Skilled Volunteers Help Empower Vietnam Nonprofits

Dear Donors, 

The LIN Center for Community Development would like to express our gratitude for your contributions toward our project titled Skilled Volunteers Help Empower Vietnam Nonprofits on GlobalGiving.org. With your support, we made a difference in the community by implementing three programs that address the project’s objectives:

1. Community Partnership Initiative: An annual, theme-based program that matches companies and skilled professionals in HCMC to local not-for-profit organization (NPO).

• Outputs: LIN’s Community Partnership Initiative engaged 125 skilled professionals from 60 different companies to improve communications, fundraising, HR management and other professional skills for 36 different nonprofit organizations.
• Outcome: 36 NPOs, like Ceporer Hoc Mon and Happier, were able to strengthen their capacity to better serve their beneficiaries. The impact of the project was clearly demonstrated by both participating NPOs and volunteer mentors. For example, Ceporer Hoc Mon, an NPO supporting underpriviledged children, winner of the first CPI, and Happier, an NPO providing psychological support to child patients, winner of the second CPI, both reported gaining more public attention and financial support thanks to having a new brand identity and communication strategy coming out of the partnership. On the other hand, volunteer mentors reported having better understanding of the causes and the hard work of organizations addressing those causes. ProSelf, a company participated in CPI on HR management, extended their pro bono work for another year at their NPO partner after the project ended, offering the much needed support to strengthen the organization that provides education and training to visually impaired youth.

2. BlueBees.org website:  LIN launched and now operates the first (and only) web based platform in Vietnam that connects skilled volunteers to short-term volunteer opportunities with local not- for-profit organizations.

• Outputs:  144 nonprofits and 727 skilled volunteers are registered & 213 volunteer opportunities have been advertised through the website.
• Outcome: Smaller nonprofits, like VAVA Cu Chi, a nonprofit supporting victims of agent orange and dioxin, can easily access an impressive database of skilled volunteers to support their work.  VAVA Cu Chi was in need of a consultant to develop their program for special education for their beneficiaries. After posting their request on the site, they were able to find a volunteer consultant to help them develop the cirriculum.

3. Mandala Night: Since 2015, LIN hosts regular networking events to raise awareness about skilled volunteerism and to faciliate networking among like-minded people.

• Outputs: 7 events held, attracting nearly 700 people in total.
• Outcome:Raised awareness about corporate employee engagement programs, helped orient skilled professionals to the realities of volunteering and connected nonprofits to skilled volunteers. At a Mandala Night event in 24 May 2016, Ms. Huong Truong, CEO of the Minh A Company, was introduced to the Thien An Shelter, which provides vocational training for visually impaired adults. Her company now employs 2 of Thien An Shelter’s past beneficiaries. Watch a video interview of one of her current employees and staff talking about the mutual satisfaction with the arrangement. Include hyperlink: http://jobforblind.com/cong-viec/nguoi-khiem-thi-trong-xuong-lam-thu-bong-74.html

In an effort to streamline our resources and strategic approach, the LIN Team decided to close the Skilled Volunteerism Help Empower Vietnam Nonprofits project on GlobalGiving.org and we would like to ask you to transfer your recurring donations, or continue to support our work through another project on Global Giving: Build A Home for Vietnam NPOs.  This project is a consolidated fund that supports LIN’s efforts to accelerate the capacity of nonprofit leaders to address the needs in our community while connecting them to skilled professionals and organizations that share their desire to improve the quality of life for all people in HCMC. We believe that this is the best path after analysis of the current landscape and we hope you will continue to work with us.

We encourage you to learn more about the exciting vision behind Build A Home for Vietnam NPOs:

https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/lin-new-year-lights-campaign-bild-a-home-for-npos/

As always, we thank you for your contributions and appreciate your continued support. Progress and development in our community would not be possible without your generosity. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach me, or one of my colleagues at LIN.

Sincerely,

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc

Director of Programs

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