Standing alongside the highland communities

As a unit directly under the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Yen Bai province, operating in the field of science and technology associated with community health care, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care has for many years persistently implemented programs and projects aimed at the highland communities and ethnic minority areas.

Based on science, technology , and community health care, the Yen Bai Center for Science, Technology Development and Community Health Care, through programs and projects implemented at the grassroots level, contributes to improving the quality of life for the people and affirms the role of intellectuals in sustainable community development in the province.

Putting the community at the center of all activities.

One of the highlights of the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care's approach is its direct, on-site work method. Center staff regularly visit villages, hamlets, and schools to conduct surveys, gather information, and listen to people's opinions, thereby developing practical scientific research topics and project proposals.

Officials from the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care conduct a survey at the facility.

This "community-based" approach has helped the Center build a rich system of practical data, while also fostering trust with local authorities, schools, and the public. This is also a crucial foundation for ensuring that the Center's projects receive consensus and active participation from the beneficiary community. Throughout its 16 years of operation, the Center has implemented many projects with practical significance for the community; in particular, in recent years, activities have become increasingly in-depth and closely linked to the practical needs at the grassroots level.

Protecting children's rights and reproductive health care.

In 2025, the project "Protecting the reproductive health and educational rights of vulnerable ethnic minority children in Mu Cang Chai district" (formerly Yen Bai province), funded by ACS (Sweden), continues to be a highlight in the activities of the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care. Entering its third year of implementation (2023-2026), the project has deepened its impact, creating significant changes in the awareness and behavior of the relevant target groups.

The "Supporting Youth" program is one of the activities within the framework of the project "Protecting the reproductive health and educational rights of vulnerable ethnic minority children in Mu Cang Chai district".

In the three project communes, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care collaborated with local authorities and schools to organize 14 training courses for officials, teachers, parents, and students; 12 "Parent-Child" club activities; and numerous communication and extracurricular activities on adolescent reproductive health care, children's rights, self-protection skills, and safe internet use.

A meeting of the "Parents - Children" club.

These activities not only provide knowledge but also create a space for open dialogue, helping children in mountainous areas confidently share their thoughts and questions; and enabling parents and teachers to gain more skills in supporting their children. This, in turn, contributes to protecting children's right to healthcare and education, especially that of ethnic minority children.

The project contributes to protecting the right to healthcare and the right to education.
of children from ethnic minorities.

Equipping young people in mountainous areas with safe digital skills.

Faced with increasing risks in cyberspace, especially for young people, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care has proactively participated in solving this new "problem" of the digital age. The project "Youth in Cyber ​​Risk Prevention," funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented from March 2024 to March 2028, has been continuously and effectively implemented in its second year.

Youth union members and young people use learning materials from the project "Youth in Cyber ​​Risk Prevention".

Through training, communication, and dialogue activities, more than 3,600 youth union members and young people have been equipped with knowledge and skills to identify misinformation, prevent and avoid online fraud, protect personal data, and behave responsibly in the digital environment. In particular, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care, in collaboration with the Provincial Youth Union and information technology experts, developed the CDSH-Elearning online self-learning toolkit – an initiative that helps young people proactively learn and improve their digital skills in a flexible way, suitable for the conditions of the mountainous region. This toolkit not only has educational significance but also contributes to forming habits of safe and selective technology use, helping young people in mountainous areas become more confident in the integration process.

Youth union members and young people use the CDSH-Elearning online self-study toolkit.

Promoting green livelihoods and the circular economy.

Alongside its social activities, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care is also actively involved in the field of sustainable livelihood development. In 2025, the Center will launch the first year of the project "Promoting access to finance for gender-responsive forest protection value chains," funded by the EU. The project aims to enhance women's economic empowerment while encouraging production models that are in harmony with nature.

Experts from the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Healthcare surveyed the economic model at the facility.

In its first year, the project organized four workshops and two training courses on building eco-agricultural business models, product value chain management, green economy, and circular economy. Cooperatives and small-scale producers initially gained access to new thinking, gradually forming livelihood models linked to forest protection and sustainable resource use.

Training activities within the framework of the Project “Promoting access to finance for gender-responsive forest protection value chains”.

Although still in its early stages, the project has opened up a long-term path for the community, contributing to solving the problem of livelihoods and conserving natural resources in a harmonious way.

The effectiveness has been noted.

Ms. Dao Thi Ngoc Lan, Director of the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Healthcare, shared: “Responsibility to the community has always been a guiding principle in all of the Center's activities. By bringing scientific knowledge into practical life, the Center hopes to contribute to improving the quality of life for people, especially in ethnic minority areas and disadvantaged regions.”

Ms. Dao Thi Ngoc Lan, Director of the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Healthcare, received the Certificate of Commendation from the Provincial People's Committee on behalf of the unit.

These persistent efforts have been recognized by all levels and sectors. In 2025, the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care was honored to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Lao Cai province for outstanding achievements in the patriotic emulation movement during the 2020-2025 period; and a Certificate of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee in the fields of science and technology, consulting, critical analysis, and innovation.

Based on practical experience in highland villages and hamlets, the projects and programs implemented by the Yen Bai Center for Science and Technology Development and Community Health Care have left their mark not only in concrete results but also in the gradual transformation in the community's awareness and approach to health, education, and sustainable development. This has created a foundation for people to be more proactive in caring for their lives and livelihoods, thereby making a positive contribution to the socio-economic development of the province.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/dong-hanh-cung-cong-dong-vung-cao-post892128.html