Beneath the surface: Interpersonal harmony is a strong cultural value in Vietnam, as in many other Southeast Asian countries. Most people in this country strive to hold in check any potentially unpleasant emotions and information. I’ve admired the self-control of the Vietnamese, yet I’ve also recognized the cultural challenge this poses for ROW and other
well-intentioned westerner NGOs: How do we get accurate information necessary for our partnerships here to succeed? Today, for example, we visited two orphanages and four homes for street children. ROW’s mission is promote the general welfare of these children, but how do we make sure we engage the orphanage directors in honest conversations about the needs of their children? ROW built relationships with contacts in southern Vietnam, but needs this type of on-the-ground presence and knowledge in order to serve more effectively in the central region. Fortunately, this week ROW was able to collaborate with some outstanding people from a local organization, Children of Vietnam (CoV). Together, we have accomplished more during this visit than either organization could have accomplished alone.
Follow up, follow up, follow up: Today we not only strived to address the children’s current and future needs, but we made sure to investigate the results of ROW’s past support. What happened to the washing machine we gave your orphanage? This type of follow-up helps to hold our partners accountable and gives us vital information for future efforts.
Work-arounds: Inevitably, ROW visited orphanages that were not as competently managed or staffed as others. Although we didn’t want to have ROW’s money squandered or misused, we also didn’t want to leave without trying to help the children at these orphanages. Today we delivered new clothes, food, and educational supplies, and we documented the children receiving these gifts.
Frederick A. Stamp
