Small support, renewed hope
Cash and voucher assistance following an emergency provides families with agency to purchase the specific things they need to help them move on. IMAGE: Luong Hoa Vang/Save the Children Vietnam
In late 2025, severe floods swept across Gia Lai province in Vietnam, damaging homes, belongings and livelihoods in many communities. For families already living in difficult conditions, the disaster brought even greater uncertainty, especially for children.
For Ms. Hoa’s family in Tuy Phuoc commune, the floods deepened a hardship that had already been part of daily life. Ms. Hoa, 57 years old, lives with her daughter and 2 young twin grandchildren. The twin’s parents are divorced, and their mother often works far from home, leaving Ms. Hoa to care for the the children most of the time. With no farmland and only a small garden, the family depends on a few chickens and unstable daily labour income.
When water rose rapidly during the November 2025 floods, the family barely had time to react. Thankfully, with support from local responders, they were able to evacuate early. But when they returned home after the water receded, much of their belongings had been damaged or swept away.
“Never before had the water risen so quickly,” Ms. Hoa recalled. “We couldn’t keep up. Watching everything get ruined was heartbreaking.”
For the children, one of the biggest worries was school. Some of their books and notebooks were soaked in floodwater.
“One of the twins told me, ‘I’m most afraid of losing my books because we don’t have money to buy new ones. I just want to go to school like the other children,’” Ms. Hoa shared.
“One of the twins told me, ‘I’m most afraid of losing my books because we don’t have money to buy new ones.” Luong Hoa Vang/Save the Children Vietnam
In early 2026, Ms. Hoa’s family received cash assistance through the Australian Government’s Australian Humanitarian Partnership response, implemented by Save the Children in collaboration with the Red Cross and local authorities.
The support helped the family buy new school supplies and clothes for the children so they could return to school. With the remaining money, Ms. Hoa purchased materials to make woven handicrafts, allowing her to earn additional income during her free time.
After her grandchildren’s educational needs were met, Ms Hoa purchased materials for weaving materials that could be sold for further income. IMAGE: Luong Hoa Vang/Save the Children Vietnam
“The children were so happy to have new books and clothes,” Ms. Hoa shared. “We are trying to do more weaving to earn extra income. I only hope life can gradually become stable again so the children can continue their education.”
Ms. Hoa’s family is among many reached through the emergency response. In Gia Lai province alone, VND 3 billion (approx. AUD $162,000) in cash assistance was delivered to nearly 900 families with children who were affected by storms and floods in Hoai Nhon Dong ward, Tuy Phuoc commune and An Hao commune. Through this timely and flexible support, Save the Children and its partners helped families meet urgent needs, stabilise their lives and support children’s safe return to learning after disaster.
Critically, cash assistance allowed families to rebuild with dignity – choosing how to support themselves with flexible support, delivered when it mattered most.
Names changed