Is this method of donation appropriate?

(Baonghean Newspaper) - In early April 2015, Baonghean Newspaper continuously received reports that a group of people, claiming to be a performing arts troupe from the Center for Vocational Training and Support for Disadvantaged Children (under the Central Association for the Promotion of Learning of Vietnam), were visiting schools in Ky Son district to socialize and collect donations. Most of those who reported the incidents disagreed with this type of fundraising activity, especially since it was organized in remote areas where officials and people still face many difficulties...

Cultural exchange and fundraising

On the morning of April 9th, Muong Xen Town Secondary School and Ky Son Ethnic Boarding Secondary School both "had the pleasure" of welcoming a performing arts group from the Vocational Training and Career Guidance Center for disadvantaged children to participate in cultural exchange and performances. Except for the able-bodied female leader and driver, all members of the group were people with disabilities. The performances were brief. A worn-out banner with the center's name, address, and the words "Warmly welcome to the cultural exchange and performance by children with disabilities and disadvantages" was hastily hung in the middle of the schoolyard to serve as a stage.

Following the cultural performances (lasting about an hour), there was a fundraising event to support the disabled students. A glass box was placed on a chair right below the stage for teachers and students to donate money to the "group of disabled students." With the school's leadership's appeal, in a short time, teachers and students from the two schools, Muong Xen Town Secondary School and Ky Son Ethnic Boarding Secondary School, donated 5 million VND to the group. The money was counted right in the school office, the group leader received the money, wrote a receipt, expressed gratitude, and then left the school.

A cultural performance by disabled and disadvantaged children. Photo: Contributor.

Previously, starting on March 30th, the delegation from the Vocational Training Center for Disadvantaged Children arrived in Ky Son district, and by April 8th, they had visited 22 schools in the district to hold cultural exchange events and raise funds. The fundraising method was similar to that used at the two schools in Muong Xen Town Secondary School and Ky Son Ethnic Boarding Secondary School. Given the difficult living conditions of the majority of the people, officials, teachers, and students in Ky Son, the amount of money raised was quite substantial.

For example, at the Nậm Càn Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School (on the morning of April 2, 2015), after about 40-50 minutes of performing arts by people with disabilities, the group raised 6,143,000 VND. In the border commune of Nậm Cắn, a performance organized jointly for students of Nậm Cắn Primary School and Nậm Cắn Kindergarten raised over 4.3 million VND, of which the teachers and students of the primary school contributed 3.4 million VND, and the teachers and students of the kindergarten contributed 900,000 VND. At Bảo Nam Ethnic Minority Boarding Secondary School, the principal, Mr. Nguyễn Duy Thảo, said that at the group's performance on the morning of March 31, students and teachers in the school donated over 2 million VND; at Mường Xén Primary School, the group raised 2.2 million VND...

Donation box. Photo: Contributor

Needs to be considered and managed.

Prior to this visit to Ky Son, on February 28, 2015, the center sent a letter to the Ky Son District People's Committee requesting the district's attention and approval for the center's disabled and disadvantaged students to meet and participate in cultural and artistic exchanges with students from schools in the district. Attached to the letter was a plan for a cultural and artistic exchange with the theme "Community Bridge." The plan specified the duration of the exchange program at each school as 35-40 minutes; transportation, sound systems, and backdrops for the exchange would be provided by the delegation. In addition, the center requested the Ky Son District People's Committee to notify the District Department of Education and Training, the People's Committees of communes and towns, and the Principals of schools in writing so that the center could directly discuss and finalize the content of the exchange.

According to Ms. Cụt Thị Nguyệt, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kỳ Sơn district, because the purpose was simply to have a cultural exchange with students from remote areas, the district sent a document to the Department of Education and Training requesting cooperation and support for the delegation to organize the exchange. “We only thought they were coming for a cultural and artistic exchange, taking students along as a form of extracurricular activity, and we didn't know there was any fundraising involved. Kỳ Sơn is still very poor, and the families of the students and teachers are lacking in many ways…” - Ms. Cụt Thị Nguyệt said.

Because the Vocational Training and Career Guidance Center for Disadvantaged Children is a unit directly under the Vietnam National Association for the Promotion of Learning, the reporter contacted the Provincial Association for the Promotion of Learning to obtain more information. Surprisingly, Mr. Tran Xuan Bi, Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Promotion of Learning, stated: "We only now have information about the cultural exchange and fundraising activities of the Vocational Training and Career Guidance Center for Disadvantaged Children in the province over the past period." Over the phone, the Chairman of the Provincial Association for the Promotion of Learning reminded Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh, Deputy Director of the center, that "when you go to the localities, you should contact the Association to discuss your activities." Regarding the reporter, the Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Learning expressed concern about the fundraising activities of the Vocational Training and Career Guidance Center for Disadvantaged Children, particularly dissatisfied that the fundraising took place at many schools in Ky Son district, a particularly disadvantaged area that receives nationwide attention and assistance. "Going to Ky Son for cultural exchange is acceptable, but going there to solicit donations is completely illogical..." - Chairman of the Association for the Promotion of Learning, Tran Xuan Bi, expressed his concern.

Speaking to reporters by phone, Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh stated that the center has the function and is permitted to organize cultural and artistic exchanges and solicit donations to help disabled children. When asked if the center has a social or charitable fund, and if so, which authority granted permission, Mr. Thinh said that the center is under the direct control of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Learning; its cultural and artistic activities have been authorized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Vocational Training Center for Disadvantaged Children is permitted to establish departments and has already set up a fundraising unit to support humanitarian activities. "Next week I will return to Nghe An, and then we will provide the center's documents for clarification..." said Mr. Nguyen Duc Thinh.

We have learned that this is the second time the Vocational Training Center for Disadvantaged Children has visited schools in Ky Son district to perform and raise funds. Prior to this visit, the center had already performed and raised money at numerous schools in Tan Ky district and Thai Hoa town. For example, in Thai Hoa town, starting on January 22nd, the center performed and raised funds at 19 schools, including 12 primary schools and 7 secondary schools. Despite being a unit under the Central Association for the Promotion of Learning, the center failed to coordinate its activities with the local association and focused its fundraising efforts primarily on remote areas. Therefore, the center's actions are raising concerns and generating negative public opinion. We question whether this method of fundraising is appropriate.

Reporters' Team