New Zealand fruit companies support vulnerable children in Vietnam

This donation was driven by the New Zealand Consulate and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise in conjunction with the Be Strong Vietnam Campaign launched by the Song Foundation and the New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi

The donations will benefit the following recipients:

Operation Smile in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi – an international charity that provides free surgeries for children and young adults in developing countries born with cleft lip, cleft palate, or other facial deformities.

Tan Binh District Support Centre for Inclusive Education and Development that supports approximately 150 children with learning difficulties and disabilities – including autism, ADHD, and Down Syndrome – to teach them life skills and offer vocational training.

The Women’s Charity Association of Ho Chi Minh City that supports seven shelters caring for over 150 children aged between 5-18 years old of whom most are girls and many are from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Blue Dragon – an NGO based in Hanoi that rescues children from sex trafficking, forced labour, and slavery by providing shelter, education, and employment. It also supports 200-250 children in crisis through its network of safehouses and residential facilities and works directly with over 10,000 children and young people from around Vietnam.

Child nutrition is a major challenge in Vietnam, where chronic malnutrition is a key concern among vulnerable children and adults

Maison Chance provides accommodation, medical care, education, and vocational training to disabled people, orphans, and children in Vietnam who come from challenging backgrounds. They operate through three locations in Ho Chi Minh City and one in Dak Nong Province.

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson said, “It is great to see New Zealand’s largest fresh produce exporters finding creative ways to help local Vietnamese communities, especially vulnerable children and women.”

“The New Zealand Embassy is pleased to show our support for Vietnam by assisting New Zealand exporters to donate nutritious, fresh apples and kiwifruit. It is just a small way that New Zealand can help contribute to better health outcomes for the communities we are part of. It is through small gestures like these that we can show the deep friendship between our two countries,” added the ambassador.

Joe Nelson, Consul-General and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise Trade Commissioner to Vietnam stated, "New Zealand's businesses do not want to simply sell their products to Vietnam. They also want to be socially responsible. It is great to see these seven fruit companies contributing positively to the communities of Vietnam by donating their nutritious kiwifruit and apples. It is a small gesture that I am sure will brighten the day for these at-risk children and women."

"New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and the New Zealand Consulate are proud to partner with these companies for the second year. We hope these fruit donations will become an annual event,” he added.

In 2021, several of New Zealand’s top fruit businesses donated New Zealand apples and kiwi fruit to eight Vietnamese hospitals, staff, and patients during the lockdown in Ho Chi Minh City.

This year’s donations are made by T&G Global, Golden Bay Fruit, Zespri International, Freshmax Exports, Mr Apple, Bostock Group, and Fresh Fruit Company of New Zealand.