Country News

Country Focus

Many young people in Vietnam grow up in environments marked by strict parenting, family conflict, and violence. Overly controlling parenting is widespread, with 69% of children aged 10–14 having experienced violent discipline at home in the past month. These experiences can make youth feel emotionally unsafe and limit their ability to seek support or express themselves.

Without open communication and emotional connection, young people are more vulnerable to mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicidal thoughts. Despite growing recognition of the role families play in youth wellbeing, few initiatives focus on reducing violence or improving parent–child relationships.

What we’re funding in Vietnam

Proof-of-concept funding:

Proof-of-concept (POC) funding up to $250,000 CAD will be awarded to early-stage projects that can implement, test and refine solutions to country-specific personal, social, and/or environmental factors impacting young people’s mental health and wellbeing in one of the 12 countries.

In Vietnam, we seek bold Proof-of-Concept ideas to strengthen family functioning. These innovative solutions should focus on addressing strict parenting styles or family conflict or violence for young people and their parents/caregivers.

Transition-to-scale funding:

Transition-to-scale (TTS) funding between $300,000 CAD and $1,500,000 CAD will be awarded to support tested mental health promotion and prevention approaches that align with country-specific priorities along their scaling journey to help catalyze their sustainability and impact.

In Vietnam, we seek bold Transition-to-Scale ideas to strengthen family functioning. These innovative solutions should focus on addressing strict parenting styles or family conflict or violence for young people and their parents/caregivers.

Ecosystem catalyst funding:

Ecosystem catalyst (EC) funding between $200,000 CAD and $300,000 CAD will be awarded to organizations that can address priority barriers to scale, such as legislation, evidence, coordination, and mobilize demand to help mental health initiatives succeed and grow in one of 12 priority countries.

In Vietnam, we’re funding Ecosystem catalyst proposals to support the prioritization and integration of improved family functioning and parental / caregiver involvement in national policies and/or guidelines that govern provinces and school settings. 

Funded Innovations

Sports Spaces for Mental Health

Organisation de mise en œuvre : Plan International Vietnam

Type de projet : du Déploiement à l’échelle

Lieu : Lai Chau and Tuyen Quang, Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s): Sports, Peer-based

Status: Funded

Prioritizing Mental Health for Youth in Vietnam through STEM & SEL

Organisation de mise en œuvre : Kidspire

Type de projet : Démonstration de principe

Lieu : Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s): Digital, Games

Status: Funded

The typical vietnamese face masks with traditional paintings, made of straw at the souvenir market in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Adopting interactive theatre to foster empathy and sharing among family members to improve mental health and well-being for their children in Phú Thọ Province

Organisation de mise en œuvre : Center for Legal Aid and Consultation for the poor and ethnic minorities in Hoa Binh province

Type de projet : Démonstration de principe

Lieu : Phu Tho Province, Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s): Arts

Status: Funded

Thriving Family: Safe Haven for Adolescents

Organisation de mise en œuvre : ForestLink Social Enterprises

Type de projet : Démonstration de principe

Lieu : Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s): Service Delivery

Status: Funded

Roots & Wings: Strengthening Families, Empowering Youths

Organisation de mise en œuvre : WECARE Social Enterprise

Type de projet : Démonstration de principe

Lieu : Hanoi, Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s): Service Delivery, Storytelling

Status: Funded

Youth Development Monitoring System (YDMS)

Organisation de mise en œuvre : LeaderInYou

Type de projet : Démonstration de principe

Lieu : Hanoi, Vietnam

Domaine(s) thématique(s)Numérique

Status: Funded