Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
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Background of the DRIVE Program
During most of the 1960s, massive quantities of herbicides were used in Vietnam, including agent orange. The pesticides have now become a lingering public health concern in the form of the affects of dioxin on the country and the population. VVAF's DRIVE program strives to help those suffering from the afteraffects of dioxin contamination in those areas where the herbicides were stored or loaded and those who were exposed to the herbicides at the time.
November 17, 2009 - A group of 10 trainees learned how to plant orchids and other flowers as a part of VVAF’s DRIVE program. Ninh Binh VAVA is planning for the display of their products, including orchids and other flowers as well as vegetables, during the Lunar New Year (TET Holiday).
The DRIVE Program is divided into two phases. Phase I occurred between 2006-08 and focused on those who had been exposed to dioxin at the time of its use, also called legacy victims. The second phase of the program continues from 2009 to 2011 and is focused on expanding the work from Phase I in an effort to expand the program objectives from helping those in the affected areas to the empowerment and inclusion of those persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the region.
The DRIVE program has trained 60 members of the Ninh Binh Agent Orange Association in techniques for planting flowers and vegetables and given on-job training to 30 people. The trainees are dioxin- affected Vietnam veterans who are now unable to work hard while they are still earning their livings, making flower and vegetable planting more suitable for them.
For more pictures of the Ninh Binh job trainings, please click here.