A few weeks ago, I had the honor to attend on behalf of Holland America Line, a fund raising lunch for a local organization called Peace Trees Vietnam. It was a very moving presentation, and I left with new insight into this beautiful country- and the wonderful work of this organization. In fact, at one point, I was brought to tears.

Peace Trees Vietnam was founded in 1995 to renew relationships with the people of Vietnam and promote a safe, healthy future for its children. Ironically, Peace Trees Vietnam was founded by Jerilyn Brusseau who had lost her brother in the Vietnam war in 1969. The loss of her brother was one of the inspirations for the founding of this organization.

Peace Trees Vietnam's work mainly focuses in the Quang Tri province (former DMZ).


Over the last thirty years, more than 10,800 people in the province have been killed or maimed by landmines and unexploded ordinance. In one out of every five cases, the victim is a child.


At the lunch, we met Nguyen Thanh Giang who when he was younger was out playing with his brother and encountered a grenade. Not knowing what it was, they played with it, resulting in a fatal injury to his brother and serious injuries to himself.

What does Peace Trees Vietnam do?
* sponsor the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
* promote landmine awareness and accident prevention education
* engage in environmental and community restoration projects
* conduct tree-planting/citizen diplomacy programs for environmental restoration and friendship building
* offer assistance to UXO victims and their families through emergency medical treatment, long-term medical or health care, nutritional support, household economic support, educational scholarships, nd micro-credit lending
* sponsor economic and social development and participate in community restoration


Here, an Explosive Ordnance Disposal team is searching for unexploded ordnance around housing


At the Danaan Parry Landmine Education Center, the only landmine education center in Vietnam, students can learn about the dangers of UXO and volunteers can gain this education and bring back the knowledge to their own communities.

What are Peace Trees Vietnam's results?
* 404+ acres of land cleared
* 29,806+ ordnance items removed
* 40,000+ trees planted
* Mine Risk Education provided for 16,000+ children
* 100 family homes, 9 libraries, and 4 kindergartens built
* 640+ UXO victims and families received assistance


One of the kindergartens at Peace Tree Village

How can you help?

Visit Peace Trees Vietnam's website-->

Peace Trees Vietnam