How Sponsors Are Helping End Gender-Based Violence

On October 24, a delegation from Hagar New Zealand, together with its sponsors, travelled to Yen Bai province to see firsthand the impact of Hagar Vietnam’s work in one of its key focus areas.

During the visit, the delegation met with households in Ban Cong and Ban Mu communes, Tram Tau district. These families have been directly supported through Hagar Vietnam’s programs, and the meeting created a meaningful space for them to share both their challenges and their hopes for the future. Sponsors were able to hear real stories of change, offering them a deeper appreciation of how their support is helping vulnerable communities break cycles of violence and exploitation.

A highlight of the trip was a community event organised by the Tram Tau Women’s Union as part of the project Decreasing Gender-Based Violence in Ethnic Communities in Northern Vietnam. Through a knowledge quiz, skits, and cultural performances, local people explored the realities and causes of domestic violence while promoting positive, healthy relationships. One sponsor from New Zealand reflected, “I was deeply impressed by the energy of the teams. Their performances showed just how much awareness has grown and why this work is so important for preventing violence in the community.”

This project, funded by the Australian Government through Hagar Australia, recognises that gender-based violence, human trafficking, and slavery are deeply connected. In remote communities, when violence and abuse are normalised, women and children are left more vulnerable to exploitation. By raising awareness, challenging harmful attitudes, and equipping community members with tools for prevention and healing, the project tackles root causes before they lead to trafficking and slavery.

Importantly, the project does not stop at awareness. It provides pathways for survivors to access trauma recovery, support networks, and opportunities to rebuild their lives with dignity. By restoring safety and resilience within families and communities, Hagar is reducing the conditions that traffickers exploit. In this way, addressing gender-based violence becomes one of the most powerful strategies to end slavery and abuse in all its forms.

Alongside this initiative, the Animal Bank project, funded by DoTerra, is also being implemented in Tram Tau. By providing families with livestock as a sustainable livelihood, it reduces economic vulnerability — another driver of trafficking — and promotes long-term recovery for survivors of exploitation.

Together, these projects represent a holistic approach: tackling both the social and economic conditions that fuel slavery, while offering healing and hope for those who have endured violence. For Hagar Vietnam, the vision is clear — to see communities free from gender-based violence, human trafficking, and abuse, and to walk with survivors until they can live independent lives again.

This project has received support from the Australian Government under the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). #ANCP