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Journey that began with nutrition

Save the Children began its operations in Vietnam in 1990 through a nutrition project in Thanh Hoa province, following an invitation from the Government of Vietnam. Jerry Sternin, who was tasked with establishing the organization’s first office, had just six months to make a tangible impact on local child malnutrition.

Professor Jerry Sternin and children in Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa Province, 1990. (Photo: Save the Children)

Instead of following a traditional knowledge-attitude-practice model, Sternin reversed the approach by encouraging families to directly implement practical, nutritious cooking methods using locally available ingredients such as sweet potato leaves, small crabs, and shrimp. This practice-based approach quickly delivered visible results, helping shift community attitudes and create long-term behavioral change. Within just two years, malnutrition rates dropped by as much as 85% in the project areas. The model was soon replicated in other provinces and became a national reference. In total, more than 2.2 million people across 256 communities benefited from the initiative — a foundational success that laid the groundwork for SC’s continued presence in Vietnam.

From pilot project to comprehensive intervention

Building on this early success, Save the Children gradually expanded and deepened its programmatic areas. Today, the organization operates in six strategic sectors: Education; Health and Nutrition; Child Protection; Child Rights Governance; Child Poverty and Youth Development; Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation.

Pham Sinh Huy (right), then country director of Save the Children, at the signing ceremony and official presentation of the representative office license in Vietnam (2009). (Photo: Save the Children)

From the initial four representative offices coordinated by SC member organizations from the United States, the UK, Japan, and Sweden, SC Vietnam unified into a single national office in 2009. With a team of more than 100 highly qualified and experienced staff, SC has not only scaled up its operations but also transformed its approach to program management and implementation. Each year, Save the Children in Vietnam reaches an estimated 8–9 million people, over 90% of whom are children.

Children at heart of change

Children are always at the center of Save the Children’s work. The organization is committed to ensuring that children are not only beneficiaries but also active participants in designing, implementing, and monitoring programs. Child participation enhances the relevance, sustainability, and long-term impact of initiatives across communities.

Le Thi Thanh Huong, country director of Save the Children in Vietnam, stated: “The challenges of today demand immediate action and fresh solutions. SC is committed to building a future where every child can grow up safely, healthily, and access quality learning in a secure environment. We will reshape our approach, strengthen collaboration, and better share resources with partners to ensure local ownership and participation in our projects — working together to find innovative solutions for the challenges children will face in the future.”

Le Thi Thanh Huong – country director of Save the Children in Vietnam (2021–present). (Photo: Save the Children)

“We are committed to promoting children’s rights and participation, empowering them to become the driving force of change through inclusive, sustainable, and innovative programs. We will build on our strengths in evidence-based programming, leverage technology for development (T4D), and deliver holistic interventions in education, health, and child protection. Equipping children with life skills and climate resilience is a strategic priority — essential to building sustainable, resilient communities and scaling solutions from grassroots to national policy,” Huong emphasized.

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