Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – In March 2025, the Community Development Ministry’s first trip of the year went to Chiềng Khừa commune in the Northwest highlands, bringing rice, cooking equipment and seasonings to equip a boarding kitchen for highland schools at the preschools there.
See photos: photos of the Chiềng Khừa trip on the Community Development Ministry fanpage
Plans for 2025
At the start of the year, the ministry shared four priorities: replacing dilapidated houses for 3–5 families in extreme hardship; improving education at village schools with teaching equipment, scholarships, rice and food; supporting clean water; and diversifying livelihoods with seedlings and livestock. The ministry also hoped to run free medical trips.
At the end of February, the ministry appealed for support for two preschools in a border commune next to Laos, where 8 ethnic groups live together. Preschool children there lack nutrition and even basic kitchen facilities.
New Year Gifts
This was the ministry’s first partnership with the teachers in Chiềng Khừa. The goods delivered included:
- 400 kg of rice;
- 1 industrial 12-liter rice cooker and 1 double gas stove;
- 3 large pots and 5 large plastic baskets;
- 48 bottles of fish sauce, 50 packets of seasoning salt and 6 kg of stock powder;
- 170 cookies for the children.
The total cost was 16,375,000 dong, of which the ministry received 1.5 million dong from two donors. After the trip, the ministry sent thanks and a summary financial report to the donors.
“Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.” (Proverbs 19:17)
Remaining Concerns
Talking with the teachers, the team learned that each family must contribute 2 kg of rice per month to keep school meals going. But at this time of year, households do not have enough rice, so very few children can contribute. At some other schools, each family cooks rice at home and sends it with the child; some days children bring nothing because there is nothing at home to cook.
Many schools also lack water. One school has more than 70 students but no toilet at all. How to keep meals nutritious, provide clean water and build a proper toilet for these children are the questions the ministry carried home from the trip.
The ministry believes this is only the beginning, and hopes the journey will become a long-term partnership with Chiềng Khừa and many other highland areas.
Let Us Pray Together
- For preschool children in Chiềng Khừa to have filling, nutritious school meals.
- For the schools to soon have clean water and toilets.
- For the ministry to carry out its plans for 2025.
Read more in Community Development and Church News. Contact the church office: 0942 248 688 (Zalo available).
