All children have the right to clean water, as recognised in the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Universal access to safe water is a central aim of Sustainable Development Goal 6. Yet, many children in Vietnam continue to face serious barriers to this basic necessity.

Tra Vinh City, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, is among the areas most affected by climate change and saline intrusion. Its low-lying coastal geography makes it highly vulnerable to rising sea levels and extreme weather. This leads to saltwater contaminating rivers, canals, and groundwater. For schools, it means a reduced ability to provide clean drinking water, compromising students’ hygiene and health.

Tra Vinh City has a population of 184,860, and 75% of schoolchildren and their parents have limited awareness of water-borne diseases. The widespread habit of drinking unboiled water has serious health implications. According to the Water Resource Management Department, up to 80% of illnesses nationally are linked to polluted water. Common water-related illnesses in the area include typhoid, diarrhoea, scabies, and various gynaecological conditions. All of these impact students’ well-being and learning outcomes.

In response to the challenges facing schools in Tra Vinh City, we launched a partnership with ActionAid Vietnam in early 2025, shortly before we started our operations in the country. This three-year collaboration focuses on enhancing climate resilience and improving water and hygiene conditions for those most affected. The project aims to increase understanding of climate change, expand access to safe water, and promote healthy hygiene practices in schools and homes.

The initiative directly benefits 5,000 schoolchildren across six schools in Tra Vinh City, improving water infrastructure and health education. Indirectly, it supports approximately 15,000 family members by reducing the financial burden of purchasing clean water and lessening caregiving duties for children affected by water-borne diseases.