SOCIAL IMPACT ACCELERATION
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About Catalyst for Change Vietnam
This pitch video introduces Catalyst for Change Vietnam, a social enterprise dedicated to creating positive impact on Vietnamese women and children through educational volunteerism, cultural immersion and empowerment.
Target Issues
Rural English Education Gap
The demand for quality English education in Vietnam is immense. In 2016, only 33% of middle school and 26% of high school English teachers met the required proficiency standards, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. Provinces like Cao Bang had only 86 qualified English teachers for 275 schools. This shortage is even more pronounced in rural areas such as Ha Giang, Bac Kan, and Kon Tum, where the percentage of qualified English teachers is critically low. Despite government goals to provide 10 years of English education to all students by 2020, only 20% of students in grades 3-5 received the targeted 4 hours of English instruction per week.
Further compounding this issue is the sheer number of English centers in Vietnam. As of 2018 – 2019, there are 3,974 registered language centers nationwide, many of which are in need of qualified teaching staff (Continuing Education Statistics, 2018). This represents a significant market that Catalyst for Change Vietnam can tap into by supplying volunteers to these centers, thereby addressing both the quality and availability of English education.
Root causes:
- The severe shortage of qualified English language teachers is a major obstacle, with only over 33% of middle school and over 26% of high school English teachers meeting the required proficiency standards in 2016. For instance, Cao Bang province had only 86 English teachers despite having 275 schools.
- Inadequate training and professional development opportunities for existing English teachers, exacerbating substandard proficiency levels.
- Lack of support systems and incentives for learning English in underserved, rural areas, such as absence of professional networks, community integration, and motivational factors like competitive salaries and career growth opportunities. In 2016, only 20% of students (grades 3-5) received the targeted 4 hours of English instruction per week. The remaining students had access to only 2 hours.
Our Teach for Change program addresses this gap by partnering with 23+ women-led English centers, providing them with trained volunteers who can deliver English instruction. This approach not only enhances the educational outcomes for students but also supports the professional growth of local teachers through observation and exposure to foreign volunteers.
Gender Inequality
Vietnam’s deeply ingrained gender stereotypes and patriarchal attitudes have resulted in significant social and economic disparities.
Root causes
- The deep-rooted patriarchal norms have contributed to the normalization of violence against women. The 2019 National Survey on Violence against Women in Vietnam alarmingly revealed that nearly 63% of women experienced at least one form of physical, sexual, emotional, or economic violence.
- The feudalistic mindset continues to shape societal expectations, confining women’s primary responsibilities to childbearing, household chores, and caregiving roles. Many families, including the highly educated, still prioritize having sons to carry on the family name and inherit property, leading to an alarming gender imbalance at birth of 112 boys per 100 girls in 2023.
- Gender inequality in the economic field. In 2023, the average monthly income of male workers was 8.1 million VND – 1,37 times higher than that of female workers (5.9 million VND). The gender earnings gap stands at a substantial 21.5% in urban areas and an even higher 35.2% in rural regions, despite women often having similar education levels and working hours as their male counterparts.
- Lack of comprehensive mental health support services: The profession of “Psychologist” has been officially recognized in Vietnam’s occupational directory (Code: 2634 – 26340), effective from January 15, 2021.
The Empowerment Plan Program takes a holistic approach to support disadvantaged women in Vietnam. We provide vocational training, funding opportunities, business skills development, and psychological therapy to empower these women to overcome socioeconomic barriers and achieve self-reliance. The mothers of children in Teach For Change can also engage in learning via this program. This integrated approach fosters a collaborative environment, where the benefits of education and empowerment extend not only to the children but also to their mothers, creating a pathway towards a brighter and more inclusive future for the entire family. The program comprises three projects:
- Her Academy: An online platform offering courses on self-improvement, childcare, and business management, equipping women with knowledge and skills.
- Her Craft: A vocational training center and shop teaching women handcrafting skills and providing a platform to sell their products.
- Her Kitchen: A restaurant offering free culinary and hospitality training programs for women in need.
Vision for 2030
Catalyst for Change Vietnam aims to impact 1 million women in the next 5 years by expanding our programs, leveraging strategic partnerships, and engaging diverse communities.
- Establish partnerships with 5 new global NGOs, corporate sponsors, and government entities annually. Specifically: WUSC Canada, siviilipalveluskeskus.fi, Le Service Civique, Association Austrian Service Abroad, IJFD
- Extend our reach to host partners in 24 provinces in Vietnam Currently, we are operating in 12 provinces: Bac Giang, Ha Noi, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa, Hoa Binh, Tuyen Quang, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Dak Nong, HCMC. As of 2030, we plan to expand to the Mekong Delta region including Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.
- Diversify business model:
- Paid Internships/Volunteering: Attract a broader range of participants and foster a sense of ownership among the younger generation.
- Engage Retired Professionals: Utilize their expertise for high-quality program delivery.
- Connect with Vietnamese living abroad: Leverage their knowledge, skills, and resources.
- Paid training and consultancy services: For not-for-profit organizations and social businesses that wish to learn and gain insights from C4C.
- Events sponsorship: Companies can sponsor C4C’s online and offline events in exchange for audience reach and showcase their CSR commitment.
- Affiliate Commission: A partner can refer other women-led centers/ other interested partners within their network for commission from C4C.
- Volunteer Referral: Volunteers who refer a friend to join Teach for Change Program can receive a hand-made gift by single-moms in C4C.
- Enhanced Governance:
- Board of Trustees Establishment
- New Community Engagement Program
- Alumni Network
- Local Ambassadors
- Her Academy Digital Expansion:
- AI launch in partnership with Taara.Quest
- Skool Community
- Her Craft: expands to 50 distributor network
- Her Kitchen: trains 200 women working in volunteer houses and self-owned restaurants.
Financial Stability
Profit & Loss Statement. For more details, view our Confidential Information.
Impact Measurement
To measure impacts, we illustrate an Impact Measurement and Management (IMM) Table to further enhance our impact assessment
| SDG GOALS | INDICATORS | WHO/WHAT | IMPACT MEASURE (ESG) |
| SDG 3 | Target 3.4: By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being. | Her Academy Therapy Program | |
| SDG 4 | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development | Teach for Change program |
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| SDG 5
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Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere
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The Empowerment Plan | 398 mothers have received support in training, psychological counseling, business skills training, parenting skills, etc. online
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| Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life
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Woman led English centers of Teach for Change program |
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| Target 5.b: Enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to promote the empowerment of women
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100% of women who participate in Her Academy activities learned how to use a computer. | |
| SDG 8 | Target 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services
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| SDG 17 | Target 17.6: Enhance North-South, South-South and triangular regional and international cooperation on and access to science, technology and innovation and enhance knowledge sharing on mutually agreed terms, including through improved coordination among existing mechanisms, in particular at the United Nations level, and through a global technology facilitation mechanism. | Partners |
Partnerships
We envision expanding our impact through new partnerships with corporates, international NGOs and local hosting partners, launching community-based crowdfunding campaigns, and developing paid training and consultancy services. These collaborations will provide us with additional resources and financial support, allowing us to scale our programs and reach more communities. Corporate sponsors can offer funding, expertise, and volunteer support, while local hosting partners can benefit from our training and social impact.
Team and Leadership
The expertise and leadership capabilities of the C4C team, led by Founder Ms. Hong Tang and supported by the experienced managers across various functions, play a crucial role in enhancing the project’s ability to achieve its dual objectives of profitability and social impact.
- Direction: With her strong leadership skills and strategic vision, Ms. Hong Tang steers C4C towards achieving our goals by aligning the organization’s activities with mission and vision.
- Expertise in Cultural Studies: She holds a Master’s Degree in cultural studies and brings a unique perspective to the organization, allowing C4C to tailor its programs to the specific cultural context of the communities it serves.
- Experience in the NGO Field: Her 10-year experience in the NGO sector equips her with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of the social sector and drive sustainable social impact.
Conclusion
By integrating ESG standards and frameworks into our programs, we establish a robust foundation for transparent, impactful, and future-ready reporting that resonates with our commitment to building a more inclusive world through sustainable peace and impact-driven initiatives. Our comprehensive approach, combined with our commitment to innovation and community engagement, positions us to achieve our ambitious goal of reaching 1 million women by 2030.
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Join us today to be a Catalyst for change!
Project Leader: Van Thi Nhu Thuy
Phone: (+84) 0947.435.085
Email: [email protected]
For inquiries and partnerships:
Email: [email protected]