The Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst Foundation is a Catholic philanthropic institution that makes investments to support organizations that are "making the world a better place by effectively addressing major social issues or causes." Its Children in Families initiative supports 4 innovative programs around the world that strengthen local partnerships, with a focus on promoting cooperation between faith-based and government organizations. In 2008, CRS Vietnam was selected out of more than 120 applicants to implement Children First, a comprehensive program that addresses the diverse needs of at-risk children through the provision of community-based care services.

Hanoi College of Information Technology (HCIT) opened in 1994 to equip students for the growing Vietnamese computer industry. Since May 2007, CRS Vietnam has partnered with the college on the Information Technology Training program for students with disabilities, which is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development.

CRS and the college have provided high-quality training to more than 200 students with mobility, visual and hearing disabilities from all over Vietnam. The curriculum includes software and technology education; training on adaptive equipment for the visually and hearing impaired; and job placement upon graduation at Vietnamese and international information technology employers.

http://www.estih.edu.vn/Default.aspx?Level=2&Cat0=25&Cat=43

The U.S. Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement promotes peace, stability and prosperity through the removal and destruction of weapons —such as landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)—that remain in countries after armed conflict has ended. Through the Humanitarian Mine Action program, the office funds CRS Vietnam's UXO/mine risk education programming in communities and schools on both sides of the former demilitarized zone. Since 2006, more than 30,000 children, youth and adults have increased their capacity to avoid UXO accidents thanks to the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement's support of CRS programs.

Since 1994, CRS Vietnam has worked to support local farmers through agro-enterprise development programs, helping them connect to markets and learn ways to grow and sell more food. From 2006 to 2009, our agriculture program reached more than 112,000 beneficiaries and 51 farmer groups in north-central Vietnam. Participants have improved their skills in sustainable production of key commodities and new products as well as in marketing and climate change adaptation.

CRS Vietnam supports the growth of inclusive education by encouraging enrollment of children with disabilities in regular schools and training teachers on inclusive education methods. CRS has developed a comprehensive model of inclusive education, vocational training and job placement for children and youth with disabilities. In the current Inclusion of Vietnamese With Disabilities project, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development through 2010, CRS works with the Vietnamese Ministry of Education to expand inclusive education practices. Through the Information Technology Training project, CRS provides internationally recognized information technology training for youth with disabilities.

Since 1995, CRS Vietnam has supported projects in emergency relief in more than 10 provinces, targeting impoverished families who are living in the most hazard-prone areas. Over the years, CRS has helped communities reconstruct key irrigation systems and public buildings, as well as provided trainings on disaster preparedness to minimize the losses to future disasters. In response to 2009's Typhoon Ketsana, CRS helped rebuild schools and houses in some of the most affected areas while also supporting those families most impacted by the disaster with activities to help them get back to making a living.

CRS' Children First program, funded by the Gerald and Henrietta Rauenhorst Foundation, provides comprehensive services to at-risk children in Vietnam, including:

• children with disabilities
• children affected by HIV
• orphans
• children at risk of dropping out
• street children
• children who have been abused

CRS ensures that children in jeopardy have access to a range of services such as nutrition support, education, health, shelter, psychosocial support and legal help.

In Ho Chi Minh City, CRS created a network of HIV service providers to ensure that children with HIV receive necessary services. CRS also partnered with a national university to develop curriculums and training for service providers working with HIV-affected children and orphans. CRS supports an outpatient clinic which provides a range of comprehensive services for people with HIV. A project at a community-based center in Lang Son, on the border with China, provides support services and teaches HIV prevention for both current and recovering drug users.

Unexploded ordnance (UXO), such as cluster bombs, is pervasive on both sides of the former demilitarized zone in central Vietnam. Since 2000, CRS has been working with local partners to educate community members about the risks of UXO and provide information to avoid accidents. CRS partners with district and provincial departments of education to create a school-based, child-centered curriculum to improve children's knowledge of and behavior around UXO, reducing the rate of casualties.