January – December 2021
www.bluedragon.org
Background
Blue Dragon Vietnam caters to the needs of some of Vietnam’s most vulnerable and underserved children and youth. Our work involves rescuing and assisting children and youth in critical situations, such as street children, runaway children, victims of human trafficking, children with disabilities, young rural-urban migrants, kids affected by drugs and HIV/AIDS, homeless families, child prisoners, and the rural poor.
Blue Dragon UK has raised donations to support Blue Dragon’s work during 2021. This report provides an overview of the impact of the total donation of 42,667 GBP during 2021. The donation has assisted highly vulnerable street children in Hanoi as well as ensuring the recovery and successful reintegration for survivors of human trafficking. In addition, the donation has supported our comprehensive anti-trafficking programs in rural provinces, by ensuring children can stay in school, access quality careers education and have pathways into further education or careers that will lead their entire families out of poverty.
Your impact in numbers
In August and September 2021, Blue Dragon Germany and other generous donors have enabled Blue Dragon to:
----- Start of picture text -----
Distribute Provide
…and 75 Enable 12
nutritious food for accommodation
survivors of disadvantaged
1,800 children, and care for 244
human trafficking youth to attend
families… survivors of
University
trafficking
Help 8 former
. . . and 447
Ensure 118 street children
former street ethnic minority and 6 survivors of
children attended
children . . . trafficking to get a
school
job
----- End of picture text -----
Long term empowerment of street children
Education and learning
In the past two years, children around the world have had to pursue their education through online schooling. Blue Dragon wants to ensure these opportunities are also available to disadvantaged young people. For this reason, Blue Dragon has mobilised electronic devices for students and strengthened our services to keep young people in school and support their learning.
2
The Blue Dragon staff have taught children and their parents how to use electronic devices and supported the children to use the learning platforms safely and effectively. Younger children also have the option to come to Dragon House, so their studies can be supported by social workers. In addition to traditional forms of learning, we are also organising a variety of online extra-curricular activities to keep children, especially younger ones, engaged and enthusiastic during their studies.
Hoa is very happy to receive a tablet so she can learn online
We also learnt that many parents of street children cannot read or write and have never used online platforms before, so with your support, Blue Dragon started a YouTube channel that included friendly tutorials to help parents develop the IT skills they needed to help their children. Since June, your donation has meant that we have successfully facilitated 55 online and offline lessons each month.
In addition, we are supporting a group of 20 children under 10 years old from disadvantaged backgrounds to learn English, Vietnamese, and math through fun, online applications. They are also participating in social and emotional learning workshops facilitated by our Psychology Program Manager. All the children are making great progress in sharing, expressing their needs verbally, and building their self-confidence.
3
Ensuring support for survivors of human trafficking
In the past year, Blue Dragon has witnessed new trends emerging in human trafficking. Both the routes of human trafficking and the forms and methods of traffickers are evolving.
Due to COVID-19, border closures and movement restrictions mean that traffickers are resorting to new tricks and routes. We are witnessing more women and girls from southern and central Vietnam being trafficked to China and Myanmar as well as an increase in domestic trafficking into the commercial sex industry.
Blue Dragon continues to pursue system changes at the highest level by taking part in policy and law reform projects. In 2022, the Law on Anti-Trafficking in Vietnam will mark its 10-year anniversary and is due for crucial reforms and updates. We are participating in the law reform process by informing national decision-makers with lessons learned from our work on the ground and ensuring that the voice of victims and those who care for them are heard during the revision process.
In addition, thanks to the generous donors to Blue Dragon UK, Blue Dragon Vietnam is expanding our holistic care for victims of human trafficking. The profiles of survivors are diversifying and so have their needs for support.
During the past year we have seen an increase in the need for emergency care and shelter for female survivors. Blue Dragon is developing a new emergency shelter as we expect this need to continue to increase in coming years. While some of this assistance may be material, a significant component of our work involves providing trauma-informed care to lead survivors
4
out of physical and psychological crises. Blue Dragon Vietnam has qualified social workers and psychologists who specialize in assisting female survivors of human trafficking.
We are also expanding our reintegration work to ensure the successful transition back to normal life for a higher number of survivors of human trafficking. We provide support for accommodation, living stipends, and reintegration through viable work opportunities. We are focusing on COVID-proof income opportunities by supporting survivors to establish sustainable livelihoods in their home communities and opening up opportunities in careers related to science and technology.
Preventing trafficking in the wake of COVID-19
In the last year, the COVID-19 pandemic has vastly changed living conditions for households in rural provinces. After the recent outbreak and nationwide lockdown, many individuals who lost their jobs and livelihoods in cities have returned to their home provinces unemployed and with no source of income. We are thus seeing an increased need for living allowances and other forms of emergency assistance to sustain households without a stable income source. This situation has increased vulnerability to human trafficking, and thanks to Blue Dragon UK donors Blue Dragon Vietnam is responding.
In collaboration with local government agencies, we are expanding our community-based anti-trafficking models in rural areas. In Dien Bien and Ha Giang provinces, Blue Dragon is training more community-based social workers in trauma-informed care and victim assistance to ensure that all victims and those at risk of trafficking can receive necessary services. We also provided trafficking prevention educational workshops for over 6,000 ethnic minority people.
Schoolgirls in Dien Bien province are happy to receive schoolbooks for the new school year
5
For the long term, we are ensuring communities’ resilience by providing scholarships and access to further education for impoverished and ethnic minority children. In 2021, we were able to support several ‘Back to School’ campaigns to ensure that all ethnic minority children had the best chance to return to school and complete their education. In Dien Bien and Ha Giang provinces, we assisted 986 children who initially didn’t return to school, to go back. Some required assistance with school fees or equipment for school, and we also provided livestock for 19 families to raise and generate income through selling the offspring.
In addition to basic educational support, Blue Dragon also works with ethnic minority secondary and high schools to ensure that young boys and girls can receive careers education and have post-school pathways into quality livelihoods. We provide training for teachers so they can provide quality careers advice to students, and support Careers Clubs and life skills development activities for students. In 2021 workshops were held in 14 schools and reached over 4,000 students in Dien Bien, Ha Giang and Hue provinces. In schools in Dien Bien we support several ‘girls groups’ in boarding schools. These groups hold regular meetings to discuss issues such as child marriage, relationships, and other key life issues. We support teachers to provide training for the girls to understand the risks of child labour & early marriage, reproductive and sexual health, and other essential life skills such as communications, conflict management and leadership.
At the last meeting of the Embroidery Club, girls learnt not only traditional designs and crafts but also talked about the importance of friendship
Tertiary scholarships
Blue Dragon UK donors have sponsored 12 students during 2021 to undertake tertiary study. In total, Blue Dragon Vietnam is enabling 118 tertiary students. All are disadvantaged, ethnic minority or disabled youth who otherwise would not be able to afford university. During 2021, we piloted a program to increase the number of ethnic minority students who can continue
6
on to tertiary education. Blue Dragon Careers experts provided training for teachers and students on tertiary options, and how to apply and succeed in the entrance exam. Individual advice and counselling was provided for interested students at two ethnic minority schools. As a result, nine young women successfully got into university and commenced their studies in September 2021. This program will further expand to more schools in 2022.
Financial report
| Impact area | Total spending (GBP) |
No. of beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|
| Reintegration for survivors of trafficking | 30,380 | 244 |
| Psychosocial support, education for street children |
2,104 | 118 |
| Tertiaryscholarships | 5,061 | 12 |
| Trafficking prevention in ruralprovinces | 5,122 | 10,000 |
| Total | 42,667 | 10,374 |
Your impact beyond the numbers
When classes resumed at Tuoi’s school after the Lunar New Year holiday, her desk was empty. If she had a choice, Tuoi would have been the first student back once classes resumed, but the reality of her family’s dire financial situation got in the way.
Tuoi lives with her brother and elderly grandmother in northern Vietnam’s Dien Bien province. Refusing to sit by and watch as her grandmother struggled to provide for her and her 10-yearold brother, Tuoi packed a small bag and left home to find work.
Village by village, construction site by construction site, Tuoi travelled through the countryside offering to lay bricks and mix concrete. The teenager was willing to take up any task that would help her earn money to send to her grandmother so her little brother could stay in school.
But Tuoi never found work. Everywhere she went, she was told she was too young. Eventually, she was left with no choice but to return home. Despite her failure, Tuoi refused to go back to school. She was still convinced it was her responsibility to find a job and support her family.
7
Tuoi’s teachers contacted Blue Dragon and, together, they visited Tuoi and her grandmother at home. They explained the importance of staying in school and warned the family about the dangers of child labour and human trafficking.
Teachers discussing what support is needed for Tuoi and her brother to stay in school
With support from Blue Dragon UK donors, Blue Dragon Vietnam was able to award a scholarship to Tuoi so that she could return to school, safe from danger and ready to work towards a bright future.
Thank you to all the donors to Blue Dragon UK for giving Tuoi the opportunities she deserves.
8
Trustees' Annual Report for the period
| Period start date | Period start date | Period end date | Period end date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 01 | 2021 | 31 | 12 | 2021 | ||
| From | To |
Section A Reference and administration details
Charity name BLUE DRAGON CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION UK
Other names charity is known by
Registered charity number (if any) 1165180
Charity's principal address 28 ROWLLS ROAD
KINGSTON UPON THAMES
Postcode: KT1 3ET LONDON
Names of the charity trustees who manage the charity
| 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 |
Trustee name | Office (if any) | Dates acted if not for whole **year ** |
Name of person (or body) entitled to appoint trustee (ifany) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anouk Lange | Chair | July17- May22 | ||
| Isabelle Paresys | Treasurer | October 17- May22 | ||
| Sophia Cliff | FundraisingDirector | |||
| LesleyBleakley | Chair | From 16/05/2022 | ||
| Laurinda Da Silva | Treasurer | From 16/05/2022 | ||
Names of the trustees for the charity, if any, (for example, any custodian trustees)
Name Dates acted if not for whole year
9
| Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address |
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address |
Names and addresses of advisers (Optional information) Type of adviser Name Address |
|---|---|---|
Name of chief executive or names of senior staff members (Optional information)
Section B
Structure, governance and management
Description of the charity’s trusts
Constitution
Type of governing document (eg. trust deed, constitution) CIO How the charity is constituted (eg. trust, association, company)
Election by existing directors Trustee selection methods
(eg. appointed by, elected by)
Additional governance issues (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant, about:
-
policies and procedures adopted for the induction and training of trustees;
-
the charity’s organisational structure and any wider network with which the charity works;
-
relationship with any related parties;
-
trustees’ consideration of major risks and the system and procedures to manage them.
Section C
Objectives and activities
The objects for which the CIO is established for the public benefit are the relief of those in need by reason of youth, financial hardship or other disadvantage in any part of the world but primarily in Vietnam and in South East Asia generally by: Summary of the objects of the (a) providing a safe environment, legal and other support, guidance, charity set out in its healthcare, food and any education or training, which may include governing document vocational training, necessary to alleviate a vulnerable child’s or young person’s needs; (b) providing children living on the street or out of their familial homes with suitable accommodation;
10
(c) providing financial and other assistance to the immediate families of children and young people who require assistance or have been assisted in accordance with paragraphs a and b above; (d) supporting the work of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation International and cooperating and liaising with other entities with similar objectives to raise funds and/or promote awareness of the CIO and the objects of the CIO.
Summary of the main activities undertaken for the public benefit in relation to these objects (include within this section the statutory declaration that trustees have had regard to the guidance issued by the Charity Commission on public benefit)
Additional details of objectives and activities (Optional information)
11
You may choose to include further statements, where relevant, about:
-
policy on grantmaking;
-
policy programme related investment;
-
contribution made by volunteers.
Section D
Achievements and performance
12
Section D Achievements and erformance p
Over the course of 2021, Fundraising actions were also minimal due to Summary of the main the pandemic. BDUK’s activity focused on maintaining visibility of Blue achievements of the charity Dragon in the UK via social media and receiving donations from regular during the year donors via fundraising platforms or directly on the Charity’s bank account.
13
Section E
Financial review
Blue Dragon UK holds a minimum account balance of £500.
Brief statement of the charity’s policy on reserves
Details of any funds materially in deficit
Further financial review details (Optional information)
You may choose to include additional information, where relevant about:
Blue Dragon UK relies on donations from the public, and from companies wishing to donate as part of their CSR.
-
the charity’s principal sources of funds (including any fundraising);
-
how expenditure has supported the key objectives of the charity;
-
investment policy and objectives including any ethical investment policy adopted.
Section F
Other optional information
Section G Declaration
The trustees declare that they have approved the trustees’ report above.
Signed on behalf of the charity’s trustees
Signature(s)
Full name(s) Laurinda Da Silva Position (eg Secretary, Chair, Treasurer
etc)
Date 30/10/2022
14
| BLUE | DRAGON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION UK | DRAGON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION UK | DRAGON CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION UK | 1165180 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Receipts andpayments accounts | CC16a | ||||
| For | the period from |
01/01/2021 | To | 31/12/2021 |
Section A Receipts and payments
| A1 Receipts | Unrestricted funds to the nearest £ 77 4,847 7,693 15,826 2,947 29,981 - - 61,371 - - - 61,371 42,667 73 40 54 250 100 - - - 43,184 - - - 43,184 18,187 20,846 39,033 |
Restricted funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Endowment funds to the nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - |
Total funds to the nearest £ 77 4,847 7,693 15,826 2,947 29,981 - - 61,371 - - - 61,371 42,667 73 40 54 250 100 - - - 43,184 - - - 43,184 18,187 |
Total funds to the nearest £ 77 4,847 7,693 15,826 2,947 29,981 - - 61,371 - - - 61,371 42,667 73 40 54 250 100 - - - 43,184 - - - 43,184 18,187 |
Last year to the nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon | 77 | 49 | ||||
| Facebook Donations | 4,847 | 3,656 | ||||
| Kindlink Donations | 7,693 | 11,973 | ||||
| Individual Donor | 15,826 | 10,066 | ||||
| Corporate Donor | 2,947 | 9,693 | ||||
| Stripe | 29,981 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total(Gross income for AR) |
61,371 |
35,437 | ||||
| A2 Asset and investment sales, (see table). |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - |
- | |||||
| ~~Sub total~~ | - |
- | ||||
| Total receipts A3 Payments |
||||||
| 35,437 | ||||||
BDUK TO BDV |
42,667 | 29,713 | ||||
| Charges Blue Dragon Trsf | 73 | 114 | ||||
| Facebook charges | 40 | 50 | ||||
| Giving.com charges | 54 | 144 | ||||
| Kindlink charges | 250 | 22 | ||||
| HMRC | 100 | - | ||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| - | - | |||||
| Sub total | 43,184 | 30,043 | ||||
| A4 Asset and investment purchases, (see table) |
||||||
| - | ||||||
| - | ||||||
| Sub total | - | - | ||||
| Total payments Net of receipts/(payments) A5 Transfers between funds A6 Cash funds last year end Cash funds this year end |
||||||
| 30,043 | ||||||
| 18,187 | - | - | 18,187 |
5,394 | ||
| - | - | - | - | |||
| 20,846 | - | - | 20,846 | 15,452 | ||
| 39,033 | - | - | 39,033 |
20,846 |
15
Section B Statement of assets and liabilities at the end of the period
| Categories Signed by one or two trustees on behalf of all the trustees B5 Liabilities B3 Investment assets B2 Other monetary assets B4 Assets retained for the charity’s own use B1 Cash funds |
Details Details Total cash funds (agree balances with receipts and payments account(s)) Barclays account Details Details Details Signature |
Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ 39,033 - - - - - 39,033 - OK OK Unrestricted funds Restricted funds to nearest £ to nearest £ - - - - - - - - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - Fund to which asset belongs Cost (optional) - - - - - - - - - Fund to which liability relates Amount due (optional) - - - - - Print Name LAURINDA DA SILVA |
Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| OK | |||
| Endowment funds to nearest £ |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| Current value (optional) |
|||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| - | |||
| When due (optional) |
|||
| Date of approval |
|||
| LAURINDA DA SILVA | 30/10/2022 | ||
16
Independent examiner's report on the accounts
Section A Independent Examiner’s Report Report to the trustees/ Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation UK members of On accounts for the year 31/12/2021 Charity no 1165180 ended (if any) Set out on pages 9 to 16
I report to the trustees on my examination of the accounts of the above charity (“the Trust”) for the year ended 31 / 12 / 2021.
- Responsibilities and As the charity trustees of the Trust, you are responsible for the preparation basis of report of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charities Act 2011 (“the Act”).
I report in respect of my examination of the Trust’s accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out my examination, I have followed the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Act.
Independent I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have examiner's statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me cause to believe that in, any material respect:
-
accounting records were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Act or
-
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the examination to which attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
Signed: Date: 26 / 10 / 2022 Name: Justin Fong Relevant professional Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales qualification(s) or body (if any): Address: Flat 40 Galyon Point 9 Gallions Road E16 2AH, London Section B Disclosure
Only complete if the examiner needs to highlight matters of concern (see CC32, Independent examination of charity accounts: directions and guidance for examiners).
1
Give here brief details of any items that the examiner wishes to disclose .
2