Many children across Việt Nam receive support from IHG Hotels & Resorts and Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. – Photo Courtesy of Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation
Global hospitality company IHG Hotels & Resorts recently announced it has strengthen its collaboration with Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation to support 10,000 disadvantaged young people in Việt Nam.
The collaboration has developed since 2020, and aims to offer shelter and support to homeless and poor children.
IHG pledges to provide scholarships, educational assistance and textbooks for ethnic minority students, raise awareness about the risks of unsafe migration and child labour, and provide career orientation sessions to students in Điện Biên Province.
This support, aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals of ‘No Poverty’, ‘Quality Education’ and ‘Reduced Inequality’, continues IHG’s great tradition in this area.
For many years, IHG employees have volunteered and raised funds to provide street children and young adults with access to education and training, while two trainees from the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation are currently working in IHG hotels.
Paul Cunningham, senior director, operations, South East Asia and Korea, IHG Hotels & Resorts said: “It’s fantastic to support Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation in its quest for change across the country. Its team works tirelessly every day, including making nightly searches across the streets of Viet Nam to locate and help young people in need. They provide them with shelter, education and crisis care, and I feel heartened that we are able to contribute and support their efforts."
According to Cunningham, IHG is invested in the partnership and his colleagues passionately support the cause, with every one of IHG's 16 hotels in Việt Nam help the Foundation through a range of meaningful efforts and activities.
IHG supported the annual Blue Dragon Marathon Walk 2023 in September, joining hundreds of people around the world to raise funds for vulnerable communities in Viet Nam, raising over VND60 million thanks to the efforts of its participants and contributors, including hotel guests.
The IHG team participated in the walk for the third year running, through a coordinated effort across its properties in the country. Select IHG hotels in Việt Nam are also displaying Blue Dragon products for sale, with all proceeds going to the Foundation. – VNS