When Technology Becomes a Lifeline for Vulnerable Children

Expanding across Vietnam’s social organization community, contributing to a more professional, transparent and effective ecosystem.

For organizations working with children, compassion and empathy are the starting point. But a systematic, transparent management framework is what allows these values to be delivered effectively and sustainably. This is especially important for programs operating across multiple locations and supporting large numbers of children, where managing data, tracking resources, and ensuring transparency in the use of funding require a high level of accuracy.

It was from this practical need that Unified Platform (UP)—a digital management platform designed for social organizations—was researched and developed, and first piloted within the framework of “Empowering You,” a comprehensive support program for children in vulnerable circumstances across Ho Chi Minh City, implemented by Thao Dan Social Enterprise.

After one year of project implementation, on the morning of 11 August 2026, at the University of Economics and Finance (UEF), Ho Chi Minh City, UP was officially launched and handed over, marking a new step forward in the application of technology to the management and delivery of support for children in vulnerable circumstances.

This milestone also reflects a vision established from the very beginning of the project. With the support and funding of ASIF Foundation, which led the research, development, and funding of the platform, and with technical collaboration from ARITO Solutions, UP has been progressively developed to address practical management challenges faced by social organizations.

With more than 30 years of experience working alongside children in vulnerable circumstances in Ho Chi Minh City, Thao Dan is among the pioneers in applying UP to project management. Through the platform, the organization can track the journey of each resource—from receiving funding to its allocation and delivery of support to individual children—in a way that is more transparent, accurate, and time-efficient. This, in turn, gives its team more time and resources to focus on what matters most: being there for the children who need support.

The story of “Walking Alongside Children” also reflects a broader challenge faced by many social organizations in Vietnam: How can resources dedicated to communities be managed more effectively and transparently, while generating greater and more sustainable impact?

For this reason, UP is not intended for just one project or one organization. Its long-term vision is to gradually expand across Vietnam’s social organization community, contributing to a more professional, transparent, and effective ecosystem—so that more children and vulnerable groups can access appropriate and sustainable support programs.

The launch event brought together representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, the Institute for Social and Economic Education and Research (ISIEE), local and international social organizations, universities, and social work professionals. Participants shared their perspectives and contributed ideas to the future development of UP. Insights from practitioners in the social work sector helped identify additional needs that the platform can continue to address and improve upon in the future.

“We hope today’s event will inspire social organizations to embark on a new journey—one driven not only by compassionate hearts, but also by clear thinking and professional, systematic approaches to their work,” emphasized a representative of the Organizing Committee.

The launch and handover of UP, therefore, is not an ending, but the beginning of a new journey—one in which technology takes its rightful place: not replacing people, but giving those working in the social sector an additional foundation from which they can create greater value for the community.

By Vietnam Business Forum