Change Makers: Thu Anh Do, Berkeley Engineer turns Nonprofit Founder

Thu Anh Do is the executive director of VNHELP, a 20 years old nonprofit that provides scholarships, loans, heath education, and more to the disadvantaged in Vietnam.

How does a Berkeley Engineer and 22 year veteran of Silicon Valley come to run a nonprofit?

I left Vietnam in 1978, leaving behind my parents and younger siblings. Those were very hard years; most people lived in hardship and poverty. I vowed to one day give back.

I arrived in the US in 1979, and graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Computer Science five years later. I worked for 22 years as a software engineer in Silicon Valley. As I moved up in my career, I never forgot where I came from. There were so many children growing up in Vietnam without access to health care and education.  In 1991, I co-founded VNHELP with the dream of giving the poor in Vietnam the same opportunities I was so lucky to have.

Years later, with the support from my husband, I decided to devote myself to VNHELP full-time. In our 20 years of work, VNHELP has provided scholarships, loans, and health educations to thousands of people in Vietnam. It was one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made.

Tell us a story that was a defining moment in your work.

A few years ago, a woman in Vinh Phuc province borrowed money through VNHELP’s Micro-loan program. She was a savvy, smart woman but didn’t have the resources to grow her farm. She didn’t need much: the first loan amount was just $100 USD.

A short while later, when we checked back with the woman, we found she was able to turn that small loan into a successful farming business. She now provides for her family and even hires people from her own village.

We enable leaders. Whether it’s a loan, scholarship, or access to education, we provide people with the resources they need to improve the lives of others after them. The impact of our work doesn’t end with one person, but is echoed by them to the lives of hundreds, and perhaps thousands, of others.

What is your goal for 2012?

Our goal for 2012 is to raise one million dollars. We will continue to strengthen our Vietnam programs in the following areas:

• College Scholarship: provides 350 scholarships every year to the poor and bright college students.
• Sponsor A Child: connects a sponsor in the USA with an orphan in Vietnam.  The sponsor contributes $240 USD towards the child’s education, meals and basic healthcare.
• Local Clinics with public health education programs: supplies medical equipments and provides funds to local clinics serving poor patients. The program provides free cataract surgery, donates wheelchairs to the handicapped, supports preventive care and health education.
• Micro-Loans: gives financial support to women in villages and provides them an opportunity to escape poverty and play a more important role in the family.  The loan ranges between $50 to $500 USD based on the borrower’s qualifications.

4. How can we help?

Come to our concert! We’re holding our annual “Mua Thu Cho Em” concert featuring some incredible artists: Bang Kieu, My Linh, and Anh Dung.  Tickets start at just $40.

For tickets, contact: