Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How long has Lifestart Foundation been supporting families in Vietnam?
A. Since 2000 although Lifestart Foundation wasn’t formally registered until 2004.
Q. How many families has Lifestart Foundation helped?
A. A lot! Lifestart Foundation started supporting 1 family. There are now in excess of 200 families that have been supported.
Q. How are funds allocated to recipients – do some recipients get more help than others?
A. Each recipients needs are assessed at the outset. This helps to identify and prioritize the support that each family receives. Other main areas of support include children’s education, medical treatment, self-sufficiency initiatives – for example, animal breeding programs and provision of fishing boats and nets which generate income; bicycles to enable families to travel to work and school and many other basic items that families just can’t afford themselves.
Q. How much of the money that’s donated actually goes to the recipients?
A. As a registered charity in both Australia and Vietnam, the Lifestart Foundation guarantees that all donations will go towards the funding of philanthropic projects in Vietnam.
Q. How can I become a Lifestart Foundation volunteer?
A. There are 2 main ways you can help support Lifestart Foundation:
- If you have skills in any of the areas listed on our wishlist page and can volunteer your services and time free of charge
- By attending our fundraising events.
Q. I’m going to Vietnam for a holiday can I visit the Lifestart Foundation Free School in Hoi An while I’m there?
A. The aim of our Free School is similar to that in schools across the world – to provide a safe, stimulating, happy environment in which the children can learn. In compliance with stringent government guidelines with respect to the protection of children in our care, the school is not open to visitors at any time. However visits to the Lifestart Foundation Workshop in Hoi An are welcomed.
Q. We are traveling to Vietnam and would like to take donation items with us. Who do we leave these donations with when we get there?
A. You can bring the items into the Lifestart Foundation Workshop at 77 Phan Chau Trinh, Hoi An.
Q. If I make a donation to a specific family or individual will I receive regular updates?
A. With the exception of our Seven Year Educational Scholarship sponsors, the priority is to spend the maximum amount of time providing direct support to families and to minimize the amount of time and money spent on administration. As you will appreciate if we were to send out individual updates this would greatly reduce the time spent with those who need it most. Whilst you won’t receive updates on specific individuals or families updates on all areas of sponsorship are provided regularly via the Lifestart Foundation Blog. Minimizing time spent on administration is also why we are able to guarantee that 100% of money donated goes directly to supporting the work in Vietnam.
Q. Is Lifestart Foundation formally registered?
The Lifestart Foundation has been working in central Vietnam since 2000 and was formally registered as a NGO in April 2004. The charity is governed by a long-standing committee of trustees.Australian NGO Registration Number: A0045550E
Australian ABN: 50113328526
Vietnamese NGO Registration Number: PACCOM AT416
Vietnamese Charity Partner Organisation: Quang Nam Union of Friendship Organization
Lifestart Foundation does not have 501 (c) (3) status in the USA directly but donations can be made through their partners Global Development Group who do have this status.