~ : ,would ., be "Rpprop'riate,in-planning4hroughout!Irtd~hl11al: ;(!lllj,:, ".("./ ,!','i.: I ,'.,

,'a, . .rrh"M,preservation' andl ;s1ire)igthening',df 100libiI ildfel shoUld; ',be- -the' ,guid·ing PtllffCfph~s"of :aU .agencies' seeldngrtOItl1elp and ltilel\ve·t(Jhlld·rsn.~n.; Yd-etnaUl'-', ~ 1·, Zl.)' There"isl a tendency:' :in1 ,wa,ri to)m nounf1J:.liesl to-;ass'l!lm&, that ;on~hanages ,pr~ 'vide the mest effectiv& and 'huIDanelBolu1dOOl -tQ!Linmediate and 6roergency: prob.~ lems, of': ,llomeless ' ehUdren:'w.hereas: 'Such) ~Q8Jl'e tends-) to, 'per;petuate'" its,elf)' and should 'be'.regaJrded only'alUt tempo'I.1~ mansure;" <I, i '" : ,"; .'" , .",

I : 8.' ~mhe- leare' of, children should _lnclu'de, 1n addit.lon, ,to ,the basic provisions, of

adequate 'food,< shelter and m,edical 'CRlle;, family· assistance: ,programs; day ,~a~e centera ;. boarding, homes :and ,other, ,fortns" lot ,group rCllre j : foster ,home care: and local:,'adoptions . .Jnter,counllry adop1Jion!should, be (Qonsidered',onl-y, if ,it ISl,found ,that 'this ls:tn the.best:inteI'ests~o:ll',the)ahtld;"',,,.: , ' .. ,.-.', ,

4. Children of' mixed, :national 'and racial ,p8.nenna,ge'lIpresent i sp.ecial needs calling for compassion and special programs which will enable them to lnte-grate into the community and cul1mr-e·',of;l either parent on the basis of their indlviduij.l need~, I;I,nd best interests. 'I, o . .cooperati~e 'pI«rining.' {lIld, pr9'grammfnlf,()f'(Veluhlla'l'Y agenc'ies:wol'king, ~n VN~tn"m S11011ld' Involve' 'indigeno~ 'ag~n~i~s;' and 'leaderEili-ip;' ''l'h1.S, shoUld" be 'tralnlng-' of Vietnamese leadershiP and' hlilUetlf'staff to 'meet: the'--compl'ex prob-lems, ' : " . " ' .. <',r • "I

And finally, Church World SerNice" 'Qnd,,'V1~tiiath:~ 0htifstiiu:i"S~tv'lce' present the priorities', estllbilShed by the'Vletnamese ,S'O<!I~I' WeltateM'llllst.y 'In Decem­ber 11l7~, str¢sslngtM' jlliderstatldlng' ~hatliny' 'pl~nnlng 'for'"hlld'welfare 'by norl;'IQ(,loch1n~se 'Should: 'give' 1Ddli'renous: pri~rtt1eS,1 the"p:1ost':iserldus conSid~ra~ tlon.:,i, ,. "-, " ,. r, ,'. ""C""',' .' ,,~, i,!,':' -, " .. , \ ")!';', "" .c'.'

I:' ~. Returllin'g-orphahsto,thelr'lre1-atlVes' home! ::':", ,I')r i ,,;'); ",1",'" ",':'; 1 !" .~; , '2:)Trovld~ help tone'edY' wiirlrell')~}j' ;maternltY,: 'bMjJltlilli' ,to' pre'tlmi chUd 'al:lttndonrirent~' ' ' :. ",I::~ : ,J:;" ;',;:,',:('1 [, "i'_I.-' "",.:11""'[') jl)l!l ".1"_:' '"

, , W,"A schOlarship pr~grAm"'t6, 'MI'!i' ~eel:fY "f~riI!lte~ .~ritl 'iiHeli",\fuftdrerr:<ro school. ..':' , .. ,q ,.j ""'j"'" !i""")., !~, ;,.jf";'~" ," :"Ii: '(1<'111 jl;!il:~' 'dl:)

4. Re-education projects for pre~delinquent children. 5. Assistance to clviliail;: ifVitl'Q'wIP T'i'~Ha:f!llIitfl!t1on: vocational training, job

;~I~~~ll!eUJ(; l:~;~;?~Me~~PI~!I'fjW!irt:\Q~!d~SIH"'UI.j6;f" h~ '\tI,pllUlik 'to' 'In&l~as ,f)~~j~jr~~~V~~f~q~;~c\. tIi~~~~~~l)1r~fhl¥~~#: ?R,!i~;:;,:;;,:;'~:,;;:,~~;;,;:.::o;:,;,;:),::i:;':.); 'i ,'I'} 'i';:~d: !'~" ,i ";RkCOM:M:l!:Nnl~~S.ti,I"_!!)!I['"I\I'(:~,d.',;"",.tl.i,) ,b"hJ{ll~Ii'.,.',' ~"'idl" '::r~~ "il;J'" .,,),,1,',' 1\ '):)l·rl',~~l.-r;,.,!: ',I'I.lili \ ,)ILe;, ':. 1-'nJ~ ~(;i!l:

r~~~ti:r6h; World :Serv~~e:;'7?~~~:,,~~~~~~r~~ ~::¥~~~~~,~;:?,f:,:~~~~;t;:~~1f,~:i?'_~~.~~r:?-1-"1, 'That 'glvM prlo"!t)!' 'concerti' to' t!l~' ~pMal """dS' of file ;~\'ff1drllll6inrido­

china. < '",i'~:., ): l 'I' 'i.:-!,;

" ;'2, Thnt, ei\itsiders':'CWdren 'of 'in1*~d"'r"Clal"paNnt.ge'o~"e1lhnlc minorIty' .s 'Inel\Jded In "knY pNrgram '6f' ~hlld'i$o~I"I' weltare) Ih'Indo'clilna '>wltl\6ut $ii~aldl discrimination or identification. '. ,\.,

55

8. Tlmtl :makes, e¥e"ry effOl·t ,to lstrellgthen;'indigenolls voluntary' child· welfare agf;lucies 'Wi.thin:,l'udochinaf through; the"uainin'g of'~petaonne'rj' establishing crite· . riaandstandardsandlortg~range,plan'llin'g;'i~,' . ',;],' '-,1' '

, 4. That support the above objectives and' worll:s cooperatively with, 'indig'e· nOll8 and· foreign:)voltintRl'Y: agencie/3! 'servlng.;in' Ind@china/with, -th~' Ministries of,· Social 'WelfAre,- ,with _the- Govel'n:ment:~of,)the('Unltedl 'Statesj -and, other partic­ipating ,,-governments ·,''R'lld,dntel'gbverntnental,·,agenoies;' -:to: .support I and to strengthen the ,implemelitaCion'.of a 'sound;- responslblen~hlld welfaI'e 'prograiu; .

5. 'l'hat recognizes the need for structuring programs through multilllteral channels, and; -it \pos~ibl'e, :-In'''coordlnation''and:;:cooperlltion with intergovern­mental-agencies .to 'insu:lle,)the nee'ded'Jjlssistanael:to·,the':'chlldren 'Whose lives have ,been' dis;rupted ·by; this wan lintil' jtfie' [pe'oples'; of :Indochina are" able' to support such programs themselves.

:As, ,the Senate-- Subcommittee :Oll' ·Re1lugees '8!nd ':Esoapees rev-ie:ws' child welfare needs in Indochina.'and .the ,kind 1o~';effoi,\u'Aniel'ichhsr'sh'Ould .. ma'ke "itl l'es'ponse CO thSe :needs; .it ,is our ,deepest ~conce:Iin illha't' plans' Ibe made: With 'sensitivity to the! far...,reachlng" effects on,' !the cuI-tnrlil!1 ~ntegJ1it# Of',' those"- we,' seek; to' assist. The welfare of these young ,Indochinese, ,survivprs of _genel'~t~ons 'Of '.conflict, speaks to ,future le'adersJi1pJ 'rescourees!'s:vatla'bl:e' to' '01l'r global society.· Church World Service Is pleased and grateful for the opportunitfl't'O"ipa:l'ticfplitei 'ln the difficult, taslts,'of -recOnstruction, reconcilia:tlCfn1/ai1dll1''eh'a'bHitiitiOlli ''irt 'Indocnina. We apprecia,te 'y'ourr-rec()~nltit)n" of; ,OUl~ iconcemlS'la,n'([ <-"e~per1eilce',;n-itd hope' 'tlli'ese colhments',wUl bl! ot'llse1!1.11!t'eference-'in 'llha :SuhMtnmitte~:Re:ao'rd. - ',,'"

Sincerely,' '\ ,:;,:!l,j,' r i :"'(,'" '-11")-', '~·"';'_.·,l J;"'O'- I';

,iJ.AlMkS:MNf1l(lfiAcldrNt,IJj}mc'duUifJe','D'ireotOf. i; 'f' :r' ,'- ,.:f '[ ,1\)':<' , .., ',' " " I "", I;"

.'\~I~il:;"'~ll;'Ii" ",'

, "\'Chtrd:s'Ti:~N 'ClfIJ:~riiiE;~'i~;Jr_tiND; J1iC., ' "" " ""',<"",,, ";;'!I""U"Xoreo 'Mali 17 '191,'"

Hon.::mDWARDM.KIC~EDY",,' : 1 ,< ',','_~. ',~' __ """"""1',~'" ""ft, ".<:,~ ,,,,,' ,''("'

O1ui4iftnan,: JudiolaryIY Su-'bobniniitt~e an; 'R'ef,uiJ,ees; 'i '" ':.1'1" U.S. Senate, ,_ ,'. , ,"'11 :,1:' ,:"d '1"','

wa8~nqt?n,:D.O., ' ___ ,', "',f.-_ : ":,'" .','f·, ,.',';;';':') '1:11 ,', " '

, ,M'Yi:lIM.BS,E*A;'~l';r,{E"~EDY,:,~~lI:II"-s,R~ttb,~~~;:r,bJ~r ~ purale"mqn~~IAff wrol!\you on May, ,the 91h, ' I, r was ,', n,9t"pO&SI,bl~ ,t, o,r, ',IDe, ' to, ,att, en" d YO, ur, supeolll' mltte~'s hearIng held on M~j<the t~tb In~~nil\~Ii'~$';~ 4ad al,eadY'~\llb~l'ked on a field trip to East and S6utn~ast 'Asia IncIUding"Vl'etriam. ' :'

Prior to DIY departure-:fDom, ,therJi3ta1;e.$p-I rcpnferred with Dr. James R. pumpson <l1~d, '~ther 1:r~o.W~dg~fl~le_ vers9~S ,abou~ t~ ,c~rrent s~tlfD;ti~n ~p., Viet­nam, Laos andOalnbodla. 'Whitt the~ r~p'orted, to lI)e iliMrmallf only M,tiftrl/leQ my c.onvlc.tlo\l tha.!. the c.ondltlons ,lhaU obsei'Ved,at'llrst halld, ove~ the past seve'tal yea-rs,'are'toda'y even rtiore pathetic-than!'l'n 'the 'past. ' , ,.

~'h,e ,en,.oJ,'lni,ty of ,tl],e:"p~oJ}l~m{J ,;fac~4 pY,~~e, m~ltitudes! ,e8pe¢~anyJhe "chn· dren;,' WOlild, SMJ:p.' to re9.u.l~~ '-,Gqbr.a~*,a.te'd",J" e:x;t, e,:nSlv, ~.' ~nd spe, e4Y~ a,.~t~o"n o~f 't,he 'part of both governmental and VOlunt.rY agen<!tes/ :tore,lgn alld\nl'!li!enous: ".- ' ,

If there Is anything you would like to"I1Ii¥~' ID:e 'do'i)H' IibhRll o~''yOlli'bom: mittee while in the Far East I stp.;Q.q ~,e.a,(1"y t.9:-:pw>perate.

After my visit to Vietnam I shall be~happy to share my findings with your ·office:.: .~",', :',"-" .. :,:, ~ .;,,,;,,-' '"j .i,lid>, ',n'1 'to 'f'\"~fI""" I; "If::,·,,": ,.;~'.I, .I

,Cordia~ly,. ('l,~\""!, ' ::', j:--' .... ""i1(:i," ",;,n ,-,If)"" '\, ;.1;:[-, ';;j!. ,fWitf-l:)lIi,) [<1:;11, <,I, ,:1

'I" ",;' ;,'. Ilr'"l" "};(hURit!l~ft'}i·O~iik!IllR:i!A:N'~1p'h~'n':',:'K!e:S.Wi.; 1\;, .'1,; ,f 'ilDn f hi) '\Ill !"~ JJ II' j I;' ~ \~: ': I r ,'" j.'00'nJ8uztttnt~1 '

.. d: 'Ii :,'>Hl ,"i rl"I:-l'1""'~r;q T;-r(i(r'rrr:~ ·1.'V'·-- " ",'H-id .') '''I,'!i;~\'fI';r(l' ,~, ... ,,[:,-;, l~ld· J"l'iJ(r}, ,);1) '1" jji',;h< :1,) Jl',ih;;'l',;

.,,'.. .. .. j' ,j;;' >Ii; l '!I" iLlr"p'i il)!): H'['WE;PEARll_-Bj~()~,!1PQU$.A/'J)IO~, i.I~Otr-'\ )':".,-: \r>-", ( ,') . ",;'/1';' rIr.;'\')','jj n' !)'"lrMlade,U!Mu/l'PQ!.'!:

')'jij ,)~' '-',: r .',,' ". hi:" ·"'!"ji'o,".'f) .'," 'r': "q"il~,,)

F AO'r SHEET-MAROH 1973

The Pearl S. Burk ']j'oundation was organized by Nobel and PuUtzer Prize winning aul;bm,iPe~DhS. ,li\uCk,- becau.e[oio tll.,!InJ:\1) • .tallCe; of ,tM,~pee\al ,problems of mixed-rac.e chUdren",These children have been born and are continuing to be born of Amert'datv:serviMm'ell and' AshHl 'Wdnlen.-in'1l1i'e' 'ae-'Veti -Countries' where ,OU1~, ~en. ,~r~, ~~R;ti~n,~?, ,B~cau~~ of th",i,l', birth!~.~P'~Yr ar,e no:~"permitted. ~o enjoy

, 1"

56

the same -educational l social, '_economic: or civil privileges in, their .native '('oun­tries as the full ASian ,children. Their need£!; had' not been recognized:-by govern~ ment or existing private agencies untn The 'PennI S. Buck Foundation started operations. 1

The Pearl S. Buck Foundation was incorporated in Delaware on FebruRJ,'y 3, 1964 as a nOD-profit agency "for the 'material care and educatlon of children of half-American parentage wbo ba've been born and 'are living in other coun­tries." The pubU(' Foundation was granted "Income Tax Deductible" status In August 1964.

I. This Foundation Is the only agency that bas. as .its principal purposes the education and care of Amerasian children born and living in the countries of their birth. The Pearl,S. Buck Foundntion is not a welfare agency. Its purposes are:

A. To educate the American public to the existence and needs of the Amerasian children, and the American responSib1lity to them ..

B. To educate tbe Amexasian children so that they will, when adults, be vesponsible, productive human :beings ....... a rredlt to both ,sides of their ancestry.

C. To build 'Q climate of social acceptance for, these children in the coun­tries of their birth.

II. Over the past,eignt yea:rs, we have i'eceived thousands of inqu.iries regard­ing the adoption ot: AmeJ:.asian cbildren. In ,the past,' -me referr.ed those interf:'8ted persons to other agencies, As, a )JesUit of an objective stud\y, -it was found ,that many of the children being sponsored by the Foundation were ellgible for adoption.

With Amerasian children ,waiting for homes and AmeriGan families desper­ately wanting these children, Itbe formation of an Adoption Department within the Foundation seemed logiral and impera:tl'Ve.

The Board of Dlrector~ voted to. include adoption services in its program and in September, 1972, the ,Adoption Department officially proceeded with its work.

'The Agency employs thirtyMthree people in the United States. ,< The Foundation reports quarterly to ..ttl;! consUtuency, through ,a newsletter,

an annual report and financial statement. Personnel in each of the countries where the Foundation has, operations con­

sists of on~ ,Resident Dir,~.ctor, from U.S. Headquarters., and nationals deter­nilned', by' the number' of ~C-hildren 'bel~ sponsored .. 'lFhe Foundation is currently opetli~ing., in six Asian' ,cciuntrtes: 1(01'-911" Okinawa, the PhiUppines, TaiWan, Thallahd.nd Vietnam. nnd ~upp,,~ts over t,200 children", '

," '" " ,., '1'" . , ,

PHASE'I-'-RJ!::SEAnOH AND"S'OR.VE'!'

Do.rUPJ,fmted ce1lJ3us;,ol, ,A.merasia~s is, not possible.' )Iost llloihi:u;s; do.hot regls(~~ bh;thsotth'es~chVdren.Decauae,o(thesQcialstigpla.".,.,' , ,,' ,'", r ": ,I'

A. Search ': To lacate 'all Amer,asian, ,children" ,In, tact, r~~e~b:;h, teams ar~ !,ht-tIaJlysearch,tearp$. ,'" " , ". "" ',;, ) ",:" "',, ;

B., SUrvey: T~ stud~ tpeb~st ways In ,'1'hlilh.tq serVe the needs of the chll~r.e\\. In each, Fo:nnd~,tl. o~ ,c:oN-Jl,tr1.f the 'n, c, eds Of.' tJW <:~nd~~P,r roilY ya~y peca~se of '''rCO,-nomic. ethnic. ilnll. cultuj!lll.ql/i:W'enc<w. '. " . ,'.' . '

"~iIASE u.:.LSUPPORT ,,' , . . " , ' , :'" , ',' \' ,':":., ," , ' , : ' . '

A. A person becomes a Sponsor of one chtld by sending $16.00 per !)lOnUl ($192.00 per year). ,"

B. The empasis Is on education. Any child of school age wishing assistan~e from the ,Foundation' 'IQ.ufilt::attl~:Iil.ci)schoQI, If the child Is under school age, the ml)ther or. ,guardian Is dven a stipend monthly.

C. 1000/0 ,of every SUPPORT pay·ment··received is used in_the work of the Foundation on behalf ot the AmerasIan children. TW()~thirds of each payment received Is .spent <directly- on; the 'education and health 'of the child. The remain­ing one-third ,is 'Used in overall services, i.e. school equipment, eXJtra faciUties in our Centers, books, teachers, and administering ~he SUPPORT Program.

",., '1 '

, ,,)

STATEMENT'OF FRA~K'L.-':GOll'FIO,.'Ex1WUTl¥E DIRECTim, CARE,-INC. ,,' . ',. 'v)".;

,FOSTWAR :AS:S'ISTAN£E:,AND !RESFJrTLEMENT IN INDOCH'I~A

At the outset, if t may, t'~~nt to express gratitude that th~ {;§enate' Subc'oni­mlttee on Refugees is ,holdIng hearings on the human 'problems resulting from

57

the end of major armed ,conflict in .Indochina. 'Xhose problems require urgent attention if vast masses of civilians Rre to- have it'meaniiIgful chance for any· thing like normal Ufe. '.Dhey' deserve, and',wUl require, the best efforts of both governments and agencies such as my own(.

CARE -early ·recognized' that' its long experience in feeding millions of people would require from us specIal and sustained contributions. We knew that our capacity to build thousands of simple houses for homeless people almost cer­tainly would be needed. Medical aid and our wide variety of self~help pro­grams- also would be required. As after .all major wars' and Da,t!ura'l disasters, we resolved to make the maximum contribution we COUld.

We have had operations and programs in South Vietnam since 1964-provid­ing relief, reconstruction and development assistance. Our preUminaty SUl1vey in Vietnam on ,CARE's postwa'r role was completed in January of this year, but medical, surveys, have not yet been conCluded.

We _,sent sp,ecialists le Vietnam, to' work with: our staff there, because we know from long experience that the eaJ.fly establishment of priorities i8 of cru­cial importance in the ,p1'Q:rision of ,effective' aid.

Let me turn now,to some of the conchl,siolls we have reached. Vietnam FeedAln-g Program,

We must quicklY expand, of course, our feeding programs. We are currently administering PL 480 child-feeding plIograms for 'schoolchild:ren and preschool­aged children in ,cooperation with the South Vietnamese Ministries of Social -Welfare and Education in the Saigon. and Gia Dinh areas, and providing assistance to refugees 'in ,cooperation with USAID and other voluntary agen­cies.

Our current child-feeding program, ,(mostly primary schools) in Vietnam has a potential beneficiary target of 270,000 childreh j ' to be achieved by the end of tilis calenda;r year •. ,Distribution, began, in February 1973 to approximately 86,000 children" and by June when schools close, the beneficiary level is

. expected to be (1.80,000 children. At the reopening of schools in August, the -target would be 200,000 children.

The vast majority of, the children ar,e primary schQol students, with a much smaller,numb~r being located in Qrphanages'Qr day care centers-all located in either Saigon/ChQIQn Qr Gia Drnh.

)l,laeh child receives, daily an eight8Qunce .glass . .of, reconstituted liquid milk (Foremost :Dairy), to which has been -added .16 oz. vegetable .oil. This ration .prQvides apprQ~huately 10 mgs. 'of protein daily to'!each child. DistrIbutiQn is made in six-gallon containers consisting of a.-polyethy,lene ba'g with a self8dls~ pensing plastic. spout. The liquid milk ifl'delivered by Foremost Dairy iil insu­lated trucks to Insure thattbe milk Is, In good condition for distribution.

OARE/Vietnam has, recently 'begun<:an 'investigation. of the- .possible expan­sion of the child-feeding program to 150,000 I1<lClplents ,In iIIegion I. A dairy plant located In Da Nang would beutlllited.

Sinee milk powder bas ,now become u.nl,tiVailable, the' mission. is now leaning toward the use of soy flQur as the possible 'base ,for' the beVterage to b_e distrib. uted.

Now that something closely approaching peace- has returned to Indochina, the need for food in these war-devastated countries' will be crueial. But in CARE we recognize- anQther essential --'factor-the logistical competence' to' deliver, cook and tranapQrt to CQnsumers', the- food ,the~ need tQ Uve. We daUy

, perfoJ;'m thel3e functiQns in, 88 countries, ,itnound. the world, and such Skills' will not, be the leaHt' ot our contributions to, the :peoples, .of' Indochina. We :feed 28,000,000 mep, women and chUdlJen each daw! and" if gi-ven adequate supplies and :£unding, wUl meet this new challenge;> , . ;r,et me mention at tWa point that O:.l:RE h.sjust signed an agreement with

the Government .of Cambodia. We already ,have' had our survey te'am there to determine just what we can do within the limits .of our resources.

I turn now to something that, in .. the- 'long run, could be just as vital as food-the provision Qf tools and services that will enable these countries to' return to something approaching normalcy. Relief. RehabiUtation, and Reconstruction- ProgramIJ

CARE has been called upon to succor m1llions left homeless and' destitute by severa'! wars-World War II, Korea, Nigeria, 'Pakistan and Bangladesh; From t4ese massive and varied experiences, we have co~e to appreciate the 1:mpor­t.IlC~ "Qf ,beIng, Jljble tp ,work IIttbe comm'lnlty, 1.~.k',lJbl. capacity I., crucial to I',U.,d~lly. proSfams, ~round, tlleworld"bllt ,IU. ilo,ui>I(I!. so In,l'.ostwar,.r.s" " . i - " -, " ,- , ,

This w.1U,\ be the',}ley, ·to"post'waa-I :woMlinIlIndochll1aJ,0ur' preUmlriill'Yl CARE survey f'Oli- pl'iol'lties :sh'owed, th~,follbwingy:: ','I ':i j i /.") '!" . . • ,

.(.a) Community <medico:L: Q,nd publ1ClJ.-'health' 'ser,viees 'beginningl'in ':refugee camps and regroupment areas, continulng·at-.l1esettlement:loclltions'j "

l( b,): Continuation;, 'and -'_exIiansiall\ at; c-hild~feeding' pvogrMns 'into" other, urlian andruralareas; , ,1""",/1,-,.:;'1':1 i, . "', , (.0) _ ReUef -'assistance' for: refugee'; families: iin retrtrn ;,to '.village· 'and resettle .. mellt,prOgrams'; ',I)", .ir:' .,' " , (a);, Rural ne,construction "in:. war1damaged-'.Iand"·abandoned 'viUnges a'nd:,in new resettlement program's',; 'J " .' ;, ,i fl,; :'" '" I .

'~e,) :RuraL. economic" reha:bilitatton, for. ,agdculturaUstsi small ,fishermen, and rural smaU Industries,.:, ' : r • i . ,,(-lr Pl'og:mmf!;.of, rilral l',ecollstruction' and' develo-pment ~ are to be et'fecWvely carried out, it will be neeeSSallll"to"ha,v;er!llllderstandlngs l ,witb,the NLF'and the North,Vietnamese tilLithe"na1JUliel scope- and ;:film<!ti'oh lof these;-progra:ms.:;Ilf is our; hope that :programs'ieaUl be'devel<lped .'in -aU /tOnes'.of South,:VietntlJn,,'and preferably, in aU states involved inlthe;Ind6c-nilna!confiicti,l) ",' " , i':"

Summary of New PfioHti~8,!m! IJliilda',;;/i Rejug'i/d Rehliblutdtion (1) Serious medical problems exist in refugee cawp,s. 'particuhi:rly' tliose

affecting childl'en .. -1.'hese·,wlll':c'ontinue if'and when people return to their"vil­lages 01' resettle -1-n,-new sites.:lt is .. felt(that a: prog:ti'anl itlvolvlng the delivery Qf medical and health, sel'vlces wlthin,;a l'rtral reconstructlon/rehab1l1hi.tfdn' p~o.­gram for retur;n/resettlement ,Will' -non only meet .these" -needs, but ."provide opportunities for the estabUshment and.- improvement 'of health services at' the community level in rural areas.

(2) 'l'he priority, need!!!';, CARE's programming ea]pal,IlI.t1e,s fied as those related.

",","'hA"i,,' ,shelter sb:.:.montihs' foOd' ,subsist .. · enee, but that merely places them back on the,land 'antl,'d613s: not provide,"for equally~needed economic 'teha'bilitlition;' -Bural 'reconstruction, tasks such as ;repair"of'roads ,and:'bridges",creal'ing':of:~ubble,' iliepair'-aild; 'constructioll ,·or: 'com­munity facilities, etc., should be integrated w:lthl'economi-c"assistaIiC'e for :fnrin~ ers','and small, 'fishermen: t1)"fac1l1tate;:the !physical re'covary, :of ,rural 'communi­:ties ,and "S'PUFi the ,'seonomie, rehablli'tJatien"of 'i11dlvidl1ttl ;rural: d·wellers;'l-i'h~ strategy: ,Qf'· tra'CO¥erY' a!lld"Jrehablhl.tntion oshould,' b'e' llalSorJiu'tlensi've -anll' 'incertie~ generating .combined ·wltlb"ma-mmum ,'possible; self·help. : ~. 'I: .. '. CARE's 'Dl'l'ectOl'.·ot! C1>IUloon's , lIIedleal,· .s.",lees· ,In Vle.vna.tJJ' il~. pfesen'tly worldng .in 'clOlt!& ,(l()llaborat1on~!w1rth( .the{II:OoaH lliedical i stfiff"of,'th@iThO"',S'dnJ'reht. gee, camp ';at" ',~ontutn, in',1 orMlwto:: com-pleiJa" llin dnJdepth~' surv:ey.' b:f"oB)ebi:l:tied me'<uc~l needg.,~"eapeo1anl{,)o:6'JohndlJen,·: rHis prel1mlna'l'Y! !1nvestlga-tion t suggests the following priOrity areas of publ1b')h1;ial'th!lcot1(fel'n !-10~8:)' lMaliri.ritrltion; ;1(61)

J;UI.Uari'a ;'.' ,- ,( c f'; inadequater \ water! i ,supplly ';li1(:d'» f tnadequlite' Ij~namun\iiKtiUhj 1 "l'iro­gl!Rms; and,(e):.Jack'of healthlwuaatibti;"'-')',r 'b]! ;',1· i:'<' f ',>" f~" ',lii C:.' ,,'

He has identified as the single greatest problem in developing a, delilv'ery l~ystem!,tQ' spea!}vto.~thesei~pri-elitYI pJl.mte~;hea:ltJh ·,needs: as\~be1n~g" a; l~/jkl df'-i.nte­gration among_ th~ 'UtlJrilrousdgroups p,roY;idin'g}'asststancei ~md Q"Hick' of cOrtifnurif· eatlon,betw.een tho$"" grdUpsl RrnMhe1gr'ouj}$.'for wMdh' ~heydtre·deI!V'e1'lngiJerv'­leesl' IJe;'sUggest$ .h ... t)le:.lMlJutiondtoi,thls''PMblem 's 'uo' 'develop' all,'lnMgdtlid medical. team r-approa.eJ11\whlal1.1 WGllildl Jbe~:ttlOP-Uedl a:e tIlie ;glrnSs, iro'otsi')The1 :imliot<;. , ,tan! element' In' thl$ I!trateI!Y ,""o"llI! bei thn.i tMi teams '>would: Iltlthitg "the"dellV' ery ,~y<stem within' tM ·eltlstlnii'; elJPip' InfrastDMbUre!' ibutllwould molfe 't'flO'idt!llV­ery system and teams with the refugee~:chiIdr'.e-rt'J-an'd'-':J!itmll1eti 'a~{Jtheyl. tretlrtrnM .to: thei-r' villageSltO;t' .weJ.1e-, resettled! ru~h~'W .RlItmsJ)tJo(,pr.6vidtNI!obill:dge untU"goy· ,ernment f:u.ra} hea:litlh",sel1'Yi<le8(couldlbQlr.esttlJ:ed,-'! "-)-\1'"",, :r(;',~ :,' .J.c; ! ;~:,~ t·,,, ,. 1 ',: 1

"('" In !:fJ1i!.'iil i- :1 :;: ii'", \,'11 '.:, ' ',:, ",;,' j'i,' ',",;,':-', ,r:111'~:t;",'I~,li

.. I';~ .'J (~,!: ; ~). ; i '! ,

,"C,:,',"I; 11':;r ~P'\iT~B..Jt:~~N',CS,P.iA:~, J:NO.",-'.,I ' , ',.,' . . ,N .. ,"'",<.,'. ror,.\,k.".N..r.',J1f(t.1!.\~{J." 1'~?~'_-1, Hon. EDWARD M. KENNEDY, '\~(', (',:,c,f\'\' \';1,',

O1ulIl;rm.an1;SU7Jcotwn'l)/;tt.eebri,jRefuge68j!t '.I '! c, {I; ),"J '''I~' ,,', :U.S:!'Sanate,·," ,(.,' "j;' ,,1 '!-;:""':i/!" /T f .WtW1i4ngton,D·.O.l'-1': :,: 't"I)~) ,-,p,d ~)'I{ ,''-'' l;,,:\',,~-:·, ~,,,:,,.'t "'f.; ',:; '1:[ '_.'~i,:

. : Mot DEAR' SliiN,,<on' KEliIl<Eoy·,' In' tel>W,'to:y"ur!!",vlt.Uo~' bi r.t~r~~.W!l!' 1)I!~t 7, 1978, wo ar~'hilpp'y ,t(j'ita1t~,tlil.op'pottiun!ty '!osiultWWlth your Ser!at~ 'Str'h-

~oPii\U~i~e'on,~,fd~Jelr'0!r','coiiC~t~' 'f(Jl",'bh!l~r~!r 'In'. J~dochin .. ; As'you lmow; OUl"~~o~raml!as ~~CI\S.d'O~ S,d\\\I)"vt~tnam 'Whefe ' w.r MVe"beell 'Work!ng's!nce ~~Mi 06~'Mr!e,!~:pro!1~,DI lend.lt.~1,.1l;ilj~ltd'5;800 ~h!l4r,en and their fam!!!es ~J~ti':,tnimber' .cl~.~, to, 8MOO Vi~trtnfu.8~;,'j;ja.ed'ojj"ol1r exp~>!enee.nd the recent 'obsehraholls-"of' our) lDftector' 'of Fleld Servl~es Who vil:nted l :Vletna'lll" in Apt111;)1978/we Wonld1lhte',to'oifer till.:e'lfdllowhl'g,'colliments "and suggeStlollEf: "

J,. Give,due ,reco,gnition to ,the strength of, the Vietnamese ,familY-'struCture ~ild,gJ.Y.,p~l\)rltY"to, Programs \te.lgn~d"li6' 'IIrlng'farhilles together: He!p" them to ,stay togeth~r h!\d 'a's'lst therh 'in' 'sheha' way' as 'tostrengthell' the family s~rrtctlfte;', ~vcll' :~:s.:P~(}·¢l·a*fs} o¢~~ed '~r ,d,l1r J~wn ~oster 'Parerft~ "Pl8:n.~ ~", .I' - 'I '

, 2. mYe il,~rjdtlty·t6'ls0cllthvork"edtlcat!~n 'aM particularly social wor\,. edu­cad6n', .'{oi< yotitli ilNliigUir( I, the~ ;i>roviri~s: We' have been 'stymied--mJany times because' -'Of _bur 'iht~1Iil1tY' 'to recnHt, triiii1E!d' 'staff, for' 'work' 'in tU~ proV;lnces'. Ui'ileU.'\IM~an'b~ a~cdttii>l(shed;';~n 'setv!ce. wll!' be In Saigon, ,and' nothing will' be done to' 'Ke-epl village' 'pM'pte 11il tl):e' t villages. OUl"'chief _ sOCial "wbrl{er 'is pegging ,for, funds to train yl\!,al!'e y6\1th 'who"WoUld"sM~inthe' villages If they hi/d sonjl!thlng to"aol'.~'hl!hiibltual rush'td the urban:certters wm only lea,Oo ~riJdtriitlojfitbd"dj.ajiiiolnti1>ebt 'and lIn"ilJ1thfdest~uctioil of' the' fiiinily unit:

3.; Foster'-Pa~ents PlaTt lias always'tried',to maintain 'a family focus; We ha:ite 'D.'Ot' wave~ed and' -ther.e' is no' reasbh''!(V db'- so now. Now is the time -for' e:x:p,ari~iDn, with: n'_ ray,:/jf' 4ope; that 'mafbe 'We "call continue withO'ut all Df the disruption' Df the', Pti'~t" years. 'That,' beh~glfth~ 'Case, We will need- to' give thDUght to (1) 'daY"care centers fO'r·'the'l,)re..sclioDlers of worldng mO'thers; (2)' e,:x;panSiDJ1: .l\nd, intensificatiDn Df fa,I,llily life 'orientation lectures with special help'ttl the"Dne.:pareiIt !fa'(ni-ly (feh1li.le;, mostly)';, {8) expansion of our- ritedieal p,:fiJ.granl with ',e~~l,asls' o~, 'nut~#,fon',an~,'care of .infants and (-4) rural prD~ g~~ins,_ w~th 'programs, to "~ss~st: 'yDuth In' staying "down O'n the faI'm" rather than erowdhlg Into the overct6wdeq' citieS. . . . .

4'. 'There, R,re numerous, dD'mestic' ~ul'd foreign voluntary 'agencies wDrking in y~etn~m "Whlc,h qO~$ npt' 'ne~d: ,!a,~~l~b~~l ,~geh~les: -What: is ':needed Is a. coo'rdl­nat~Qu Df the,,:~~,rYi,~e,~: 'o'J~eftdY.'.,o~e,ra~v~. Thus" we do: whD~eheartedlY support the,' 'i,d~a :~x~~'e~~~~' by' ,the' (aSk) fQrce -t;h~t a ':con~ortip.m'~' 0,£ experie~ced p'ro~ fe,~lona\s pe 'e.t,~»l\sll:e~, 'b,iit, "'~ 's!,pporttM IdM onlY It, (a) thlseonSor\imll Is an ,In!¢~al par~ 6't;}he¥l"llitr)c ,01,Rbcl.lWelfare aM 6niy'lf (b) this co~­~ort1:pm",dea,l, ",~t~ 'Chll:~, 'Y~if1fL~ ",se~y~~s I ,i~, t~e ,b~?adest _s~ii~,e. We': dO' 'not 'supl.

R~~t d~~~":p~tJ~~~~MiooWal~1fls(h'~~;'Jtlt1:'~::~~~tmi~:.~~~el~l,:~lfr~t; grqtii>s'~)lil~.fIleJ'~st;lnajorlft' d~'cl,i!lII,~:gd'Wltboilt' I!'deqh.t~ Ser~lce.:' "c, ' 'We ~hdutd ilkeltd'emphaslze 'o'tli.' e1bl1e'wotklhlt \'~lationshlpw!t1Jl tho'Mln!sL try' bi"sbdiatwe fare. If th't'dfil'C~ lleWup 'priorlt1~s"dljf~rerit'Qrl",cO'riftjct wlt~, ,qgr"Nog~~m pr'liecl;I~,,!~ ~.,.Q"tlf"ed I~ ~iJlH~,8 ~b~.e;'th~~ we :wlll'eha!il:e oUr prHaities to olter tllbse.eryj~e" wI! teer'coinp~fun~'td hanille ,alld In keep­ing with the wishes of the MlnlstrY"O("Soellll"Whl,fl1t,,:' 'Weetie<)urag~'ll 'prl' va~~"ag,ene!es t9t~lj;e ,t1>ls,Goolle~atire stance. We strongly feel thittflexlbllIty is' one' ot the 'grellfest "R'Ssets"'of,jt'lie private vDluntary agencies even to' the point Df Pt111~O'ut when the MinistrJ.-OLS"cial Welfare gains cDmpetency and Vietnam R%encies are, streng~ened to' adequately handle child welfare services.

S-Vieerel'Y'y(jms; :,') )'.: ,11 ,:,I,~,,:',!)-it.·n;'-n·~·:J .;,:'<',\.' ",,' ... \ ,",' -! 'f ':")/. GLORIA C. MATTHEWS

InternatMnCtl'· ,EmeoUiUV(i '])'ir.~if'tO\I"';' " '>' ",':, <t", '. '.t ,) ;)i'''''.'' ',,:!,',

'" \,

HOLT INTERNATIO'NAL OHILDRE).f"~ 1i'ultB~ \\.,' ,;n ;),nliil)'} Jl'-' ·-'.'!/~ ':,) ')';'j'".' '(J,,"~ ';(/) !>,)[nnd', ·,'.,;r';;'lilugene'Or.eUjjiMuv 17 ,1;9711. Hl:h'i."E»WA'lt:i:1~n'K1nNNtm:ti/' '.'1'1' \;"" y;,ll ';"!t ,,; •. ~,,{ ";:,'jl,', " «,. "il~ Ohaitrman, Suboommittee on Refugee8, 1,:') 'I; -r' 'ff.:S;'\'Sen-atfJ,' ·':IJ[ :-il.:>:'] '~l h11; ,Ii'l'l?,_ I:' 1,'1" "f ,,' ,'.,; _.(:i' " '";,1 Wd~1/Iiinriton;'D~'(!}.')": jl,)." ":-!,,; lild 1i'.'Ij·.i: "j 1;1,·' ." ",;;'; ,'.~t .j', ;-! ,'(,' ,Il~AR SEN,I,TOR: Tl)ank, yo,u for tJI.'JdVP'ortun{t~ to cbhihiebl'bit\:hlJd'welfate

needs fiy"S'il11th ·VlehlailL"It'!~"ju.t' since' lIi!.r~h' of tbili'year''that ·l'I9lt'ha. had active staff and fac1Uties in Saigon. HO'lt'S immediate ex:p~:t:tise p-nd' -one of its

,prime_(!onperns in, Vietnalll, will, O'f cour,ae, be fDr the adoptabl'e chlId~'-We wish to!riak,it),,; followIng pOilits. '«', I , .

1. The mixed-race child, particularly the black Child, dO'es need 'ad:Dptioh1 as the best sO'lutlO'n to' meet his needs. Arranging intake and guardianship prDce~ dures for these children 'to as'sure their prO'tection thrDughO'ut the adoptiDns

6Q

pJ]ocess· is v~ry aWkWRl1d., CurrentlY!: the el1iUJ,ren, ~re: ,*"dQP~ed -un~e.r Vletn,Q.lllese law to the adoption p.etitlone., then ill\l.tib~ ~e~dopted )!q\le~ U.S .• t.te law and do, not have protectlv:e ag~ncy gl,1a.r41ansbip in the inted~" ~ncQu:r~gen;umt of the effovts of the Ministry of SOGlal-,W~Mal'e tOWUl,'d ,writing, a:ud p~ssa~~ of a modern law on, adoptions and· foste~ ca~a. Rlld ,in e:lf~c,t1ng a lQ,Qr(l e~~et,1i· tions ~nterim Pl'Qcess under existing law·:will serve. the, interest of. the adopta-ble child greatly. '

2. We are,' now pDepared" with adequat'e fac1Utles and state. in Vietnam, and more than: adequate resources 11.1 the Uirtted States" with almost 200 agenci~s with whom we maintain a- correspondent. working relation, ,to place any adopt­able children 1n V-.-S .. homes who will d~~onstrably· benefit fiom this service. At the moment" w.e are finding it difficult to, find the,prph,anages WhQ are w1ll~ ing to let these ch~ldren go for adotltion, even the blf!.ck '~~lld. In the face o~ reports tbat there are hundreds of these cnildren who' need adoption: now, we are prepfl;red- to provide agency service, prpvld,ing those who know of the~e cWh dren will ,assist us. in getting custody of tl:\em.

3. -Agency seryices such as Ho~t a,nd otller voluntary agenc1~s, licens.ed 'and functioning w!tp '\ approveeJ agreements,: are suhstantially hl;lmpered by poor comQlunications. This is el;lp~ciaUY true of the golt services which involve' a prodigious amount ,of paperwork, and correspondence., APO privUeges have been limited to agencies with government contra-cts" ASl:!istance in making APO Diail privileges available for both mail ,and packagef3 of relief goods woUld enor­mt)usly improve the efficiency and reHabil~ty of ser:y~ces to the Vietnamese ~hil-dl'en and their adopting U.S. parents. . l '" _

4. Holt Is particularly concerned with tQ,e large ~nstitutional child popula­tions in Vietnam. Not only are we c9ncernecl .)Vl.~l1 ,~l1e_,often atrocious, quality of care available in the institutions" ,bl1t wi~h the lack of alternative considera­tion of family foster homes. Our experience.in Korea, ind-icates the huge ~3Uc­cess of foster family homes. Holt ~ow ,~mploys, in exc.~ss of 700 foster homes in, Korea ,for the care of children as an,' a,lteJ.1native to institutional care. The child,ren are healthier, Qetter-Ioved,' bett~r-adju,ste..;l, and',of~en Qecome adopta­ble into the· foster, home itself. This type of' eve.ntual hl(iigenous solution to otphaned children-'s needs must :be considered to, mret tbEi'; 'o~erwhelm'ing need,s of the' children' whlc.h will not or can. not be cand~qates -:rO,f internationl;ll adop­tion. Holt is undertp;king to implement tbe', imme:cliat,e services of foster homes, Buppo.tedand supervised by tralne\l. t,r.$, Rl\d indlg.n9us statf. Th.ere Is alr~aQY ev~dence that, this concept is vJ~l;Jle and" enthusiastically received I:IY the families of Vietnam who would tiM to Iiell' their own but do. not bave the resources Ql'I. conduits to effectuate their motivations. FQste,l' homes for the adopta-J)le- and uQnadoptable as, a conc~pt of preferable chUd care needs ener­getic promotion aud financial sup:port~· ,

If we can, in any way ,further help with the considetation~ of your subcom-mittee, we would !lPpreciate the opportunity. '

Sincerely, JOliN E. ADAMS, Eajecutive Direotor.

INTERNATIONAL RESCUE CoM!U--:ro:r~E" INC., New York, N.Y., 'June 1, 1973.

Senator EDWABD M. KENN:EDY, Oh,airman, Suboomnllittee on Refugees, u.s. Senate, Washington, D.O.

DEAR SENATOR KENNEDY:' Many thanks for your letter of May 7th inviting the IRe to submit, for the hearing Record, our' view-,S regarding Vietnam's child welfare needs.

We sent a Mission to Vietnam in April, and it's report has no.w become available,. It deals not only with children but also with re~ugee.s., However, these two-problem ,areas cannot he seJ),arated., ,

I hOJ)e QUI' report reaches you in tiD,le for in(!lu~iori iIi the Record. With many t;h~nJts,

Sincerely yours, CirARLES S'TERNBlmG, .ElwecUtive Director.

Enclosur~.

61

REPORT 'OF THE SPECIAL MISSION TO VIETNAM OF THl!;,INTERNATIONAL REsCUE OOM).{ITTEB:

(A Survey of the Problems of Vietnamese Refugees and Children)

INTRODUcTION

The International Rescue Oommittee started its refugee relief and resettle­ment work in Vietnam in 1954, when approximately a million North Vietnam­ese :fled to the South. In recent years, IRC bas 'maintained a broad range of operations for refugees and children including. day-care centers, a reception and convalescent center for children undergoing reconstructive surgery, a pro­gram for in-home day care, medical and public health projects, and training and community development programs. With the endin'g of hostilities' in Viet­nam, it seemed advisable that a group of IRe board and staff members visit Vietnam in order to conduct a fact-finding survey of needs and conditions, and then to submit recommendations as to whether IRC's existing operations should be continued, extended, reduced or terminated-beaTing in mind future trends and possible developments in both Vietnam and the United States.

The Mission was in Vietnam from April 2-April 14. It consisted of Co .. Chairmen Angier Biddle Duke and, Leonard Marks, Mrs. Angier Biddle Duke, Joseph Buttinger, Anthony Duke, Cecil Lyon, Isadore M. Scott and David Sher. Ambassador Kenneth Keating, a Co-Chairm'an of the delegation, unfortu­nately was prevented from accompanying the Mission. However, he was of inestimable assistance in back-stopp1h~ the study group and m'aintaining liai­son both here and in Vietnam.

The Mission visited refugee, camps in An Loi, Phu Cuong, Lon'g Khanh, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Kontum; day-care centers in Nha Trang and SaIgon; the reconstructive surgery hospital of the Children's Medical Relief International and several IRC facilities in Saigon; commuhity development and medical proj­ects. It was briefed bt Vietnamese officials, including the Minister of Social Welfare and the Minister of State' in Charge of Refugee Resettlement and Rehabilitation, officials of the American 'Embassy and the United States Agency for Internaional Development (AID),. and talked with official and pri­vate individuals of varying nationalities_ in many fields including social service, business, medicine, child care, commerce; ,diplomacy, churches; the press, etC. The resident IRC staff in Saigon had arranged an inclusive program for the Mission and handled all arrangements for the Mission's work In Vietnam.

Early in its stay the Mission was briefed by ,Dr. -Phan Quang Dan, Minister for Refugee Resettlement &nd Rehabilitation. Dr. ,Dan was, most ~nxious that the Mission visit with him Quang Tri, Thua Thien and Quang Nam, the north­ermost provinces, where he is I,lctively engaged _in resettling retug:ees in a pr,o­gram which he, personally, considers will :prove to be a key to whether Qr not there is to be peace in Vietnam in -the fllture. Dr. Dan is convinced 'that during the next few months every effort must be made to fOj;get the trials .,of the past and to a chanc~:, '

onAP~~il!i!~t~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ several Chanh and during the previo'", ugee camps, was a lives which had been former houses, which not been totally destroyed. little businesses: carpentry, Rlld_ barber shops,. meat obviously with a great deal of vitality. The clIUdren. school. Some 400 at them, altll()ugh ,they ~ave no.plac_e benches to do their jVQrk. Appa~en.tly a)lythingis.better

From Hal Nhl the group motored In jeei>$ to .the City of nothing more than a mass of rubble, which is off-bounds since contain many decomposing hv.Jll,9l) ,bodies ·and the threQ..t of .typhus is ever pres" ent. From a knoll 11;1 th,e citf", .. th~ MiSSiOn g;t'Oup \Qoked across the Th,ach ,Han river to the Viet Cong.enc,(J.))Ipment,.some two hundred yards aWaY. on the Quang Tri bank two. SouthVletnallle.e soldiers were bathing PeaCefully. (It wa, at this point that the released. A\ilerican lirlsoners had entered .South Viet-name from the North.)" . .

In Quang Tri the group vl,lted a destroyed 400-bed hospital. For thi, the Vietnamese authOrities are hoping to find a sponsor for the task of rebuilding.

96-M9-78-5

62

From Quang Tn City the group again drove soutb along Higbway 1 to Phu Ba i. '.fhe highway north of Hue was lined mile after mile with sbell cas ings, wrecked tanks And other litter from the fighting .. , However, Hue, itself, through which the route passed, was teeming with activity and showed few scars of the heavy fighting which had taken place there. South of Hue the countryside had a green, fertile appearance with farmers engaged in pastoral pursuits, a vivid contrast to the grim desolation of the area but a few kilometers to the north.

But then Vietnam is a country of contrasts. Saigon and other Inrge cities are teeming with street traffic, jammed witb Hondas and motor ca rs, and show little evidence of the war or the recent American presence, whereas places like Quang Tri and Kontum . (which the group visited the following day) are very much battered by the ravages of war. Beyond a radius of 4 kilometers from Kontum lies Viet Cong territory, and while the group was tbere rather heavy sbeUing was taking pLace about 17 kilometers to the south.

In Kontum the Mission visited the refn c Ngok Lon (Ma r· Lou where there are some 14,000, Montagnnr s, and where r. Bnan yan, an Irish doctor attached to IRC's medical program, operates a busy dispensary and looks after the medical problems of thousands of refugees.

The group also visited the hospital of Dr Pat Smith, an Amel'ica n who has devoted some fourteen years of her life to servlllg die needs of t he Montag· nards. Her overcrowded, simple hospital constituted vivid testimony, if any were required, to the monumental \\;orft: of this dedicated, selfless woman.

From Kontum the group ftew to Nha Trang and visited the IRQ DIl'" QuJ:@. C~another s triking contrast-with its 120 weJl·behaved youngsters, doing 'ffieir schoolwork, singing songs and performing dances in a clean, well-main~ ta ined and operated building under the supervision of competent teachers-as the Mission found to be the case in all IRC day care centers.

Continuing hostilities in Cambodia nnd Laos make it unlikely that IRC could consider expanding its activities tnto these areas in the foreseeable future. North Vietnam was not vi.sited because Mr. Duke's request for a visa was never acted upon by the North Vietnamese authorities.

The following sections of this; report will go into the three major areas of COnce-rn to the IRC fact·finding group: Refugee Camps and Resettlement, j;tub.1ic H-ealth aT!d Medicln~. ,and the Cbildren of Vietnam.

REFV.GEE CAMPS A N D RESE'l.'TLEMENT

The tragedy of Vietnam's refugees is a repetition of the tragedy of ·an uprooted people who have lost their homes, their livelihood 'and, in many cases, family memb~z;s. Cro,Wd~~ into ~me~ency camps, depriVed of all pr-iYacy, th~y· h:-:fve no · rbots. The ' angUtsh of ' Vietnam's . refugees is especially poign· ant as the vast IJ?ajority . 9f thelll ha:V41 lived. by the soil; now they have no land to cultivate, n'o communal ·ljond Witll their fellow villagers. They share one profound hope: to find new roots and begin again. If they lose this hope, they will lose their buman dignity. Vietnam's refugee population conSists 90% of farmers, 5% of fishermen and 5% of city dwellers:

Some 8 million refUgees in a country of 18 mUlion people have been created in Vietnam since the war began. Insofar as omcial" statistics convey an accu­rate picture of the actual situation, all ' but appro:::dmahhy one mUlton are con· ; sidered to have foun4 · new homes-som~ tn the communities from which they had been driven, others in new are~s bee,nuse their villages have either been destroyed . or occupied by the Viet Co:qg. , . , Of the one 'mllJion "active" refugees in ' Vietnahi ,today, 653,000 (115,000 fam·

mes) are living 1n 109 refugee camps. An addltfonal 200,000 are temporarily Sheltered outside of refugee camps; and 260/)00 are. officially identified as ' ~iD· place cease--fire victims," or refugees ·wh/?se homes have been destroyed since the cease--fire agreement was signed but have found shelter within their own communities. .

The top priority facing Vietnam •. and private groups providing supporting assistance, is the resettlement of the 653~00Q refug.ees living in camps. Close to. 255,000 of them are in th~ Dn Nang ~rea: ~)"f Q"u,ang Nam province, about 80-miles !3outl(' ,of the' North , Viem"amese ,lmrder; their villflges and homes ~ in Quang Tri province, some 70 miles to the · North, were re'du~ed to rubble inc

' l··j '( '~,. I. E- l, · , , (

63

some of the bitterest fighting of the war. M'ost of Quang Tr('is now oc~upied by Communist forces,

Among the most deprived groups of refugees are the Montagnards. At ·least 50,000 of these darker~skinned mountain tribesmen have been ,driven from their homes and now are crowded into camps in the hot, _flat lowlands. The mortal .. · ity in Montagnard c.amps runs several. times higher than in other camps; these people find it extremely difficult to adjust, physically and· -mentally, to an entirely new geographical environment, and thousands, especially 'the children, arrived severely malnouris_l:1ed and debilitated. Many Montagnards spent weeks and months in the jungles escaping from the Viet Cong, and their chances of ultimate survival were greatly diminished.

Binh Duong province is one of the several' areas .of high refugee concentra­tion inspected PY. the IRe Mission. Here live 31,(}()0 refugees (6,060 families, in five camps . .one of them is the Phu 'Van refugee center where 20,000 refu ... gees are crowded into 80. shelters. There are 14',000 children ,among them. 4,i;. ruany as eight peopUtslee'p 011' a six-foot square board. r.L~here is one water tap' for every 5,000 refugees and two 40-watt bulbs for every 250 inhabitants. :J3bth; of these' items ate considered "lu:x.uries'" in terms of overall refuge,e camp! standards. .

,~'he gO"-'Jr!ln,~~!

gation ~~~~~~~~~\~~~~~j.~~~ vlded 'f~r' refugees,' wtlo 'are being" moved' travels through' the Danang, Hue ducing,' projects thJjough vegeta'bie iii g,,:;,de.iiB, bandry.

;The question which, may well' be :ti13ked 'is whether the fighting, much reduce4' in, scope yet continuing, instances of mismanagement' and, yes; ) 'corrupt ,prit,e-· tieers make this, the right time, for' a subStantial inp11t of humanttarian aid. ,

The answer Is that only by providill'g aid and bacldng it up with know-how' can we infuse the d'egree of responsil>iUty Which alone 'cart lead to the solutio'n~ of the unending refugee plight of Vietnam, ' -, ,

The Mission, in' its mkriy eonversatf6:tls 'with crit1c'al 'Observ~r$" '\V,as deeplY: impressed with their un,anlmous judgement that 'no tailing of ,viefu4-bi's' admin­istration should he permitted to 'delay' of diminish the urgently-needed a;ssist.· ance to the refugees and other disadvanta'ged people. "

IN·CAMP REFUGEts IN SOUT~ V1ET,NAM, MA.RCH 1973

64

MONTAGNARD IN·CAMP REFUGEES IN SOUTH VIETNAM (INCLUDED IN TABLE ABOVE)

Region

TotaL._. _______ .. _________ ' _______________________________________ •• __

MEDIOINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Number of ' camps

16

Numb8r of r9fugee~

49,934

In the course of its' fact-finding survey on medical and· public health prob­Jems in Vietnam, members of the IRO Mission inspected the facilities operated by private and governmental agencies throughout the country, Some of the United States and Vietnamese officials who' were consulted include:

Dr. William D. Oldham, in charge of pubUc health and medicine for USAID (Agency" for International Development) j Dr. Edward P. Irons, deputy to Dr. Oldham; Dr. Isaiah .Jackson, chief 9f pubUc health anq .medical care j William E., Paupe, chief of plans j Gardner Munro, USAID admini#trator of children's programs; Norman Flrnstahl, responsible for official' U.S. activities for refugee r:el1ef and rehabilitation; Dr. Tran Nuguon Phieu, the "GVN, '( Government of Vietnam) Minister of Social Welfare, and his principal staff members; Dr. Phan Q1,1ang Dan, Minister of State for refugee, resettlement; Dr. Tran Minh. Tung, Minister of Health,. Administrators, social welfare workers, doctors, nurses and other medka] personnel were also consulted in Saigon and during visits in .~ight provinces.

The work of A;meric.an voluntary and governmeJltal agencies has been an essential factor in the, develop:Qlent of medical 'c~re and public health programs during the many years of war. The continu.ing pa-rticipation of private groups is ,:vital to the future of Vietnam, which has been held baclt from solving its problems by 30 years of fighting and destruction. If not for the war, advances by the Vietnamese would have been dramatic.

In the mid-J960's, the primary thrust of ,hoth' private and governmental agencies was 'in the area of medioal oare. At_ that.'fUme" (there 'were just over 1,000 Vietnamese physicians in· the country, nearly ,800.of theru\ln the armed' forces. Iri adliition, paramedical ,petsonnel ran~s: were seriously, depleted by the war. (there are now 2,100 Vietnamese, doctors, and 80% of medical care is pro­vided by paramedicals: nurses, health technicians" ph,armacists, laboratory and x-ray technicians, medical aides, etc.)

By mid-1969, Jln official program was initiated to consolidate many miUtary and ,civilian ,health facilities; at the same time, assisted· by. USAID and'volun": tary agencies~ health-manpo.wer' programs, were 'developed, resulting in signltl" ~ant increases in th~, numbers' of physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses and .other health technIcians avaUable·for assignment. to c.iv1lian health· facilities;

Because of the increasing Vietnamese capal,lility· to assume responsibility for the medical caJ,!e program, basic priorit~ emphasis of, ,U~S. agencies has' shifted to "preventive medicine," mainly sel~~help efforts to' establish, safe water S\lP~ plies,.,. sanitary waste removal and sewage disposal, and, a generaUzed prog.ram' of env-ironmeiltal 'sanitation and perso:t;l~l .hygiene. : .... signi;flcant step in ,this new direction is the establlshment of a new category of health worker for aSSignment to district-level bealth facilities, with the' responsibility for extend­ing a broad range of healtll services to rural areas. 'The training period. is three years, and the first class o'f this new category of medical personnel will be' available for as'$lgnment in mid-1978. "~

The offensive,"in the Spring of 19,72 in.terrupted_ this shifting·of priorities and re,sources. Provincial hospitals 'In Blnh Long and _Quang Trl were co~ple~,el.y, destroyed, In, addition to the losS· at a BinI!. Dlnh district hoSpital, 46 dWtrlcDj level matermty-infirmary dispensaries, and more than 150 ·y.1llage-level hea:l1;'ij facilities . .: Today; U.S;"health sectqr a~tivities involve a broad-based advIsory ,participa­tion in health _programs, as well as the_ carrying, out -of ,specific. project objec~' tives in areas of medical education, training and logistics, publi(! health, pre. ventlve medicine, rehablJltation and population/family planning. It Is repoDted that 59 family planning clinics,are now opera~ional.

65

The majo'i .. U~S. effort in pubUc health and preventive'medicine during 1972 and the first part of 1978 was devoted to supportive assistanc~, of the VN Mln~ iatry of Health in refugee camps. No significant outbreaks of (!oio~unicable dis­eases occurred during thi~ period. Medical training programs resulted in tb,e graduation, during 1l)72, of 199 new physicians from Saigon, University, an additional 26 from Hue University: The training of dentists, nurses and par­amedical personnel has also made impressive strides" with' broad American support. , ,. "

It is the conviction of the Mission that the private. American factor in the medicine and public health fields is of extreme importance to the Vietnamese people if the massive refugee problem Is to be solved.' PrlV,llte American assist.. ance should involve _ both short-term objectives--such as providing medical, sur­gical and health services to alleviate immediate refugee problems and Buffering -and a longer-term prograJI). designed primarily to make it possible for the Viet.namese to a'ssume full responsibility for a rehabilitation program for their country. '

'.rhe InternationQ:1 Rescue Committee must make the strongest possible effort to obtain funds so' as to expand to a significant degree its prese~t work in the medical/public healtb 'area, 'in which IRC has been involved since 1954~·i

The nat1,lre of aS$ista'nce sbould have RS an underlying purpose the encour­agement of s,elfM suftlc1en<:y., Yet while the Mission believe,s that ,aid should be essentially suppor.tive and certainly not self-perpetuating, it teels strongly that at this stage It is ,essential to increase the number ?f.. doctors, nurses, and p~r­amedical wor~ers who can provide basic medical services in aU areas of refu­gee concentrations wIHch now do _I;l,Qt have health ,.cllnic.s and which DQW have no trained medical personnel. And: since the number of Vietnamese physicians is quite inadequate, fore~gn, physicians and bealth workers are needed to serve in the refugee ca'mps imd to provide sp'ecialized m~dical techniques ,~n the, pro­vincial hospitals.

One cannot separate one:'s concern for refugees _froin the need,S of children': every second person in' a refugee calX!-p happens to _ be a child. By stressing the need of more anel b,etter,.medic.al service.s, ,one hopes to benefit the, children who deserve the highest priority., ".' , , , .

They' have been 'surrounded' by violence, killing, terror and disease fI,'oin it;~e time ot their birth. It Is estim{\ted that 30% of VietnaIQ's children have beeh dying before reachll).~, their sll<th birthday. No .oth.er datll- are needed to pro ... that the chlldrenneed.helpdesperate/y, and that they need It now.

,,' " " " ' , "

'tHE CHIlJ)REN'Oll' VIETNAM,

No group: of Vi'etnamese war .vlctims,"Iif in' greater need of help than 'the children, who. comprise 4S% of the country's IS million Inhabitants .. ThEise bo~. and girls under ,the age of lifteen have' been surrounded'1:Iy death and vlQletl~ during their ~ntire ·lifetime. Among the children, millions, literally, are $lck, wounded, oJ1)haned, undernourished, displac,ed ~n4 hOlll-eless. The number' ot Vietnamese" childl'en whose 'Ameri~aU' fathers have abandoned them' is about 15,.0.00, according to th~ be$t figureS' available 'to Vietnalne~e and' American authorities. Some estimates run' lis' hIgh as 25,OOO~' The most dePrived of t,hl$ ~roup are the some 1,800 Ghildrerl: of ~lack-American f~thel;s.; " ' " ' ",' , There 'is no reliable' count 'of Vietnamese war' or)jhans' (tll'ose who hav'e lost both or one parent). There a,re between 8.00,000 and' 700,.0.00 of them. Children malte up 50% 'of the>'populatiori in refugee cftInps.' VIs'tts bY the lRO Mission to many, refugee camps make this flgure entirely, {'.r~dlble. Th~ .. Pta.ke,shi;ft shel~erl3, .some crammed, with','a hundred! (it m'ore ref1Jg~esj,"are', swfi:t'intnt· with :ch,nd.t~nJ as are the surroundln"g .outdoor areas and dispensaries ,('te:,' where, a reftt~,~ camp Is fortunate enough to have a}jledl~",l:r~c1I1tiy)~·, •• ' .' .. ,.'

. . " , """, II' , '," ,. , :'': Curr~nt, IRC progr~tns In t;li~' ,me:diCal/p.\lb~C' ,b,ealtb. tl~d ,lncl}ld, the 'follOwlnK:

A 120-bed reception and 'conva..lescent 'c.ent,e'r lti.; tl.tg(\n;"sertlti~:'9'ietnain s onlt)chUdret!- ij hospital fOr reconstructive and plastic Burgert", lileh Jis 'operated')by Ohildren 8 M&l1lcal Relief lnternatlqnal; Ftnanctal Bupport ,for, .. a!!~hUdre"P'.', m. alt),utr,ltloD·"center' !'tUd., fO!.'.-a leprosy ,dispensary,.A 16·bed,dlsp,ensID'yat,th,e n.:Lol,refugee camp,pQ1;lUla~ed by 10,0:00 Montagnards. (The death rate among thee lld~,en in 'this camp 'Ms ,eGD reduced dramatically-as"ili result of thts fac1l1t1.) 'A-ll'IR(g:doctor based in 'Nha rang, sut>er~ vises ,a variety of medical prOgrR. ms for Mont,alnard,' refugees "tn ':the Hlgblands, ,1.9 .• l?letku, ,Kontu~ and Ban Me Thuot. ,Tw9' l-R.C plas-tic. band suupOpa one based in Danang, the 0 er...1n' 'Sal.,on., ," :-.11' . '

{)6

That the chfldren are generaUy lively, alert and curtous, is :not ,due to the ':al(i which has' reached them from outside. There has not been very much of that. But in 'Vietnam, 'one's existenc.e, even DUe's. personal identify, is sub· merged by the fmuily. Hence the resilience of the children. It is a common

'flight to observe' a girl of four walking hand-in-hand with two younger sib­lings j a boy of five carrying a younger .sister on his back while he keeps his eye on a still younger brother. One liardly ever' sees children quarreling or fighting. A sick child is r'arely "left" at a hospital or dispensary by a mother­who will spend the night on a chair ,beside her child, or more often on the 'tioor, rather than deprive the young one of her presence and personal care.

American observers can only marvel at the behavior of children (generally between the ages of two to six) at day~care centers., They are absorbed in their play' and educational activities. The simple but nourishing food has given them back much of their mental and physical health: Good hygienic training bas helped in this process of restoration. The warm relationship between supervisory personnel-all of them Vietnamese-is deIived from the mutual respect that exists between adults and children. This is ~ way of life built into the no harsh Or discipline. , , The is for pre~school ch~l~

to 'enroll children, afternoon and the ex"rel.se, meals, a

consists of a one laborer. An

of enabling Viet:' IalWlles, Tl).is is extremely

:tI~~;}'~~~ the IRe Mfssl~n Who,,~once;ijtr~t~d 1l1~ '~on children. Mr. Duke is, a :founder, ,~nd Presi<le;nt" of Harbor, an organizat~on for dJsadyaptaged and tro.llpled <fu.lldren 'in" the, )"ork :aren. Some'if hil;! _observations, foU-ow; , ':' Wb~n rQU :go Vietna1)1,; you, aI;e qui~kl~ impresl3ed '~ith chlld~pr'epo:r;lder. anee. '1- discovered this while travelling throughou~_ that w'ar,.~el~agu~re~t c,oun~ ,~J,'y ~arlier .~~is ,month'JlD~,/or good 1,',e~~Q~,:; 4~yo' of tl)~ popUlation ,~~' ul1!l~r 15 ,_enrs of age.,. , ,,',' " ' ,_ i' ,

Re,fugee st~tis:tics; ~nrM1:i,ctim fi;ures, in~camp num~ers,_ outMofMcatpp numbers, resettlement c1at~) W~.:hqSP.1t,q)i~~·~, the woun(led" the mat~ed. . I" r\;:1~tatistics reach out to yoli,lrroHr!JWllatever palges yoU 'may be studying. But when you visit refugee camps, the mp:qJ)eJ,"I!3"PQ~e, .to Ufe, .I,md :vour memory is indelibly affected by the smiles and "laughrer"and 'sometimes tears of the children you .~ee and, meet,. l.n the camps, th~' cl1n~flf~F1,1.0sP~~I:lJs,' conv;alesGent, centers, day­.". !,".,e .~aCill.H.~,,~\',i\;I,l.?me'4a~'CI1" c. e/lC.ton,.y.Q/l' m. et, t!)ou. S,*M· Of.'wvefuJ chU, Ui'''l'. Th.1r spir,!, i/l' generalis,·remarka.bl;Y good"thOUgh it·,vari •• ,wlth area ;~:frl~rd~~S:n.d,\.', g~eat'Y aff~ct.d. by .,~e~:n\l Ofwre.va!1~bl~.\o,tlt:m . a~~

IRC's approacl\ and metl,lodology, as obse'[:-v,ed by .m~, are, ou~s.tanqil).g! poth .fr.om a hUlpanistic and' techn~log1cal vlew,po,W,t. E.aG,h facility I ,sftw."iJt~~ (3l)eCi3i1 Illrer1~-D;lalDI:v" ~t w~mldl seem, because"of tl}.e, qll{tUty and ,dedlcat1pt)",of'1per,s~n:­nel the sensible .. in,'1tt'3,ining programs, c.ollducted', to ,R'ssist, Viet~,aml;1se ,.ne~~

becomi~g; the, eventual operator~' ,aJl,d in a, sense_ proprietors .pf each , _ ;' .; l ': : ' . : ~" . ,: "',

me, oomme~t 011 ~ome, ~f, the children's facilities.J ,vis~ted w,hUe in Viet-

67

Smith's lOO-bed (with ·600-700 patients) hospital. :'Although" going into and through- that overly, :overly crowded hospital was a cultural shock, I soon learned that lots of human suffering was being alleviated. This- hospital, liter­ally with treats war ,wounds, TB, plague; and just About ,

surgery, ,Rre around 100

surgery; ,The atmosphere ,smiling" hopeful

s,epons,' peforroities.

LUTHERAN COUNOIL IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, New York, N.Y., May 18, 1973.

Hon. SENATOR lDnwARil M. KENNEDY, ahairman, Subcommittee on Refugees, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.O,

DEAR SENATOB KENNEDY: We "deeply appreciated your letter of May 7 invit­ing us to express our 'views and our concern relating to the needs of children affected by the war in Indochina. In the last few years, during the course of the Vietnamese W~r, we have rec_eived a steady stream of letters' from Lutheran pastors and members of congregations and welfare agencies expressing interest in these children and Rfilklng that we asSist if at all possible. During this period we have found that your committee and its staff have been most helpful in eval­uating tMs problem. Unquestionably' our people wt-sh to assist, but we lack the comprehensive picture which would enable us to define the kind of assistance we should consider giving. Hopefully your committee will aid us and others in de­flning the help that is needed. , Lutheran 'Immigration and Refugee Services is a department· of the Lutheran 'Council in the U.S.A. This is a joint -activity of three Lutheran Church' bodies: The American Lutheran Church, the Lutheran 'Ohurch in America, and the Luth­eran Churcli-Missouri Synod. Ill' these churches there are approximately nine mil­lion Americana. They now have a long tradition 'and history in participating in rehabilitation; relief, and resettlement programs in the aftermath of war. They cooperate In, this work not only Ithl'Ough our department, but also through Lu:­theron World Relief (LWR). and tllroUgh the Department of World Service of the Lutheran World Federation .<DWS/LWF), which directs the jointly adminis- ' tered programs 'ot its 86 member churches m 45 countries, comprising about 54 m!ll!onpeople. L"t\lern World Rel!ef is currently plann!ngto broaden the relief programs Which it has been 'actively admlnistrating in Indochina since 'January 1, 1006. Cb,lldren' benefit from the eX,isttng, LWR program and hopefully more of their ne'eds will' be met once the expanded' program with various new projects is, underway AI'so, PWS/LWF, 'is stuqylrig a possible role for coordinat­in'g world-wid.e Lutheran assistance which mtgbt be directed to. this area of 'the w.orld; '.. .

Lutheran llIlInigratidn' and Refugee Service has already iirdicated to. LWR, DWS/LWF. and the Department of State and o,thers that our Lutheran Welfare agencies tn America, through us, are willing to accept for adoption at least 1,000 chlldren from Indochina-if such an. adoption progra;rn. i8 shown.. to be a mean­!mgtu! oontributlon to the 8oWtWn.<if the total problem Of the :reUe, lMUl reha· 1JiUtation of chizaren. At tlie. present tim$, on' th~ basis o.f the latest statistics available t6 us; there Hre in, the' Un~ted ,states sbme 34 ;Luiheran agencies with adoptive services in 23 states. Between 4,000 and 5,000' children 'each year (in­cluding approximately 500 from countries sllch as Korea, and the Philippines) are presently being placed by these agencfes. This number is exclusive of the children cared for through ·other p~og~:alUs ;w-hicl! include findiIl,g foster or group homes and· providi~g vario.us kinds of, agency-institutional care. We expect other Lutheran areas of the world will also accept children for ado.Ption, if this becomes a clear need. ' " As your com.mittee ca.J.l appreciate, any single' agency such, as ourselves or one o.f our related ageJ;lcies c~J;1not obtain the k,ind.of, comprehensive picture of the Indochinese situatio.n which. woUld, tmable us to. determine if the, resettlem.ent of 1,000 child,ren .. would be a meaningful contribution., In our view, the ,high~t llriority now is that all the gov'ernments 'involved, including Qur own, together with appropl,'iate. Intergov,ernmental agenpies,.!;I~t, in motion the machinery neces­.sary to, project the total needs which must be met. We want to. ,assure you that ~f such a "to.tal needs" projection, i~, f.o.~mulated and Ulat it shows there are a substantial nuinber of orphans,.lla.rt\cularJy those' having a,n American service­~an a,s, Qne of,their natural, p~:reilts regar4less of race, We are prepared to. move rapidly to effect their resettlem'ent through, qualified ,Lutheran ,adoption agencies. , ' The ,only!;crit.e;t:ia whi~h.,.our adoption. agen~les. have to 'date set for accepting ~hild.\.en.·.il).. ~q. ~h ... " xes .•. ttlem.e'!t PJ~~.:ra. lJ! ave. t.ha. t .. th. e.chlldrel' ~elected be both. !n need of,pa.~~il\. Rltd ,avallab!e for.le~.' .. a.dopt!on. T)le !dep\l~cat!on and salec-,t!on of ~UCh. Chll .. ~te\l.j1j.ust.jl .•. In .• c~opar.atlo1\ Wlth .. bot.h.·gOv ... ernme. nt, and DO. D.' go~¢rnJllell't.~J If.$ ~~,,:IVh~Q:I~! IX sting ,leI!lSll1t!OiJ. ,il!.,.jh¢ .JJI>!ted States !s BUtllc!e"t or sJd!.I~~~slatI6!:i 1. t~(r fred. to m".t the,~afeg~a:';(j~forth.admlt; tance of children fro~ this area ·will assumedly be·':turtlie'r claritLed by your

69

committee. Hopefully your committee will be able to make a firm judgment on this matter.

We further believe that the Intergovernmental Committee for European MI­gration's facilities and experience ought to be used and adapted in the actual selection and movement of these children to. ensure the kinds of standards, safeguards and cooperation essential to the well-being and the future of the children to be resettled. We would underscore that the progl'am developed by the Office of Refugee and Migration Affairs of the Department of State, in cooperation with other governments and the Intergovernmental CommIttee for EUt'opean Migration, for the selection, movement, and. assignment to non-govern­mental agencie,s of Ugandan expellees was most effective. We see in this parM ticular format the kind of cooperation between governments and non-governM mental bodies which woUld be desirable in a prQgram for children from Indo~ china. " .

We encourage our government, other governments and the intergovernmental bodies to make the k~nds of analyses which will enable voluntary agencies like ourselves to determbie whether or not a pote,ntial l'e~ettIement role will conM stitute a contributive and desirable, though partial, solution to he much larger problem., '

On June 1, 1973 our committee will consider this matter further. The above inform,ation essentiallY,coyers what will be presented fol' their review.

Sincerely yours,

Senator' EDWARD' M. KENNEDY, Ohairmatfl., SuboommiUee on Refugee8, V.S. Senate; ,t ,,"

DON AIJD E. ANDERSON.

SAVE THE CHILDREN'FEDEBATION, Norwalk, 0o"..., Mav 21, 1973.

Wa_8hington, D.O. , DEAR SENA.ToB KENNEDY:: I welcowe your invitation 'to express our views ,on

chlld welfa're needs in Indochina for 'publication in the record of hearings on this matter. . '

My; stat~ment is attached bere. Our copcern is with the family-based and cOmmul1ity~based needs of Children-a focus I note from press reports was ,not elaborated upon with specifiC recommendations by the study mission.

I welcome an opportunity for either myself or Joan Braden, our Washington representative,: to·meet with, you at a future date to elaborate upon our views and suggestions ...

The enclosed SAVE pamphlet may interest you. It, 'describes, a new approach SCF jCDF has taken in reorienting our programs to the changing times.

Sincerely, DAVID L. GUYER, E)aJ6outvve Dwector.

Enclosures.

STATEM:ENT BY MR., DAVID L. GUYER, ,EXEOUTIVIl1, DmltOTOB, SAVE THE 9:a:ILDREN FEDERAT~ONI-COMMUNIT;Y DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

Save, the Chn~ren ,Fe.deratlo:p .and lts allie_d organizati~n Community Devei~ o~ment FouhdatiiQn 'began, working in, Vietnam in 1966 with refugees-in C,amps, l11,~e$~ttl~~ents'and;in, baql~,ets after their .return to.1;1ieir homes. This work ~exp~ud~~" to he1t)ing al~~ non~,refugee famn~e$ and in urban and rural

'"A'.~"'n.n'~ seIt~helP programs of our two ',:n;~t~d:a~:r~e 'based upon concern for the. welfare 1 Is a ,potent

.concern. It is a

• 1 ~

70

There is a desperate need for development of a comprehensive communlty~ based program in Indochina that attacks problems at their roots, that realisti­cally assesses goals and assigns resources-a program that will stimulate t4e fullest result from human potential.

In our view, too much planning and direction has come from above. The many people left out of the qecision process become alienated and apathetic. The SAVE program channels funds to representative and community commit­tees and provides training in community planning and in administrative guid­ance to insure a wide range of benefits to children and their communities where it is expected the roots of new leadership will grow. It Is an integrated approach to development, that takes into account the total needs of people with specHtl emphasis on health, education and productivity.

Typical of the projects al'e: repairing, enlarging and rebuilding schools, new house' construction and repairs, irrigation systems, complUnity water supplies, land reclamation, para-medical training for selected villagers to assist programs in school clinics and local clinics, playgrounds for small children and adoles­cents, school lunches, equipment and supplies, etc ..

Our agencies developed our' new multi-purpose high impact program not be~ cause we were dissatisfied with results of' our past experiences but because we believe the changing times require a reorientation of program priorities.

The time is overdue for the U.S. Government to reorient its priorities in hu .. manitarian assistance. Ohildren have suffered most throughout th& decades of war in Indochina-physical, mental and psychological trauma, breakdown of family ties and traditions, destruction ''Of -their homes, towns and communities. A part of th~ emphasIs ofbumanitarian aid should be upon programs that will reconstruct the stabilizing influences of family and community life through op­portunities for minimum standard of health, nutritioll, education and voca­tional opportunity for children. .

The SOF/ODF community impact program gives a new sense of direction and sense of purpose to people; to encourage them to have ideas, to plan, to replace despair with hope, and to overcome apathy with determination. Our figeilcies R're riot- alone in instituting creative, innovative progrrtms to' meet the heeds of children -in this war-torn area. Now is the time, we feel,' for the U.S. Government to join forces with these non-profit, voluntary organiz'ations to strengthen the collective efforts of needy peoples in this key atea of our ,con~ cern.' ' , ,

PIon. EDWARD'M~ KENNEDY,. Ohairmanl ' '

Subcommittee on Refugees, U.S. -S(Ji'i'/"ate, WaBhlm.gton, D.O.

-TRA VELEBS AID, INTERNATIONA:L SocrAL SERVIOE OF' AMERICA,

New York. N.Y. MayM.. 1978.

My D~~ SENATOR"KEHNE!,Y: We appr~ciate ,tp.is opportq.nity ~,o ,submit our suggest1ons"'regardin,g child' welfare -ne'eds_ in IndOchina:: Since W~ are familiar primarily with the sltuatl'on in Vietnam, We will a'ddress our- c'onimehts to the problems of children .~n.that parti9;qlar country.:, ',',

For. several y:e~rs, Ple're ,has been a unit. of ,International $o,c~,al S,erv,ce in Vietnam, lUJ.d,:W~ .Iwy~ developed .our :views thro~gh our invplveIll~:nt with thefr program. It, seems very clear to, ,our agenc;y, that the, llc,eds of ,all, Gllildren in Vietnam are enormous, 'and that we need to be concerned not only with Ameri~ can~fathered childrfll! but with ,all chlldre:n whose Uvea J,lave, ·beel) affe~ted in oI)e way or another:qy.the.wnr, , ' ';'" , _ ,

I:Iaving ,And an l~J?Portuplty ,to review' tJ,le ,statement' of Dr. James_ Dumpson and Mr.' Wells Klelil. preselltcd. to ,the Su1icoh!mlttee on It!\~ug~.s on May. 11. 1973. we concur~oIl\pr.t~ly 'wtt)) tb!i::~eoomni.ndatlons.mad. by pro Dumpson IwdMr.. Klein. ~o.* :~IWclfl¢ . ~hlld .welflire .. Pfograll\s. We 1l1s,C). ; agree with thel. recommenda.llol1. <hilt. l<Jll!',.V.~, GOv,plIll~n~. lI).UstI'SSUIll~ .r.eiIjJ,onslblllty f.oren~ sur .. ln~ tho at. th.' e~\\ .• L'.Il\~., lil¥ffl.. ",!~.;'ff;.~e. fiat ... rl~. ~ out,. thr9Ug.h 'I\d.eq uate,.fundlng and .av, proprlat. ngteellle<l. '. ;w1m;~lle,:GovernmeIit or ,Soutll.Vletnam. " . :WeshouldI\1WIQ'.~Q!lilli~hf sp~clllcaUy, on;)l\t~rc?untry. ~dopt[ons. We agree

that there fll " lleed',for'programs that wlll'fa'cilItaoo'plannlng for those cbl!. dren for whom adoptiol], ls the best alternati.ve. However, adoption planning', under the beat of circumstances, is time consuming. It Is a lifetime plan for a '

7J

child, and needs to' tie .ca,tried out carefully and in' a highly individualized manner. An adoption' program -will' not necessarily provIde immediate rescue for the thousands 'of children whose lives are threatened by appalling orphan­age condItions and 'a very serious absence of adequate medical and nutritional 'care. IJ.'hus, the recommendations in the Dumpson-Klein report for improved in­stitutional care within Vietnam would seem to call for special priority, even though that service is an integral part of the more comprehensive program- en­visioned.

We shall watch developments with must interest, and shall welcome any fur­ther contacts from the'Subcommittee.

Sincerely yours,

Sen,ator EDWARD M, KENNEDY, Ohairman, Su7Joomm'ittee on Refugees, U,S, Senate,' < ,

Washington, D.O.

WILLIAM M. TAYLOR, Ewecutive Direotor.

WELCOME HOUSE, DoyZe8town, Pa., May 10, 1973.

DEAR SENATon KENNE~Y: Child Welf9Jl'e needs in Indochina are indeed ur~ gent and basic. 1- have seen ,and"felt these ,needs in Vietnam. One may observe these needs' at every ,level llffecting child).'en with families and children without families. The needs which' seem to me to be most urgent are the needs of the orphaned, apandone<l., 1;lpmeless children. The physical, and emotional needs of the lonely, sick, injuJ.fed children without famiUes are so very human, basic and urgent.

I :would not presume to outltne a full ,program for the meeting of all the need,s of aU the children of'Indochina. I do, how:ever, feel compelled to speak rut regarding ,a program that could __ offer hope to some of the homeless chU· dren .. I refer to' those children whO' do not have' -families and who would bene­fit from adoption ,placement in adoption',homes. 'This pa·rt of a Ohild Welfare pllogranr'most ,naturallw occurs, to me since I am a !social worleer and Welw come House has been -involved in. the placement of 'hundreds of Oriental chU· dren in adopt1:on bome.s over -the, last .twenty two yearS. '

Welcome ,House has for 'some years beeD' concerned about the children in Vletna~. We -luwe ,o:v:ell:.these years, tried ,to locate, an· indigenous or American ba,sed ,agenGY 1n ,Vietna'J,1l 'with, which to work in- the placement of homeless children from Vietnam for.-adoption. The Ministry' of Social 'WelfaTe under its various ministers throughout these years has steadfastlly seemed ,1!o'view adopw tion pJace;ment' of the homeless children of Vietnam in American adoption homes as a process which exploited the children and the country of Vietnam. ThIs procedure is, in reality, a means of saving children's lives.

lt is a procedure, which, is mutually hep.eflcial and 'rewarding to the children and to '/the families and jd the, countries of both. I hope that the Minister of SoCial Welfare in Vietritlm' c'Ah' 'be helped to understand ad9V;Wm ,and, to ,benefit by the experience gained by. the various 1nWFAA,tiOP.Q.l a'doptJoJ:l, agencies such as Welcome House, Internll,tional Social SerV1~e; and' Holt Adilptlon Program.

I recognize and accept as, val~d that Vietnam wishes to have established only a limited numher of approved, supervised, licensed ~doption agencies. The Mlnw later 'ali this point seems 'to:~be"l11dleating that bel wishes, t() limit the number ,of agencies to the two':Whltlh :hllve 'n'ow -been'Ueense'd<tahd"lire ii!volved 1'n ',placew" rtrents-' in<Vietnam. 'rt is_ 'tlbVious to' thoS'e) pebPlft' wllO' 'hiaVft beep fo VietfHlm and seerr thenuinher of ',"h/lllien Inorpi\i>rtages' andwh,6' Mallzethe, ,tny~lad of paper' work 'whfCh mUfjt"be' 'done' to 'enable' those chthrren 'to" 'reacl!, ~doptive homes that t1Yo such adoption ag-encie_s are not sufficient.,. " " ' I, 'Reeeption, 'eehtel'k'ar(!',m~~~'fed 'wher~ ,child!e'r;l '-C~:h' iQe st\ldied,' retered, ca~ed for nntl' :processed' t6' eWect'~tllell' 'adoptiO'n' plncemerlt'Jir tlie :'mIO!St 'f':fftctent,.way~ Th.e~~ ,r,e~e~t1o~ ~~n,te~s ~u~t pro~l~e 'R' .c:a~~, .~ici~ 'tJr'ep:s:r,es 't1J.~e 'chlltl,'-:for ,a¢[QP­tforr:.Suchif<!ception cent.rS'lInd programs .iiotild:'lrtpart 'bid'hnded federally. ,,(fAs'}l, prev-lbusly" 'Stated, !Jl 'hav~ been ,to Vletnam,' '1' ha'V~ ,IWRlked ,t\lrough or­phanages and institutions. I visited and tfl,lked Vfitl('re'ilr'P.sentatl'ves ot United St~t~SJ?rllV.tel\*en~i •• ; ;I','hll'Iled il!ionAi[D"a"d!,:UNWil:~~;tt~I\.'~rrdtm1C,ElF rl>present'a6lv"s, "Ireal!z,e"tll.1i mO/l\\merrtl\\ :~ms. ,n1: ·,wOney Irave been.. sent .to Vtetna.m to help the children. 1 believe only ,9. very small,part o~ (t).Qse' fll:Qds ever reached a chnd~ -I don~t know how to ensure that' any future' frthding -Can

72

be channeled through governmental procedures and sources and ensure that these funds will reach the, children. This is one reason why I place my great­est hOpe in the removal of every possible child who, does not hft ve a home and family from the over crowded orphanages. The mo:r;tal1ty rates in these or­phanages are staggering. My uppermost plea would be a plea for an avenue ot escape from starvation and lonely death for those children who perish daily in orphanages while- families long to nourish them. Such. an avenue of escape would not require great monetary expenditures. It requires' interpretation, un­derstanding and cooperation.

I recognize adoption Is not the total solution for all children in Vietnam. I cannot suggest a total solution. I can offer only one part of one solution which is ageless, tried and true~ Love and a family given to a lonely, homeless child will save that child. Welcome House and the families it can provide to home­less children stands ready tOo be a part of that timeless, tried and true solu­tion. Many chlldren of Vietnam have perished for the want of families and homes. Every day of delay in placing these children in homes is another day in which more children die. They die not because of war and a known enemy, but because of loneliness, disease and neglect. Death is the unknown but famil­iar enemy.

I would plead with the Senate Subcommittee on Refugees to help enable the adoption placement of homeless childlten. I would ask: that this Subcommittee through its agents aid the Vietnamese in understanding and' accepting the pol­icy of' adoption placement of the homeless children. I would urge that help in understanding and accepting the philoS'Ophy of adoption be extended to orphan­age directors. Children placed in orphanages in Vietnam become the wards of the orphanage directors. In order for these, children to. be adopted, consent must be given by the orphanage director. Since the orphanages receive a' pay­ment for eu('h child cared for by the orphanage, the release of the children is difficult to secure. The' ol-phanages and directors need to be helped to accept their function in caring for children "who cannot be adopted because of age, physical handicaps or existing family .. ties. The orphanages will therefore be­come IE'sS crowded and all children will benefit. I would ask the Senate Sub­committee on Refugees, to aid' the Vietnamese in implementing the policies and procedures which exist to make the adoption,of homeless children possible.

I apologize tor the failure to o:frer 'more erudite and deta.iled· solutions. When one· works dlrectly with children one is inclined to 'remain fundamental and immediate in philosophy. I am ,sure you will recognize the philosophy be:' hind the plea I' am making on behalf of these children 'as being the most baste and fundamental of philosophie's, :"Love one another".

Respectfully submitted, ' ('Miss) MARY L. GRAVES,

.]jJmeoutive Director.

WORLD VtSION l;t:lllLIEF ORGANIZATION, Monrovia, OaUt •• May 18, 1973.

Bon. ED", ABD ~Iii-rF)DY. Oh<>lrman, Il'uboo,"'m~itee on lletuU0f!8, U.S. Senate, . WasMngton, D.O.

SIR: We deeply appreclat~ the privilege accorded· our small organi.zation ·in

\fanOWing us to ~nter comments on child :welfare needs ill'. Indochina.

World Vision became ~hvolved in Vi.etnamese chUdcare in 1960. Our prepeent r,esponsibtutl':'iS,fOr 80 SChOO, Is, 7, children's homes. 4 Street Boys' homes, and a home for abandoned and orphaned 'babies. The hot, lunch program .Is feeding 20.000 children. ' . " ,The Minister of 'Social Welfare of ,the South Vietnam "Cabinet has requ~sted our ,assistance in relocating 1,250,000 refugees. This will include housing, chil­dren~s schools, teacher training, 'and health care.

The.,'mayor and ,police chief of Nha Trang have requested that WODld Vision set up a drug, rehabilitation ,program. The drug problem has grown since the American buyers went home.

"tour Committee may ,wish ,to cons~der American humanitarian responsibility to upwards of 6O:0,OOO·.cbildren who may .be categtr1:z;ed under :lPn4I",or ,aij of the following.: ',:1

(1) I/l"11g lIsers/pushers.

73

(2) Prostitutes. (3) Orphaned or homeless. (4) Nutritionally deprived at a critically early age. (5) Diseased; especially intesttnal, venereal and respiratory. These few comments cannot encompass twenty years' experience in caring

for a minimum, at this moment, of 45,000 orphans or dependent children each day. Our staff is available to your Committee for detailed advIce, The coun· tries where World Vision chlldcnre has been greatest are Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Hong Kong, Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Taiwan.

Sincerely yours, DONALD E. W ABNER, Direotor.

APPENDIX III

BACKGROUND MEMORANDA ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A CH'ILD WELFARE PROGRAM IN SOUTH VIETNAM: OFFICIAL USAID MEMORANDA FOR THE RECORD

I. PRELIMINARY U.S.A.I.D. PLANNING PAPER

Subject: Oh!ld Welfare Program-1973-74. Date: Saigon;, December 7, 1972.

I. Go~U;-The overall goal of this two-year program is to develop resources to insure that the minimum needs of all presently disadvantaged children in Vietnam cnri,1be-ntet. ,'Fh~·Misslon has given 'full support to the Government of Vietnam tGVN)' stated policy which is that the best way to help American-fa­thered children in Vietnam Is to develop a network of child welfare services for all-needy childreri. 'l'hese resources ,(or services) are: Improved orphanage care; dar~ca:re ; and establishruent of Social Service Referral Centers.

This' goal 'Is of' major importance to the United States Government for pol1ti~ cal as well as' humanitarian reasons~ Relief and rehabilitation of the war vic­tim population have been given equal priority with economic stabilization and reconstruction 'in rreMgnitlon of the vital importan'ce' of building up the human resourceS 'of ,this. country which have _ been ravaged by more than two decades ot war. 'Along 'with and within the uprooted refugee population of several mil­lion"people 'who have been forced to leave their ancestral homes to live in crowded', uroan, ar~as, disadvantaged children in Vietnam-more than 'a:Q-Y other single group-provide a highly viSible index of both social problems and measures talmn by the respective governments to demonstrate their humanitar­ian conee:t1ii :While 'it is recognized that any n.ation.'al development plan for children must cover {tiU children (not just the underprivileged and ban­dicapped) the' goal of 'thIs program is to focus on the general welfare needs of the children most severely victimi2ied, "by the war through anyone or a combi­nation of circumstances such as being orphaned, physically handicapped, ,or forced to ' liv.e >ubdth'! _extreme"circumstances of 'economic and moral poverty. 'It. is'l1lso recegtlized that meeting the minimum need,S of these children requires the servicesl'efrseveral'discipl1nes-'although the major advocate.of the unde_l"Pri­vileged and'the ,handIcapped in' Vietnani-is the MinH:Jter ot Social Welfare.

There' ,a~ three subsidiary goal's"of the ,ctlild'welfare program impiicit in the effort to develop'the required resources, of"gover~'ltn'ental eoneern and responsf­biUtYi 'Planning and coordination of resources), and a poli~lcal' cl~ma.-te in Viet­nam:i.'and,::,the ,United States condUcive to furthering the welfare of disad:vRtntagedrchUdren. ' '

A. '[nov6a8,ed, GO!VerwmentM (Joooern fo·r 01/ii,Za 'R'eZfare.-In' uiost d~veloping. countries, there' is' a lag between,the breakdown o'f traditional patterrls of fa,mR ily and "decentralized, v~llaige relief and! the 'ln~,titut10llil:l1Zl\t1o~ :at, a, nat~o#a~"­level,Q!. effecti~I!' go:v:ernment; welfa1"e s-c;rVlces. Beca US~' of 'the r~-Pta. pace, a-t "so~ cial charnge aggravated' b:y -the -war;' !this 'is-_ particularly true of ,Vietnam .. Soda.! pro~lemS···lnthe cities have nlushroomed whne the GVN/MSW provides .. vlr'· tually no direct servh2es' "outside lot 'the refugee program and its' sponsorship Of VOluntary agency~activ1tles on 'behalf' of children. . '

The, MSW plans to upgrade the Family and Chilq Welfare ,~e<;t1~n of' 'the)~b­cla..l" Welfar~' ,B~oc to .;~e' ~tlltlUS, of" a Dhfect{)~ate by- ,.Ta:n~ary 1:, 1?78. ~his, ,~~, seen as a vltal :fina.il' step' in 'recogn~Zing the increase(I'importance oyer tl1e long. haul of"developing:normallzed: social services to gradually replace ,the. preoC,cl)~' patioJ).t:with're:fiugee- Delietl(and· reestablishment. Measu:('eS' of ihdre'ase'd govetn~ mentaL ooncern !at- Itbe', 'en~' 10~ ,this t:w<rl"~ar ,projac,t would: ',»e~ail1!;-'to .t~,~ 'effe'~­tlv.eness; of, this' r1ew 1 Etreatolfato as -lV~lI as the forcefu\riess andl. sllccess, of tl1e', Mlnl.Mr 'of Social' WellfDir",ln ·ca¥rylng ·Oilt his advocacy role.6d'behait bf ·djs-advrantaged'children,' \i-'I ",,, .. '. , .. ' ' ", ",', '

(75)

76

B. Inoreased Governmental OapabiZity to Ploo for OMldren.'s Need8.-Plan~ ning for the needs of disadvantaged children provides an excellent rationale for the establishment of a focal point within the GVN for interministerial plan~ ning and coordination. The role Rnd importance of social services in n~tional development planning can be seen most vIvIdly against the backdrop of re­claiming valuable human resources to meet future manpower needs. The inter­dependent relationships between poor health, poor nutrition, disorganized or missing family life, neglected education and the impact on future productivity are self-evident as Is the need for cross-sectoral or interminiaterial planning to effectively deal with long range Bocial problems and reverse the vicious cycle depicted above.

Several vehicles for interministerial planning of child welfare services have been mentioned including a possible National Commission on Children, a sub­committee of the Ministry, of National Planning, and most, recently a Family and Child Welfare Committee to a (soon to be appointed) Prime Minister's Committee on Population Planning. Measures of increased capability for child welfare planning would include the effectiveness of a central planning unit, as well as an assessment of the MSW's capabUlty to prepare viable planning doc­uments pertaining to children'S needs.

C. IrwreaBed GVN Oavabi!ity to De",! with PoUtloa!ly SOOBIt!"e We!t ... e Groups Thereby Fa8terllnu Governmental StabiUty.-The v:arious political, geo­graphical, ethnic and religious minorities in Vietnam comprise- the bulk of the country's population. The way in which the MSW meets the, legitimate welfare needs of the disadvantaged children within the ranks of the handicapped, of handicapped or widowed parents, or living under conditions of extreme pov­erty, will go a long way to determining the political viability of any post-cease ftre government.

A major condition hoped for at the end of this pr6ject will be a politically seafjlolled Ministry meeting the legitimate welfare demands of dissident groups from a position of strength and conftd!IDce thereby fostering the' image of re­sourceful, honest government concerned 'with the welfare of its citizens, partie­UHlrly the most helpless and vulnerable-its orphaned, handicapped, and other~ wise underprivileged and disadvantaged children.

II. VIETNAMESE VOLUNTARY AGENOY STAFF DEVELOPMEN'l' PROG]U.],[,

(By Gardner W. Munro, USAID/Salgon, Mar. 3, 1973)

1. BAOKGROUND

Strengthening social welfare institutions and services should, 'be a ftrst prior­ity task for the post-ceaseftre period. Now that the focus of attention is shift-' ing from miUtary "considerations, the Government of South Vietnam 'must face squarely not only political realities, and immediate economic chalIEmges, but also the vital importance of modifying old and creating new social institutions to meet the overwhelming human· needs stemming from more than two decades of war and bewilderingly rapid social change. In less' than 100 years Vietnam has evolved from a traditional Oonfucian, agrarian" .society. 'to a modernizing nation whicb bas not yet forged the social institutions that are required to d~al with modern- societal demands. The war years' may' have consolidated political' ,power and hopefully, laid the groundwork for' a, modern economic sY!:l.tem, but the. basic requirement to l!e~lntegrate the social "fabric of: South Vietnam. remain. Theronl ot .. thl. fOUr-year program I. to addr ... a slgn!1!­cant litSpect of: this overall problem by developing and strengthening a' network of Vietnamese -social welfare agencies and ,voluntary organizations which, in conjunction. with the Ministry of Social Welfare- (MSW),; comprise the basiC Indigenous instItutional framework to deliver,_ social welfare services in Soutb Vietnam.

This urgent task shou,ld be .. undertaken· to -lIl:eet socia'! (problems stemml-ng from the war (,such a~ the community int~gra:ticin :of, millions' of "displaced ret .. ugees, and the,hundreds ot thousands ,Qf widows~ orphans"and' disabled, who" must be helped:. to-,adapt to a ,changing. soc1o~econoJl:li(!' environment) in the knowledge that- cotnpl\1nist, gov:ernments have :tlladitionaHy' provided more:than adequately for" t1:t~ care oj! dependent, ,disabled! and· disoriented grouPs through their local p~rty organlzation~. Paradoxically,' )with". ,th~·: help: of ,the "~Jnited States, the material standard of Uving in South Vietnam until recently has

77

remained remarkably higb in spite 'of the long, drawn·out war. The level of medical care also has been high in comparison to. otheD nations..in Southeast Asia and immediate needs for food, shelter and clothing' ha:ve been met by vast refugee relief programs when required. Unfortunately, while the South Viet .. namese people will expect thiS- high material standard of living to continue, there have already been signs of a prolonged period of belt-tightening as the economy moves downward from a war-time inflated level and this trend will be exacerbated fUrtber by the need to. demobilize some of the one million men now under arms. TJ:ie development of an adequate frame-work of' public and private VietnaJllese _ social welfare., organizations to. meet the challenges of the post-war period 'is most important to demonstrate th\lt a non-communist society can organize to take qare of needy groups not only during- emergency periods but over the lopg haul as well.

It may also be that'the general area of'social welfare services, pal1ticularly services to. children (as the symbol of the future) could become'some :day the common meeting ground for North and South as -a 'beginning point for national reconc1l1ation and socia~ re-integration.

2. EXISTING FRAMEWORK'l)F VIETNAMESE eOOIAL WELFARE 'AGENOIES

There is a need to develop an 'lelite" of l'salal1iedj professional, workeJ;'s for, Vietnamese voluntary agencies and"other social,welfare,organizatiohs who a,re also given the tools to design 'and, ,implement:'increasinglif:' sophisticated, pro,. grams in the general areas' of child welfare, rehab1Uta..tionj and community development. The MSW took steps in 1972 to establish a partnership with the voluntary social welfare- sector i in recognition that :while the MSW was limited by 'mandate, 's~aff, and bugetary restraints from' moving into, 'certain new pro~ gram areaf~l, the'voluntary agencies;' ~both foreign "and local), ,had the' potential tor this. Because' of thei,r- gItenter ,flexibility, pri-va,te sector agencies can serye fis p_acesetters, and'inllovators'in:'progllam development for the MSW.' It was also recognized that" voluntary agill'cies can 'and do, serve as bridges ,between goverhmental'services and the :people- because' of their ,clQser, relationshIps with the man' in the, street 'or in 'the ric~"padd~. The' MS,W also ,has ,hopes, that the private 'sector will take'the,'iead,iu helping'1ocl1:bcommuniUes ~botb"urban and rural) pla:y a' more ,acUve~ role-in r-a:Isfng,'fuuds ,for,the ,care' of ,the ,needy to replace f(jrmer patterns 'of' Indilvl'duo:l: :reUef, such, 'as-Jaiddjlrom' the extended fawily and, vUla:ge communal, r1ce;:reserves, wli1(lh :can,i,nddohger, meet either t'he complex needs of lit'rge 'numberS 'of- war Victims IOD'!:tHe:.$ocial ,casualties, on the urban scene 'such 'as 'delinquents.' PItostlituMsl"'and' 'othet;,disoJ.liented persons.

the MSW awarded a variety of 'piaster' grants ;(with the' assist.,. Goverhm'ent funds)'· to voluntary agencieS: fOr, so(dal' 'sur,v,e.ys,: tbe

~~~t~j~~:~ of a SOl:lial services directory, to' raise ,the -level,of',nutrition in ~ and -daY,'care centers, and for other family, and--ichild welfare

foreign for Social:

to expand daY:' ca,re serv .. the prlvate::sector. Unfor!"

,'with ,salaried staft' August ,1978 ,from' ,the

graduates, ,in ·subsequent a ,$pecial; etrom ' is· made to

charteIted'! Vietnames.e vol'U,ntary

deficiencies, the' better' of the groups or of fu,ll-tinie competent, salaried staff. It, would, seem ,that' agencies marlly b:V management committees ,and volunteer' manpo.w:er -cannot

ft;~:i~inginto viable community agencies, withQut flna-ncial assistance

96-~09-78-6

78

fare 'Organizations. which held its first:rorganizatiQnal: meetif1g,in December 1971. The newness' 'of the ,organizations, ,the 'relatlve"Dovelty- of social worl\: as a professional caree~, and the!'understandnble caution on, the part of, the. orga~ nization:viz~a-vl~ the ,Government have kept these ,potentially ·powerful co:ptmu­nity· leaderShip orga,nizations fl10m ,extending their full iptluence.

3, PROGRAM' PROPOSAL . ,',I: '. ,". "" : _' r " '" '1

,Xhe aim of, this, fo-qI:-year pl'ogram, Is ·to stren'gthen arif) :expand the Jrame­warit of. socia'} ,services in ,Sl:mth Vi~tJ;l.am py ,~lelplng the,:goVernmElllt lllo~i~i~~ the ,l'~sourc~s ,of the :priYate welfaJ.:e ,secta:!,";; The: mq.jor requirement, ,for' im exp8,nded,."networ~ of',soei~l services is to .increase' the' number, of Viehiamese volunlary social welfare agellcies (Which are) under-,cop:t~etent managem'ent, staff~(tJ::1Y ,qualified workers,.,ftl,1,d, ,de)Ilonstrat1:pg, hlnov:atfv~ ,iirograms ei'ther tor eVQutu,al owration, on a :na.tiQnal scaler;(sucb as foste~ ,eaie) ,Or as a conti1lU~ng IM!tivity, appr.opriate for th~ pr~:vate sector ,(~u<!h as a social servl~e c,eI1ter operati.on):' - ", '-- ' " ,,' , ' . '," ,",' ',' '_ _,' ,

The major objectives of this program are 'better' agency management; increased." EJta# I _co~pete~c~, and bn1;)roved "proj~ct" Q.esi~ ,an<\ ,impleme:ntat1on. This program proposes to achieve these closely inter-related components of agency .. ,develOpment by' 'seleoting-·-key -voluntary ,agency operations ·,(not P.oW receiving -'significant 'foreigU' -aid) for -,finaudal; assistf1:11Ce tht:o,ugh a) salaries for 'key ; personnel. at ,a' 'rate- sufficient to attract top quality j and lJ) funds, for support .of: spe-clfto-Vl'ojeets ~to- ralse the, level: 'of, sophtsti,cation of agency opera .. tions.' ", I'! , . , _

This, progra-m_::would subsidize the salaries -,of -about S.o SQ~ial', :w.ol'ker~, and pediatric te"chniciansr 'who ,'W.ould j ,-in ,effect'~'becollle ani ,"elite. qf ,Yi_etQluneSE) vol~ uritary agency: personnel., They'would, be ,expected to ~be! aGti~,e .jn~ theiJ.'J ,profes­sional 'ass.ociations and the ,only -other ruajo.r ',requtJ.!,aro.entf; 'would: be- the :e;pec~ tati'on 'that' they· 0:) - ehroU in a special ,extension eoupse at' the· Nat10nal School for ,800ial Worlt in. social agency :administ:rq,ti.on k and, ,b) ,participateJtctively in a series ofr,community-wide ,agency and s.taff development seminars. Seminar topics would-·include agency ,adminif;ltration" prQgrlllW 'development, fun(,1. rais­ing, 'and 'applied socia!l':research. The ',seminars; in- turn, would be.,organized under, the auspices .of V:ietnamese national associations ISl1ch as tije'lNational Association'- 01::8.01210:1: Workers,.' with ,Int~J.·n9,t10n:al Dr ,Third·Countl'Y experts 1nvited to participate, in 'planning and po-ssibly; 'seryi:ng M' discUf:!slon -leaders.

This proposed: sta-fff'development".prograru ,has' the_,;;v;lrtp.e of ,comp_~e;tpentlug the thrust of ,the',IMS:W' to' provide local'-currency g;rrant$ to, Vietnamese agen­cies. The' major ;·prQblems' with' IMSW 'support have be_en tht? inability to, under~ write competitive"salaries and, the reluctance:of some ,8,;genei~ to "accept gov~ ernment-,funds' belcause' of; cumbersome procedures and rel3tvict.ions. ' _ ';', }

Social 'services -to .be e'ffective must' evolve out _ of, tbe soc1o~cultural, miliel1 they serve and cannot be borrowed or imported from a:broad.· Current voJun­tary' agency;;operations should be exami)1ed;and ·the most,promising approacbes to social problem solving :supported w-ithln a framework ,of "trial and erro,r" so that mistakes can be quicldy rectified. A strong component ,of -the- overa;ll .. com .. munUy in;service'training pl10gram would be the a'dvocacy of sO,clal researc~.to fa~i1itate program design,: implementation, _Qlld evaluation. '

Until tecently virtually all familw' ·and child ':welfare, ~ervices have ,been aV'ailahle only. on a, residential t'asis-through orphanages or alms, houses. Si e 1971, the r.ovision .of ned, momen more 'c ren " ,th ' d orp a a 000)

t ,.' as moullte9",a program o'1ncr~as~,th~'num e ocial1.:1lS, 'tions ,p'l'tov-1din~ 'day 'care_,serviceti!i includlng-:helpiilg"orphanages change 6yer to corilmUnity".oviented' ,programs. Some, voluntary, ,agenCies are, .also 'beginning to l'each out : with a" .. variety of. fatnlly~oriented SOCial services -and it is tp..is', trend th'at !'¢o'OI'd be' l'eiiifovced "by, )seeking to support community, social' sery;ict;): cent~r olleratiofi-S 'pioneering a variety of'pr~jects: and programs' from v.oca#onal;.oou.,n­selling;' widows' 'loans;,.,enroll1ng:·ahd. keeJj)ing 'dlsad,vantaged -ehHdren· in 'priroflry schoolrtl,·rid othel' community' :health, nutrition; recreation., :aJ;ld family, plap.;ni:qg activities. .', ' " ',,'

:, :<Iti the· 'ar~;Ofiph~si~al 'rehab1l1tation/ ,there 18'0;: :major' requ11Jement ,tp):tl1aln pedl,atd,!·t';chnician. for·.peciallzed .••• I1!'nment. toillelp. institutions and,~.:ml. ~ll'esll(jnire': for' Sev,er-ely:-;,handioapped, :fchUdt'eu ·:(.oftenr ~with wa:J1-relateq iqjp.ries)

. -thr6ugh·sj>e.chitnd'ih .... lngi.tMrllJpy fo" .• ~veral dl1Ter.nbc.tego~l.a .pf· dl.~bl.d

79

children, nursing care of the severely disabled, educational training .of the mentally reta,rded, -and'.;aiddo me'l1tnllY,'Hl dlildl'el.l--,and,. their,: families.: An ,ot the above training. activities l'equire:·some ,exter,nal techQical assistance -wllich, is'not, covered by this- 'PJ.;oposal which. isr1imlted,-to-tlle salarie'S, of. ,the Vietnam­ese pediatme: technieians: .once trained 'll11d';Lwol'king ill' ,thail,', ~especUve institu­tions Dr agencies. . ":"1, ,', ,_ , f;

Vietnamese voluntary agencies have _ gtv:eu. :little,: sustained effort tD commu­nity development _ activities for either urban or l'ural _ areas. _ Beyond the provision' .or'relief :CdmlllOdities, -mosl a.s~6ciitt1onS ha:ve' dOUe' 'no' lllot9_'bhan the DC,casional mobiIlzatitm (jf- 'Volunteer youth groulJS- 'to assit,lt ,with:',vnl'fous- com­munity nctivHies.: Th'~t'e hra special·,requh,emellt·for a' dlscipllned approach- tQ organizing" local leadership in new '()r~ 're·establ1slied;'ref-ugee~ "communities: itO', caN'Y: out, ci:nlunu'nlty" 'welfare projects -(defined: bro'adiy-' to ~include local' aetvicEts: for chlldre'h, ; 'protection' of 'elderly', or-1dlsllbled';'family'J:tnembers; Rnd"various c'oopet·a:tives, "cottage' 'industries, 'i:lnd oilier soei'al; ,development fictlvities); The' skills'of the '~omlnunity devel'opmenlf;,"woi'kel"will' need 'to),ber d'efined'und,'de-vel;" oped through a pilot approach- 'which could, probablY'.'-be~t be- done as: a, sp'ecint p'rOject-'und-er'the auspices'of,the' National 'Association'Of Boct-al workers, wlth the' goal of evenhial adoptWn"'·bY; 'other flgencies"'atiaifp'olllticuhirIy-, the'-MS,W",asi it' expands' to assisting ,poor comm:l'tnlti~s,' with direct ,- CdthIllnnity developlllent\ services. 'j'~ !, , , j

I The' thi'ee a'reas of ',fll'roily and' 'child:' welfare~: llehabllttathm, 'Qnd community" developtnent'are seen as' the-o[J,eraUonal'.'ftame of ,r€lf-e1fel1cll!"for, the- Vietnamese: tolUn~nry agencIes, -for the next' "few years. ,To, .. de.velo'p' the, specific 'approaohes, or 'social work interventions, there JUUst 'be it concentration of 'effort on-- 'the" in., service' 'tratning df- the ·administrative . (as well as' teehl1icall) .fcapnbility :of, the' senior agency staff members combined with an emphasis on 'appUed.- sOcial researcl'J. techniques to' faciUtilte progtam a~sessnient-and evnluati6u.' It,1s pro~ pose<'!- that ,a 'visiting ,professor front a 'leading: ncademlc,(institrtltlon, from 'out~, side: 'of Vietnam" w'im -a strong social, reseQ;'i'Ch 'department' r be assigned', jointly' to ,tlie National- School,'for Sdci'a!I.Wol'lt ntrd Van:;'Hanh ,UniversitY.fIt would .be expected that this expert' 'Would ,tea(!h'!,at the ,'tinlversities, pallticipate in the: National School for Social Work's' 'ex,ttmsion' 'cti\trs~-"in ,s,oclal:'agency admini"&­tration, "anU assist the Association for 'the" ~dvancem'ent ,or the('SociaI- ScIenoes in developing its semiriir on applied 'social'l'eSeal'~h--for:iQgency;applicat1on.

;', ,',.l, 4.: ADM'INISTRATION-;' ,'"

'1'hls proposed progra-m will be, adm1ni~tered by th,~. uh4e,l,'J3igned J30cial work consultant who will undertake to raise funds from a variety of external volun~ tary "ngency' and fo\mdtttion' sources flndr,then funnel, these resourC"esl.through~ 8.

local com:ruittee in Vietnam to :carefuUy. ,selected~i-¥ietnnmese'; agencies ,and! groups to' make it. ~osslble for -~hem te"recruit topl,personnel 't() 'catiry out, or. supervise programs -tha:t agencies -are fllread\y engaged ,in) 01': prepared 'to accept with some ,Minimum additional financial-;asslstan:qel':;In some, cases, ,staff recruitment- will 'be eased: by putting competent ~bluntee-rs, on salary, ,wli1eh would not 'ha:ve been possible without this, assistance:', ' '" ,

This consultant will undertake to initiate and manage this program -in: adal~ tion to locating the financillg. This will require 'n:~gotlat1ons . with agencies :in Vietnam to determine willingness: to" pallthdpate ;' 'interpretation and,' jJund'l!8iis~ ing in the United States to. coVer costs; :and the clJ.':ganlting'lmd stafiltlg(ofl a lo~al committee in Saigon to monitor 'the grants and" assist in setting :UJ)I the seminars. Wherever possible, technical assistance ,bam ElCAFE 1i1.: :::BaJigkoki and possibly from schools of, social woJik in .the PhiUppines,. .Singapore .. ?i.' ,lI'Chlg Kong will be solicited to assist with the agency:, and staff',development semi­

"nar.4:a,nd''the 'preparation of an' extellston co'urse for the' National;'Sohool.for Social Work.

Tl;te time, schedule would' 'fnclude',':(,a) negotiations with V-ietnainese'.gl'oups from",February 1973 though Apr111973; (b) fund~raising and, program -intel1pre­tatlon lit the United States from May 1973' through' 'at le.s~' November 1973; (c) re,crui~ment of personnel ,and project initiation" iI1i::Wr1e1fu.am ·as :funds. became, available; (d) scheduUng",of thi1oo,staff seminars: tentatively 'for 'Jarm~ a-ry,1974, May 1974 and November'1974, with"the'exten'sion.cdurse' to' begin,in Februal!Y ,1.Q1-4<, ,mhl,s, pvog'ram is conceived' :'l1s;':a ~r:fOU1!.:vea,:U -'effort,.~, althoijgh tleSigneW- SU.I.-f?}lwt"{,'th:e'l :fir-stl:· tW.eliVe 'months W1U, lnQ;keltQ" substantiaI': iudependent contribution to. tll.le ad'V:ancement of Vietnamese voluntary a.gencies .. ' ,,,',(,' , .. ;I"'"