Vietnam

Vietnam was split into a communist North and an anti-communist South under the Geneva Accords of 1954. US economic and military aid to the South grew throughout the 1960’s as it opposed the communist North. Following a war that devastated the country, the North regained control of the South and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was formed in 1975. The majority of Vietnamese people live in rural areas in simple homes made of timber and thatch. The country faces challenges in providing access to a clean water supply or safe waste disposal, HIV, AIDS, and other illnesses linked to poor sanitation and malnutrition.

The Marist Brothers have been present in Vietnam since 2008. The Vietnamese highly regard education and this is evident in the high literacy and primary school enrolment rates. The challenge however, is to balance economic development with the provision of essential services and opportunities for its rapidly growing population. The Marist Brothers work in partnership with local NGO’s to offer Vietnamese youth and adults educational opportunities that serve to equip them with skills to enhance their quality of life.