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Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) is a profession recognised around the world for supporting people who have difficulties in communication and swallowing. Speech and language therapists diagnose and treat communication disorders in children and adults. Treatment includes speech, language, voice and fluency therapy and nonverbal, multi-modal communication supports (e.g. picture systems, sign languages, alternative and augmentative communication), swallowing, eating and drinking.

From November 2017 to end of January 2018, MCNV and Trinh Foundation Australia collaborated to carry out an assessment of the speech and language therapy training needs in Vietnam. The key findings from the assessment were that there was a large, documented need for speech and language therapy services for all types of communication and swallowing disorders across all age groups but the need was not met, and that demand for human resources for speech and language therapy was increasing rapidly across regions and societies.

The assessment was conducted in eight provinces, including: Hanoi, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Hue, Dong Nai, Binh Phuoc and Hai Duong.

On April 4 2018, MCNV and its project partners organized a workshop to share the results of the assessment.

Mr Pham Dung, MCNV’s Vietnam Country Director was signing the MOU with project partners.

In the meeting to celebrate 45 years the diplomatic relation between Vietnam and the Netherlands and 5 years the establishment of the Vietnam – Netherlands on May 10 2018 at the Water Irrigation University Hanoi, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Mrs. Nienke Trooster had special words for MCNV and highlighted that MCNV was a Dutch NGO that have had “great efforts in supporting communities in Vietnam for the last 50 years.”

Participated in the meeting were representatives of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Committees, Former Ambassadors of Vietnam to the Netherlands, lecturers of the Irrigation University and representatives of international development organizations. From the Embassy of the Netherlands, there were the Ambassador, the First Secretary and Counsellors.

The ambassador of the Netherlands to Vietnam, Mrs. Nienke Trooster delivered an impressive speech about the relation of the two countries. According to Mrs. Trooster, “The relation between the two country is not just a diplomatic relation but it has developed into a true friendship. The two countries have well cooperated to achieve Millennium Goals and Sustainable Development Goals.” The Ambassador affirmed both her predecessors and herself enjoyed the work in Vietnam and were proud to be part of the great journey. Looking at the relation, Mrs. Trooster was confident to say it has been improving effectively and consistently.

Especially Mrs. Trooster honored MCNV as a Dutch NGO which was dedicated absolutely to the development of Vietnam in the last 50 years. “Over the years, non-governmental of the two countries have cooperated to address social issues, including health, gender, labour rights and sexual and reproductive health and rights. Among all, there is a special organization – MCNV – which has worked hard and contributed to help address development issues in Vietnam. I cannot wait to see the documentary film about MCNV in their celebration of 50 years at the end of this year in Hanoi.”

These words have encouraged MCNV to continue trying and making efforts to support marginalised groups in Vietnam.

The official meeting closed by a prestigious documentary film about the relation between the two countries which was filmed by Dutch film makers in the 70s of the 20^th century.

On May 29 2018, MCNV in collaboration with the Department of Health, Dien Bien province, organized successfully the workshop “Community-based Rehabilitation”. Participating in the workshop was 60 representatives coming from the Ministry of Health, different state agencies in Dien Bien and the Association of People with Disability at grass-roots level. In the workshop, participants discussed about community-based rehabilitation, the situation of people with disability in the province, and contributions of MCNV to community-based rehabilitation activities in Dien Bien during the last five years.

Especially with the participation and presentation of the Ministry of Health, participants in the workshop had a chance to understand better the overall picture of rehabilitation, relevant laws and policies as well as the direction to develop rehabilitation in Vietnam in the future.

Representatives of departments of health and the Dien Bien Department of Education and Training attended the workshop and shared ideas about the situation of people and children with disability in community.

The Dien Bien TV and various news and media channels in Dien Bien came and reported the event.

Ms. Cẩm Tú and Mr. Bảo Anh, two senior managers from PwC, Ho Chi Minh city branch, visited and worked with the Ben Tre Micro Finance project in Binh Dai district on July 6^th, 2018.

Tireless efforts of MCNV and the Centre for Rehabilitation and Social Inclusion for Children with Disabilities in Cao Bang province was presented in the moving and heart-touching 30 minute documentary film “We can go to school”, which was broadcast at the Life Portrait Program, VTV4 Channel.

For full program, please click here.

For program trailer, please click here.

Program with English subtitle, please click here.

After being broadcast, a large number of friends and colleagues called to congratulate MCNV for this meaningful film. Efforts in a decade to support children with disabilities in Cao Bang were finally recorded and presented to the whole public. These are true honour and also responsibility of MCNV’s staff to continue striving for the community-based rehabilitation work in Vietnam.

On September 8 2017, MCNV cooperated with the Department of Education and Training – Quang Tri province to organize the workshop on “Survey results of mental health conditions of high school students in Quang Tri”.

On October 19 2017, the Vietnam Film Institute (VFI) and stakeholders organized the official ceremony to receive historic documentary films and materials from MCNV and the European Foundation Joris Ivens (EFJI). The ceremony took place in a formal and moving atmosphere.