50000 Masks for Vulnerable Communities in COVID-19

In response to the overwhelming demand for personal protective masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, AIP Foundation and its social enterprise Protec, a helmet manufacturer in Vietnam, has started leveraging specialized production lines in Vietnam to produce personal face masks to address shortages in high-need communities. Protec employs 150 staff in its factory in Vietnam, a significant proportion of whom are individuals with disabilities. The factory involved in this mask initiative also leveraged production lines adapted to support workers with disabilities. 

The first shipment of the masks and personal equipment, including 10,000 medical masks and gloves, went out to Abou Jaoude Hospital in Beirut after the deadly explosion of Ammonium Nitrate in 2020. Since then, the initiative has provided 180,000 medical masks to high-need communities in Europe and the US, such as the Bambino Gesu Hospital, Vatican,  and Trieste, Italy. In addition to overseas donations, our social enterprise ran many campaigns in Vietnam to raise awareness of the importance of face masks for personal protection and distribute masks across the country.  

At the 2 year mark, the project has achieved many of its initial targets in reaching and equipping people with adequate protection to battle COVID-19. It has been a rewarding journey to contribute to the global fight against the pandemic, and the support we received from donors all over the world greatly strengthened our motivation to serve vulnerable communities. As the pandemic outlook has significantly improved worldwide, it is time we move on to other initiatives. We deeply appreciate all the contributions made to this project, and hope for your continued support in our efforts to ensure health and safety for the communities in need.