ANZ supports Vietnamese disadvantaged youths

The programme aims to help young adults improve their career and education opportunities via career orientation workshops; life skills training; individual counselling; field trips to work places; opportunities for job placements and vocational training.

In addition to financial assistance, ANZ also provided extra support with delivery of its flagship financial literacy programme – MoneyMinded, Mentorship and other volunteering activities by its staff.

A total of 458 participants took part in all sessions under the ANZ Kickstart Programme.

ANZ CEO, Vietnam, Dennis Hussey said, “We believe in making longer-term impact to children’s lives by focusing on education and providing a fairer start for vulnerable young people, who without the programme, would not have had access to these experiences, knowledge and skills. ANZ Kickstart was made possible by our partner Blue Dragon’s dedication and by the terrific commitment and energy of the young people in the programme.”

“We are committed to the economic empowerment of young people in Vietnam, and look to support similar programmes with Blue Dragon in the future,” Hussey added.

“ANZ’s support has been crucial to our success in building better futures for children at Blue Dragon, ensuring they have the tools they need to choose and pursue economically-sustainable and rewarding careers,” said Julienne Carey, CEO of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation.

“Every participant has their own success story: from one 17 year-old hearing impaired boy whose field trip to a café led to a permanent job, to a girl who gained the confidence to apply for a place at university. The impact of these individual successes on disadvantaged communities in Vietnam is priceless.

“As a pilot programme, we will build on ANZ Kickstart’s success to develop a fully comprehensive Career Preparation Programme compulsory for all youth 15 years and over at Blue Dragon. We will work hand-in-hand with ANZ staff, whose commitment to mentoring and transferring their own skills during Kickstart was inspiring to all participants,” Carey noted.

ANZ Vietnam and Blue Dragon have been working together since 2012 and formally established a MoneyMinded partnership in 2014, under which, 10 of Blue Dragon’s staff were trained and accredited to be MoneyMinded facilitators by ANZ.