Leveling the playing field for vulnerable children

OneSky’s work in Da Nang, Vietnam centers on our Early Learning Center which looks after almost 250 children of rural migrants six days a week. The ELC cares for children from six months to six years old, while their parents work in the surrounding factory zone. But that’s just the start. OneSky also provides workshops and training for home-based daycare providers so they can deliver quality care and adopt, implement, and replicate best practices. In addition, OneSky trainers and mentors provide parenting skills and classes for working parents and caregivers. Read more here.

MEDIA RELEASE:

Collaborative Philanthropy in Early Childhood Development: Foundations partner in supporting OneSky to improve the standards of care for thousands of children in Vietnam

The Lorinet Foundation in partnership with the Octava Foundation, are providing vital funding to enable the rollout of a successful pilot led by OneSky, in supporting Early Childhood Development in the Hoa Khanh, Da Nang Industrial zone, in Vietnam.

Vietnam is one of South-East Asia’s fastest growing economies and has experienced significant economic growth in recent decades. However, rapid industrialization and urbanization has led to a shift within the societal fabric of families, where parents have no choice but to travel long distances to generate an income, and this impacts on the most vulnerable – young children.

OneSky’s program in Vietnam launched in September 2017 in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Zone, and addresses the needs of the children of migrant workers. An Early Learning Center (ELC) was established, as well as the introduction of the first-ever Home Based Care (HBC) training program of its kind in the country.

To date, the program has trained 80 home-based day-care providers and 54 teachers working at the ELC, reaching a total of 2,595 children. Following its success, Vietnam’s central Ministry of Education and Training has requested the expansion of the HBC program into 19 more provinces. The support received from the Lorinet Foundation and the Octava Foundation will be integral to the expansion of HBC training in these provinces and represents the strong relationship OneSky has developed in partnership with the Vietnamese government, to deliver services in supporting young, vulnerable children from migrant families.

OneSky Chief Engagement Officer, Chloe Taylor, said:

“We are very pleased to work with the Lorinet and Octava Foundations in delivering this vital level of support to the thousands of young children in Vietnam’s industrial provinces, who will benefit greatly from the responsive care and nurture they will receive, in giving them the best start in life.”

Raman Sidhu, Lorinet Foundation Spokesperson:

“This partnership demonstrates a huge opportunity for Lorinet Foundation and Octava Foundation in leveraging our collective resources to scale the impact for young children. OneSky’s model of working with the local government to build Home Based Care providers capacity offers a practical and scalable solution to a systemic issue. We are excited to enable quality early learning provision for marginalized children in Vietnam and its potential replication in Mongolia, another key geography for Lorinet Foundation.”

Debbie Fang Octava Foundation Spokesperson:

 “Octava Foundation is delighted to work alongside the Lorinet Foundation to co-fund this momentous project, which will positively shape an individual’s life trajectory. Investing in early childhood development is especially important in leveling the playing field for children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, and is in tandem with Octava Foundation’s vision of empowering children and youth to be given equal opportunities to excel as citizens and contribute to a better world. We are excited to partner with OneSky, and achieve impact through a proven holistic method, in offering a stimulating and developmentally appropriate early childhood program, while concurrently building a healthy ecosystem, focusing on developing the young child”.