Protec Love Connection – Protec Kết nối Yêu thương
August 19 marks the UN World Humanitarian Day, a time to recognize aid workers who have sacrificed their own lives to help people affected by global crises. Each year, the world honors brave women and men who risk everything to help people in need. This includes dedicated public servants devoted to the reduction of injuries and fatalities caused by global road crashes.
During his lifetime, President Ho Chi Minh was always interested in humanitarian activities. He was the Founder and first honorary President of the Vietnam Red Cross Association for 23 years (from 1946 to 1969). He advised: “It must come from the earnest love to protect people’s health and do everything possible to reduce their suffering”. Based on the spirit of the idiom that “the healthy leaves must protect the
weak ones”, humanitarian and charitable activities have become a regular and continuous activity that is always appreciated by the Party, State, Vietnam Fatherland
Front, mass organizations, NGOs, and the whole of Vietnamese society. Working for more than 20 years in Vietnam, AIP Foundation and Protec have always committed to the reduction of injuries and fatalities caused by road crashes of Vietnamese people, especially children. Its Helmets for Kids project was launched by former President Bill Clinton in Vietnam in November 2000 and have donated more than 1 million child helmets in Vietnam. Vietnamese helmets were presented for the physically disabled bicycle competitors at the Special Olympics in 2011 with the Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, who led the US Presidential delegation to Athens. In 2015, AIP Foundation and Protec welcomed her to Hanoi for a helmet donation from Protec Vietnamese helmets and she was met by poor children at Air Force Two on the tarmac of Noi Bai Airport, along with our physically disabled Protec workers. AIP Foundation and Protec were extensively involved in the passing of Vietnam’s National Helmet Wearing Law in 2007 which had a major impact on the nation (and for which Mr. Greig Craft, President of AIP Foundation and Protec was awarded the Presidential Order of Friendship – a rare honor for an American). Within the first 10 years, the Government saved 3.5 billion USD and 15,000 lives, and 500,000 prevented head injuries. As one of only a few US companies in Vinh Phuc, Protec was also the first US 100% EFOC (Enterprise of Foreign Owned Capital), granted the first US license after the BTA in 2000. It was a significant accomplishment and sent a positive signal to US investors at the time, especially regarding humanitarian corporate social responsibility in Vietnam.
The celebration today at the Social Work Center of Vinh Phuc province has donated helmets, scholarships, sponsorship, refrigerator, and Full Moon gifts to needy children
of Vinh Phuc province. This event is to celebrate the UN World Humanitarian Day, and to share the love for Vinh Phuc children, protecting their safety so they can enjoy the
upcoming Full Moon Festival. Mr. Le Minh Tan, Deputy Director of the Provincial Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shared: “As you all know, the event beneficiaries are vulnerable people, abandoned and homeless children, lonely elderly, children with intellectual disabilities or visual impairment. They themselves lacked love and sharing from
their loved ones. Thank you, AIP Foundation and Protec, for your presence to share, spread, and connect the flame of love to the disadvantaged people in Vinh Phuc
province. We look forward to continuing to accompany you and bring a better, happier life to the less lucky people”.
Greig Craft said: “We cannot measure our humanity, but we can act on it. Our humanity is that glowing center in the heart of all of us. It makes us speak up about injustice, even when it does not personally affect us. It is what makes us aware that we are better off if our fellow human beings are better off”.
As Mother Teresa said, “If you can’t feed 
a hundred people, feed just one.”, and Mahatma Gandhi said, “Don’t look for big things, just do small things, with great love.
The smaller the thing, the greater must be our love.”