History of VVAF

Founded in 1978, the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) is a humanitarian organization that addresses consequences of war through programs of advocacy and service in Vietnam. In 1997, VVAF co-founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, for which it received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 2009, Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) began working under The International Center.

Since 2006, VVAF has focused on four main project areas. These areas of interest include: Mental Health, Education Programs, Landmine/UXO removal and Dioxin Resolution Initiative in Vietnam (DRIVE).

VVAF began its education programs in 2006 and projects have included the construction of schools, development of a vocational training center for the disabled in Hanoi, construction of computer and language labs as well as the distribution of scholarship.

VVAF’s DRIVE program strives to help those suffering from the after affects of dioxin contamination. Dioxin contamination is a result of the use of herbicides during the 1960s, including Agent Orange. The pesticides continue to be a problem in Vietnam. The first phase of the project was completed in 2008 and helped “legacy victims”, those who had been exposed to dioxin at the time of its use.

VVAF’s work with landmines/UXO has been in conjunction with the Technology Center for Bomb and Mine Disposal Engineering Command (BOMICEN). In 2004, VVAF began work on surveying the existence of landmines/UXO in Vietnam. The project, which was completed in 2008, included the creation of a map detailing the concentration of landmines/UXO as well as interviewed to citizens to have a better understanding of landmines/UXO socio-economic effects. VVAF continues to help with their removal of landmines/UXO

VVAF’s mental health programs focus on creating a community health approach to mental health problems in Vietnam. VVAF employs the Collaborative Stepped Care Model which emphasizes the integration of mental health care into the general health system. Beginning in 2006, VVAF created two pilot programs in Danang and Khanh Hoa provinces. VVAF collected information on the effects and prevalence of mental health disorders. Starting in 2009, VVAF collaborated with Provincial Health Services and the Ministry of Health to help identify solutions to the mental health problems in Vietnam.