Whilst 'doi moi' (Vietnam's movement from a managed socialist economy to a more free-market orientated model) has managed to increase the quality of life for a large proportion of the country's population, there are key groups that have been left behind. A lack of well paid, stable jobs in the cities has lead to many families having to make the difficult choice between their children getting an education or working on the street to ensure enough food on the table to feed the whole family. In the provinces, rural poverty and the dream of a better life in the city has lead to many children migrating, only to find getting stable employment or accommodation near impossible.

At the time of the last survey in 1995, there were an estimated 50,000 children on the streets of Vietnam, of which 17,000 were found within Ho Chi Minh City [1] (HCMC/Saigon), where the 15 May School is based. Of those found on the streets of Saigon, 40% lived with their parents and 60% had migrated from rural areas.[2]

Life on the street can expose children to the worst of the weather, to crime - theft and assualt, whether physical or sexual, and to hard drugs such as heroin and the associated risks of HIV/AIDS infection. On top of this street children usually have no access to medical services and the instability of their income can lead to their going hungry.

Sources:

1 - Streetchildren.org.uk - Vietnam
2 - http://www.streetchildren.org.uk/reports/Vietnam%20Child.doc