Mekong Plus NGO in Vietnam
MEKONG PLUS
VIETNAM NGO
A snapshot into the wonderful world of Mekong Plus NGO in Vietnam. Learn about the incredible programs that are empowering those living in acute poverty.
Mekong Plus and Social Cycles
We’re proud to connect with Mekong Plus and allow socially conscious travellers the opportunity to learn more about this amazing NGO. Social Cycles believes that the best way to truly understand a country and its culture is to simply ask questions to local experts. Museums and monuments can tell you about yesterday, but only people from organizations like Mekong Plus can tell you what tomorrow looks like.
What challenges are Mekong Plus trying to solve?
Mekong Plus trains and supports Khmer and Vietnamese people who are motivated and committed to community development in disadvantaged rural areas. The core value is based around participatory engagement between the people, the government and the NGO.
Mekong Plus aims to break the cycle of acute poverty through small infrastructure assistance, micro-credit, agriculture, education and vocational training.
History: How and why Mekong Plus began…
Founder and director, Bernard started Vietnam Plus in 1994, from Saigon, with associates based in France and Belgium. Initially, Vietnam Plus had only one small project, in Tien Thanh. Since many other projects have grown, the initial team became more than 180 people spread on four major projects.Then, in 2007, Vietnam Plus expanded in Cambodia and a fifth project was born with 16 Khmer staff. The name was thus changed to Mekong Plus.
Impact: 5 Key Facts
- Mekong Plus programs touch over 200,000 people every day
- More than 50% of the expenses of all programs are actually covered by the local people and the local partners to promote sustainability
- Micro credit programs increase household revenue by 25% each year, on average
- Launched a gender and sex education program within government schools to tackle and reduce domestic violence
- Employs and trains over 200 people as part of the Mekong Quilts social enterprise
The videos that explain everything
Fast Facts
Most frequent questions and answers
What programs do you run?
- Agriculture and animal pass on
- Education- health, gender and sex, scholarships
- Micro credit
- Small infrastructure with participatory engagement
- Employment and vocational training
How big is the NGO?
1 million Euros budget, 200.000 direct beneficiaries each year, active in almost 1000 villages (90% in VN, 10% in Cambodia), 200 staff of which 100 full time (most with university degree) (all but founder are locals). Integrated approach, running about 10 different programs in parallel in each region (like employment, micro credit etc.)
How are you funded?
60% by private foundations in Europe; Mekong Bikes challenges; private donations
What difference would a US$150 donation make?
3 scholarships x 1 year. Or 2 very poor households (income 1/2$/person/day) supported with training & micro credit for 1 year. We can expect their income to increase by 25% each year.
What difference would US$1000 make?
2 small bridges in the Mekong delta so that the villagers could go to school/market/clinic etc. on a bicycle or motorcycle.