Community Fund Narrow the gap 2022 with the message
“More crossed paths for greater social impacts”
The COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted many social issues : climate change, the lack of support for disadvantaged groups, employment assurance, civil rights to domestic violence, situations in which children lost their acquaintances due to Covid-19. The post-pandemic world requires a stronger collaboration than ever between projects/Nonprofit organizations – Corporates – The Public to create effective and more stable, sustainable social impacts. There raises one alarming question: How to get a comprehensive general solution to that social problem? What are the values that would be delivered to society when different resources from different sectors find a common crossed path and work towards common goals?
That is also our preliminary question of LIN when launching the Narrow the Gap Community Fund in 2022 with the message “More crossed paths for greater social impacts”. The community-based philanthropic ecosystem is the answer to that crossed path among Nonprofit projects/organizations – Corporates – Public.
Being operated following a model of a community fund, Narrow The Gap has the goal of gathering resources in terms of expertise, community initiatives, in-kind and financial resources from community members, and help to distribute those resources to meet the development demand of the community. With a fund worth up to 900 million VND for this year’s program (up to 150 million VND/project with other additional support from LIN), LIN hopes to continue accompanying the non-profit sector in the journey to actualize their project vision for the community and the business sector to strengthen connections and integrate philanthropic practices into business activities. Meanwhile, building a sense of community and spreading the volunteering ecosystem in Vietnam with public involvement.
So why did LIN choose the image of “crossed paths” to convey the message of Narrow The Gap in 2022?
There always exists certain differences between individuals, groups or organizations in terms of beliefs, goals, working mindset. Yet, among the multitude of differences, we can still find the presence of a common voice which will result in creating many practical changes. Similarly, in the context of the world now facing many challenges, whether current or potential ones in the future, the best thing we can do is to carry the necessary equipment and seek opportunities to cooperate. The crossed path between individuals, non-profit organizations, corporations or the public is the door that opens up opportunities for initiatives and creativity to cope with today’s challenging context.
Non-profit projects/organizations are crucial factors in promoting and carrying out community and social activities. However, in order for these activities to not be bound only to the Non-Profit sector, there is a need for joining points with the corporate sector and public also. Only when a crossed path is formed can community activities be further expanded, capturing the essential and important needs of the local community, thereby spreading positive and sustainable social impacts. Additionally, social responsibility has always been a part of corporate activities. Partnering with Nonprofits not only gives businesses a more transparent vision of their social responsibility, but also better navigates effectively their activities to ensure future business goals.
With the vision of building crossed paths to further expand positive impacts, Narrow The Gap 2022 has come to a decision of selecting five sustainable development themes (in the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations), including:
- Good health and well-being
- Climate action
- Clean water and sanitation
- Decent work and economic growth
- Quality education.
Why did LIN choose the above 05 sustainable development goals to fund within the Community Fund Narrow the Gap 2022?
Five sustainable development goals of Narrow the gap 2022
Before COVID, although social problems were always there, some were not fully well-noticed; the COVID pandemic has rung the bell for us to see more deeply and multi-dimensionally about the differences in life. Each problem of each community requires a different and practical solution. How to meet the real needs of a specific community is not an easy task. To achieve that understanding and the sustainable development of the community always needs the cooperation of many people.
Realizing society’s profound and powerful transformation after the COVID pandemic, the Community Fund Narrow the Gap 2022 selected 05 out of 17 United Nations sustainable development goals as its grant theme. These are all urgent issues for current and future life that we believe many community groups and projects are interested in:
Good health and well-being: The COVID pandemic raises questions about how to take care of our physical and mental health, from individual self-care to the health system level and rights that the state guarantees to its people. In addition to physical health, mental health is receiving more attention than ever. We understand that to live to the fullest, we need to take care of both physical and mental health. The ultimate goal is to ensure public health and improve the well-being of people of all ages.
Climate action: Climate change has been and will cause severe consequences in the world. Right in Vietnam, we can feel the effects of climate change which are happening more and more clearly and unpredictably: saline intrusion, weather that heats up many times or becomes cold in the middle of summer, or air pollution in big cities.
Clean water and sanitation: One of the inevitable consequences of climate change is affecting the availability and sustainable management of water resources. Therefore, it reduces the quality of living conditions and sanitation of people. Water is an indispensable resource of life and plays an essential role for humans or living creatures on Earth. The improvement of water and sanitation conditions will help people have a better life and reduce disease risk.
Decent work and economic growth: The COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on people’s jobs and the economic conditions of countless individuals worldwide, not just in Vietnam. During the epidemic’s peak, we have seen unemployment, precarious work, a decline in financial conditions affecting the lives of families, and the F&B or tourism industry also suffered heavy loss, etc. That impact still leaves aftershocks to this day. How can we promote long-term, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full employment, productivity, and decent work for all is the destination where the goal of Decent work and economic growth is to be achieved.
Quality education: Education is not a new issue but never old. Building and developing a quality education to invest in future generations is always a prerequisite for a good society. Ensuring quality, open, equitable education and enhancing lifelong learning opportunities for all is how we do it.
Whether you are a non-profit organization, a business corporation, or the public, once we have cross-paths to listen, understand, and cooperate, there will always be a way to carry out sustainable development goals. Let’s join with LIN to contribute your material or spiritual resources to share and spread to the Community Fund to Narrow the Gap 2022 so that, step by step, we will make society a better place!
If you are working on or know of projects that follow 1 of the 5 topics above, do not hesitate to submit an application or send a nomination letter to the Narrow The Gap Community Fund!
Get ready with LIN “More crossed paths for social impacts” to narrow down the distance on the way to a better society!
Program information:
Registration and nomination project ideas deadline: June 12th, 2022
Project submission deadline: June 26th, 2022
Application form: https://bit.ly/RNKC2022
Program Booklet: https://bit.ly/NTG2022-booklet
Follow Narrow the Gap 2022 at: https://narrowthegap.linvn.org/en
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