 Founded in April 2000, International Children Assistance Network (ICAN) is a community-based organization in San Jose, California with programs serving Vietnamese children and families in the Bay Area and in Vietnam. Our programs aim to create strong family and community networks to provide the children the with skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed in life.
In the San Francisco Bay Area, ICAN builds stronger communities through a variety of programs from educational parenting workshops to cultural community events to engage youth. ICAN is one of the few, if not the leading, Vietnamese American agency focusing on Vietnamese American children and youth. Happy 5 (Nuoi Day Tre Vui Manh) is ICAN’s flagship program in the US. The project was launched in August 2003 with seed funding from Southeast Asian Resource Action Center to hold parenting workshops for Vietnamese parents, grandparents and care providers with children aged 0-5.
Our focus abroad is to provide funding for carefully selected programs that promote education, health and the prevention of human trafficking. The ICAN Dream flagship program began in Van Hanh Village with the sponsorship of 250 orphans and underprivileged children to stay school. By providing the children the means for a basic education, the children have a greater chance breaking out of the poverty cycle. ICAN is also active in fundraising for disaster relief efforts.
On November 21, 2010, ICAN marked its 10th year anniversary with a dinner for almost 400 guests at Dynasty Restaurant in San Jose. Opening remarks by ICAN Executive Director Quyen Vuong were followed by commendations for ICAN’s community building programs by San Jose City Council Members Ash Kalra, Sam Liccardo and Kansen Chu, and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Milpitas Council Member Armando Gomez also came to join the celebration. ICAN also received letter of recognition from US Congressman Mike Honda.
Inspiring words from ICAN Chairman Ven. Thich Phap Chon set the tone for ICAN’s next decade of service. “Thank you for standing by ICAN these past 10 years, with all your heart. Together, we saved lives and helped orphans and at-risk children thrive. We look forward to another fulfilling and exciting decade ahead, with you by our side.”
ICAN’s achievements over the past 10 years:
In Vietnam: 3200 scholarships, 73 CPAP machines that saved over 14,000 newborns, 700 bicycles for underprivileged students, over 5,000 back to school packages and 8,000 relief packages, support for Tue Tinh Duong Free Clinic which served over 100,000 low-income patients in Hue and outlying areas. ICAN also helped victims of Katrina and tsunami in Sri Lanka.
In the US, ICAN helped build stronger communities through outreach and cultural events, public education, advocacy and community building programs. ICAN also engaged children and youth in humanitarian work and community service, and helped strengthen parent-child relationship in thousands of families.
ICAN is 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
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