Development of a day centre in Hanoi, Vietnam

Fondation Dora supports the medical and institutional development of Morning Star Center, a day centre in Hanoi for mentally disabled children. 

Those suffering from mental disabilities in Vietnam receive very little support. The only figures on the subject attest to a major increase in the number of cases of autism (50 times the number of cases in Hanoi from 2000 to 2007 and 160 times in Hô-Chi-Minh City for the same period).

 

The centre works annually with around 400 cases in its clinic and treats 200 children every year who are enrolled in its specialised education programme. The centre promotes early intervention for children suffering from autism or other mental disabilities.

Fondation Dora has provided special support for the training of Morning Star care personnel in the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) method. Three therapists were certified by the M.I.N.D. Institute of the University of California and are now able to train other therapists.

Morning Star Center was created in 1995 by Dr Do Thuy Lan, former Vice Director of the Psychiatric Hospital of Hanoi. The centre has 90 employees.

Fondation Dora has supported Morning Star Center since 2015.