The Đức Linh area
Area: 53,091 ha
Population/ households: 142,980/ 28,507
Rate of ethnic group: 2% of total district population including K’ho, Châu Ro
Ethnic population/ households: 2,879/ 555
Communes: 13 (including 2 towns)
Communes supported by Thiện Chí: 11
Poor population/ poor households: 14,360/ 1,875
Agricultural economic: 73%
Other economic: 27% brick production, construction, small business
Đức Linh is a district of Bình Thuận province, counting 11 communes. The total area is 49.114 ha, of which 11.288 ha for agriculture. The inhabitants are mostly economic immigrants coming from poorer regions of Vietnam. Situated at 150km North of Hochiminh City, they are at the border of the province of Dong Nai. Two decades ago, is was a rainforest. Today, the population amounts to 140.000. Population growth used to be high but is less now thanks to the government efforts for family planning. Today there are less and less pupils in the primary schools.
The resources of this region are : paddy, fruit trees, livestock, and fishing for those living close to the La Nga river. The average annual income of the population is estimated at about 250 US$, well below the national average (440 US$ in 2002). The reasons for poverty are many: lack of capital, shortage of land for some, archaic techniques, remoteness from the main markets etc. Although bank credit has become more easily available, some have to turn to the moneylenders who charge high interest rate (up to 10% monthly or more). When the need for investment is urgent for purchasing seeds, fertilizer, fish net, harvest tools etc. it is very difficult to access enough capital even from moneylenders, which is the worst situation.
The impact of this poverty on health care and education is disastrous. Few families have latrines. Water is polluted and the hygiene standard is notoriously insufficient. A baseline survey carried out by Viêt Nam Plus and the Health Department of the district showed that 90% of people are infested by worms: the sitation has improved a lot since. The people are now less exposed to malaria or dengue fever. A quarter of the children do not continue beyond primary school, although the population is unusually keen for their education, as often for the people from the North.
The People's Committee and the Women's Union are competent and motivated, except for 1-2 communes; which is a key factor of success to run program in Vietnam. Đức Linh is a relatively "old" area for Viêt Nam plus and now for Thiện Chí: all programs are thus implemented there. This is also why it has been the first program to be handed over by Viêt Nam Plus to Thiện Chí.
