In March 2016, Loving Milk, a program initiated by SCDI with the donation from Danone Vietnam CO., LTD, had provided more than 43 tons of powder milk for more than 20,000 disadvantaged children in 40 provinces in Vietnam.  

In its years of working with marginalized and vulnerable key populations, SCDI realized that there was a large number of children who had a lot of disadvantages yet oftentimes “being invisible” to the public eyes. They were sons and daughters of people living with HIV, of people who use drugs, of sex workers, of prisoners, of poor urban migrants, and of ethnic minority groups. Without adequate care and support, these children’s development, both physical and mental, could likely be affected. Starting with the children’s most basic need, SCDI with the generous support and donations from Danone Vietnam had been able to provide 43 tons of powder milk to children most in need.     

Loving Milk also received great support from the National Traffic Safety Committee, Ministry of Transportation’s Youth Union, Department of Transportation, Tuan Hiep Transportation Company Limited, Ha Ngoc Trading Company, in helping to transport the milk to all destinations. More importantly, with much appreciation and amazement, it’s the community-based and faith-based organizations in the 40 provinces that made the program possible. They were responsible for listing the number of children in need, receiving and distributing the milk and monitoring the process. “With each bag of powder milk, we hope not only to bring the valuable source of nutrition for the children” said Dr. Khuat Thi Hai Oanh, SCDI’s Executive Director “but also the love of our community to them and their family, igniting their belief in the community and society”.     

Loving Milk at Hoa Binh village, Y Can commune, Tran Yen district, Yen Bai
 

“With the mission of bringing health to as many people and as many children through nutritious foods, Danone is certain that children of vulnerable communities need to be prioritized, with more nutrition care and psychosocial support from the community” said Mr. Tran Binh Chung, Nutrition Director at Danone Vietnam. “Therefore, Danone sees its collaboration with SCDI in supporting the disadvantaged children as a social responsibility and a humane activity”.
 
Video clip about Loving Milk can be found here