Healthy Future initiative
Building Healthier and Safer Schools Through Education and Preparedness
The Challenge
In Vietnam’s remote and disadvantaged regions, children face not only poor hygiene but a wider set of health challenges that affect their education and development. Preventable illnesses such as diarrhea, respiratory infections, and dengue fever continue to impact school attendance and learning outcomes, yet many schools and households lack even basic medical supplies to respond (World Bank, 2022).
Access to healthcare is also highly unequal. Ethnic minority communities are twice as likely to experience child mortality compared with the national average (UNICEF, 2020). Rural schools often lack health staff, first aid kits, or screening tools, leaving minor injuries untreated and chronic illnesses like diabetes or anaemia undiagnosed. For children, these gaps mean more than just lost days of learning—they undermine wellbeing, confidence, and opportunities for the future.
Our response
Building Healthier Schools Through infrastructures/Resources, Training, and Education
Our co-founder, Sean Pham, launched the Healthy Future Program to provide practical and sustainable health solutions for schools through three key areas: strengthening access to essential health resources, improving emergency preparedness, and promoting health education.
Through partnerships with schools and local communities, Green Kites works to create safer learning environments where students, teachers, and staff are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to respond to health challenges.
A Three-Part Approach to Healthier Schools
1. Health Infrastructures & Resources
Green Kites helps schools establish essential health infrastructure by providing medical cabinets, first aid supplies, and other resources needed to support everyday health needs and emergency situations.
2. Emergency Preparedness
Students, teachers, and school staff receive practical training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, basic first aid, emergency response, and safety awareness, helping schools become better prepared during emergencies.
3. Health Education
Through workshops, learning materials, and practical demonstrations, Green Kites promotes hygiene, disease prevention, and lifelong health awareness among students and educators.
From First Aid Support to School Health Systems
Beginning in 2023, Green Kites’ Healthy Future Program focused on more than providing immediate aid. The goal was to build health knowledge, resilience, and sustainable solutions within schools and communities.
The program began by providing five comprehensive First Aid kits to classrooms at Ama Trang Lơng Primary School in Đắk Lắk Province, supporting 313 students with essential emergency resources.
Since then, Healthy Future has expanded into a broader school health initiative focused on preparedness, prevention, and long-term capacity building.
Sean Pham’s On-the-Ground Leadership
Through regular visits to local commune health centers and major hospitals in Lào Cai, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi, Sean helps Green Kites deepen its commitment to improving the health and future of children in Vietnam. He engages directly with healthcare workers, administrators, health officials, patients, and families, gaining valuable insights into both systemic healthcare challenges and community needs. These experiences help inform Green Kites’ health initiatives and strengthen partnerships with local healthcare providers.
Through his hands-on involvement, Sean and his team have helped establish school-based health support systems, including:
- Providing fully stocked medical cabinets and essential first aid supplies
- Supporting hygiene and disease prevention initiatives
- Working with schools to strengthen emergency preparedness
- Helping train teachers and staff to better respond to health emergencies
At Sín Chéng Primary School and Sín Chéng High School in Lào Cai Province, Green Kites established the schools’ first Emergency Response Programs by providing medical resources, training educators, and creating stronger systems for student safety.
In 2026, Healthy Future expanded to additional partner schools, including Ban Mế Primary and Secondary School, Sim San Preschool, Tân Lập Commune Elementary & Boarding School, Nguyễn Thị Hoa Elementary School, and Láng Dài Elementary School.
Through his direct work with local educators and communities, Healthy Future has evolved from a first aid initiative into a sustainable school health program.
Expanding Health Education Beyond the Classroom
To extend learning beyond individual workshops, William Pham created a 78-page First Aid Handbook designed to provide students and educators with accessible guidance on emergency response, basic first aid skills, and health preparedness.
This resource allows schools to continue developing health knowledge, confidence, and preparedness long after Green Kites workshops conclude.
Impact through partnership
Since 2023, Green Kites has supported more than 2,100 students, teachers, and staff across 8 schools in 4 provinces of Vietnam through health resources, emergency preparedness programs, and health education initiatives.
Each partnership combines immediate support with long-term education, helping schools develop the tools, skills, and confidence needed to create healthier communities.
Building Healthier Futures Together
Healthy Future represents Green Kites’ commitment to empowering communities through education, collaboration, and sustainable solutions.
By strengthening school health systems and investing in knowledge, Green Kites helps create safer environments where children can learn, grow, and thrive.
Our partners
SCHOOL PARTNERS:
- Đắk Lắk – Ama Trang Lơng Primary School: 313 students and teachers.
- Lào Cai – Sín Chéng Kindergarten and Primary School: 85 students and teachers.
- Lào Cai – Sín Chéng Commune Secondary School School: 370 students and teachers.
- Lào Cai – Ban Mế Primary and Secondary School: 429 students and 22 teachers.
- Lào Cai (Y Tý) – Sim San 1 Preschool: 50 students and teachers.
- Tuyên Quang – Tân Lập Commune Elementary Boarding School: 255 students and 24 teachers.
- Vũng Tàu (Đất Đỏ) – Nguyễn Thị Hoa Elementary School: 250 students and 27 teachers.
- Vũng Tàu (Đất Đỏ) – Láng Dài Elementary School: 250 students and 25 teachers.
HEATHCARE PARTNERS:
The Healthy Future Initiative is supported by physicians, nurses, anesthesiologists, and healthcare professionals who contribute their expertise to strengthen school health and emergency preparedness.
- Olympic Anesthesia, PC (Reston, Virginia, USA)
- Kaiser Permanente Ashburn Medical Center (Ashburn, Virginia, USA)
- Sín Chéng (Lào Cai) Commune Health Center
- Bản Mế (Lào Cai) Commune Health
- Y Tý (Lào Cai) Commune Health Center
- Tân Trào (Tuyên Quang) Commune Health Center
- Đất Đỏ (Vũng Tàu) Commune Health Center
- Thường Tín (Hanoi) Commune Health Center
- Tâm Anh Hospital (District 10, Ho Chi Minh City)
- National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Hanoi)
References
UNICEF (2020) Situation Analysis of Children in Viet Nam 2020. Available at: https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/reports/situation-analysis-children-viet-nam-2020 (Accessed: 24 August 2025).
World Bank (2022) Vietnam Health Security and Service Delivery Overview. Available at: https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/vietnam/publication/vietnam-health-overview (Accessed: 24 August 2025).
