[Vnbiz] Interesting article by former PM

[JDo]

hi Craig,
there is indeed such an effort, at least from VNese-Americans, called the VA
NGO Network, whose website is at:

www.va-ngo.org


which now lists 26 VA NGOs as its members.
most of the focus now is on early childhood education.

regards,
James

2008/4/15 Craig Stevenson <cstevenson2000 at gmail.com>:

> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
> Hi All:
>
> As long as I have participated on this board, I have had one nagging
> question, which I have never raised.  As many may realize, my perspectives
> are social, my interests are toward stability not consumption, and my belief
> is for the self-sufficiency of nations.  As one who looks to the third
> sector to solve problems, people helping people, I wonder why there is not
> some large endeavor built from Overseas Vientnamese to help in some
> situations.  This has been done in many other countries.  I believe in the
> US alone there are nearly 600 Vietnamese associations which should, could,
> pull resources to set up a knowledge and skills transference scheme.  Now I
> am not saying that O.VNese know best but to give a short example.  I know
> most of my Vnese friends back home from my former boss, and great friend,
> Tuan.  He is strongly connected to the local Vnese community in my area by
> virtue of being the guy who makes all the signs for all the Vnese
> businesses.  He was a volunteer in the community for a long time and then
> went on to run a non-profit, while running his business at the same time.
> He has years managing millions of USD a year in both government run, and
> private business, contracts.  His one brother is a Software Engineer, his
> other brother is an Engineer who designs energy efficient lighting
> fixtures.  His nephews, on his (ex) wifes, side are both Surgeons.  His son
> is a Pharmacist.  His friend has been in the Seafood business, both
> production and processing, for as long as I know.  Dozens of friends own
> their own businesses.  Their family members are everything across the
> spectrum.  I just know that there are a wide range of skills, and a
> diversity of knowledge.  I just don't know why, at least to my knowledge,
> there isn't a strong effort by Overseas Vietnamese, by the government, to
> get them involved to benefit communities.  I understand that there might be
> political issues, but guarentee, with most of the Overseas Vietnamese that I
> know, that this isn't an issue at all.  My friend returns to Vietnam yearly
> and spends time with his family, and his new wife's family, where he mostly
> focuses on business opportunities for building his life in Vietnam when he
> is an old man.  But I know that there must be thousands of Vietnamese both
> willing and able to contribute who have a very high level of skill base.
>
> Looking at the Indian growth projectory vis a vis the Chinese.  Many
> believe the Indian will eventually surpass the Chinese.  Where the Chinese
> have used the capital of Overseas Chinese to develop its productive
> capacity, the Indians have relied far less on foreign capital by leveraging
> the skills of its Overseas, and domestic, Indians.  There are initiatives
> such as India-Corp (like Peace core) where Indians have created a model for
> sending overseas into poor communities doing work as the Peace-Corp.  Why
> not the Vietnamese-Corp?  I know many Vietnamese, born abroad, who have come
> back to Vietnam and are working with this in mind, I know them because I
> work with several of them.  It just seems that there is some strength in the
> Vietnamese culture that extends beyond birthplace, and political leanings,
> and should be leveraged to attack some problems that might be existant in
> society.
>
> Craig
>
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