The Foundation for Microprojects in Vietnam was established in 2003 by Christopher J. Carpenter, a former Representative in Vietnam of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to provide grass-roots assistance to the poorest villages of the country as a contribution towards the Vietnamese Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation Programme.
At the request of the DPR of Korea, a similar programme was started in the DPRK in 2009. As a result, the name of the foundation was changed to the Foundation for Microprojects in Vietnam-DPRK (FMV-DPRK). We are a Swiss based non-profit, non-governmental organization (NGO) funded by private donations. More about us… Foundation's Statutes…
PROJECTS
Our assistance in Vietnam focuses on the installation of drinking water,
the construction of primary and secondary schools, rural
roads, bridges, medical clinics and irrigation systems.
FMV-DPRK contributes no more than US$40,000 to each project. The local communities also contribute to the projects. A total of 71
projects have been undertaken in Vietnam since the start of the programme.
In the DPRK our assistance has focused on the reconstruction of primary and secondary schools destroyed by flooding. As in Vietnam, FMV-DPRK contributes no more than US$40,000 towards each project. The local authorities and the Korea Education Fund (KEF) also contribute to the projects. A total of 2 projects have been completed in the DPRK.
VIETNAM:
At a meeting on 15 April 2009, the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Ms Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, expressed gratitude towards FMV-DPRK for the 71 projects already carried out and proposed that in the future FMV-DPRK concentrate on Dak Nong, Cao Bang and Ha Giang Provinces.
Meanwhile, 5 projects selected for 2009 in Gia Lai and Kontum Provinces have started. These include the installation of electricity for a village of leprosy patients, an irrigation project, the construction of a primary school, the construction of a dormitory for primary school students and the construction of a small bridge. FMV-DPRK has agreed to contribute up to $40,000 towards each of these projects with the balance to be covered by the local authorities. All of these projects will focus on improving the lives of ethnic minorities. It is expected that the projects will be completed in October 2009.
DPR of KOREA:
From 8-15 November 2008, FMV-DPRK visited Kangwon Province in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to evaluate the completion of 2 middle schools which had been jointly financed by FMV-DPRK, the Korea Education Fund (KEF) and the local authorities in 2008. The schools were located in two remote mountainous villages which had been severely affected by flooding. Both projects were completed satisfactorily and some 300 students were attending class in each school. KEF provided a full accounting of expenditures.
At the end of this visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between FMV-DPRK and KEF to cover continued assistance in 2009. FMV-DPRK will contribute up to $120,000 towards the construction of 3 primary schools in villages of South Hwanghae Province where the original schools had been destroyed by flooding. KEF and the local authorities are also contributing funds to the projects. Construction of the schools will take about 6 months and should be ready in time for the school year in October 2009.
More news items and project proposals…
FUNDING AND LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
A total of $195,000 are being sought to finance 5 projects to be carried out in Kontum and Gia Lai Provinces in 2009 while $120,000 is being sought to finance the construction of 3 primary schools in the DPRK. More on funding…
AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
The Foundation was awarded the Medal of Friendship by the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in March 2004 and the Medal of Labour by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in March 2002 for contributions made towards the alleviation of poverty in Vietnam.
The Foundation has also been awarded certificates of appreciation by Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Tri and Thanh Hoa Provinces, Vietnam, and by the Korea Education Fund, DPRK.
BLOGS AND OTHER LINKS
'Visit to the Central Highlands, Vietnam',
5 November 2008. For an account of C.J. Carpenter's visit to the Central Highlands to identify projects for ethnic minorities living in the area, go to blog…
'Visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK)', 21 November 2008. For an account of C.J. Carpenter's
visit to the DPRK to evaluate projects in that country, go to blog…
Our objective is to help alleviate poverty in the rural areas of Vietnam and of the DPRK in areas where little assistance is provided either by the government or by other international organizations.
We finance small-scale rural-development projects that can have an immediate and tangible impact on the livelihood of the local population.
PROJECTS IN VIETNAM BY LOCATION
PROJECTS IN DPRK BY LOCATION
go to blog… 
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