PeaceTrees’ work has grown from an enduring commitment to build friendship and understanding between Vietnamese and American citizens and a desire to support prosperous and sustainable futures for communities that continue to be impacted by war
Founded in 1995 by Danaan Parry and Jerilyn Brusseau, PeaceTrees Vietnam was the first US organization permitted to sponsor humanitarian demining efforts in Vietnam. Over the years PeaceTrees has continued to work in mine action, while broadening the scope of its support for community-led education and economic development programs. Through their growth, PeaceTrees has remained committed to honoring losses experienced on all sides of the war.
Since the end of the war, more than 40,000 people have been killed and more than 67,000 maimed by cluster munitions, landmines, and other explosive ordnance. In one out of every five accidents, the victim is a child. Since its founding, PeaceTrees has had a major impact in addressing this deadly legacy throughout central Vietnam. Our progress includes:
• 3,265 acres of land cleared
• 110,082+ ordnance items removed, benefitting over 296,666 people
• 44,000+ trees planted
• 900+ participants on 59 citizen diplomacy trips
• Explosive Ordnance Risk Education provided for 77,771+ people, 2,780 scholarships distributed
• 100 family homes, 12 libraries, 20 kindergartens and 2 community centers
• 215 victims and 62 families affected by accidents supported
The timeline below highlights organizational milestones
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1995
• November: Vision for PeaceTrees Vietnam launched in Seattle, Washington
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1996
• First visit to Vietnam and welcome to Hà Nội. Invitation to Quảng Trị Province
• Formal agreement with Quảng Trị Province to sponsor humanitarian demining efforts
• First Citizen Diplomacy Tree planting Delegation to plant trees on safely cleared land -
1998
• Danaan Parry Landmines Education Center for Children built in Đông Hà, Quảng Trị Province
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2002
• PeaceTrees Friendship Village and kindergarten built on safely cleared land
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2005
• PeaceTrees received their first Humanitarian Demining grant from the United States Department of State for the clearance of land in Khe Sanh, Quảng Trị and the surrounding area
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2007
• The first kindergarten is built in the Khe Sanh area, in honor of US Marine Corps Corporal David Warner
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2010
• Gold Star Mother Rae Cheney is awarded the Medal for Peace and Friendship Among Nations by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations
• Healthful Gardens for Healthy Children Pilot Project initiated -
2012
• Humanitarian Demining expanded to Quảng Bình Province
• Bản Kè Kindergarten is built in Quảng Bình -
2014
• Finished PeaceTrees' 12th library, the Lotus Friendship Library in Mò Ó Commune
• Completed Ba Lòng Village Project, which combined UXO clearance and community building work -
2015
• Black Pepper Pilot Project initiated with the dedicated support of our project partners
• PeaceTrees Vietnam celebrated its 20th anniversary -
2017
• Reached milestone of 100,000 UXOs cleared
• Healthful Gardens for Healthy Children project expansion to 200 additional women based on success of pilot project -
2018
• John C. Steel and Ruong Kindergarten is completed and opened in Quảng Trị
• Phạm Hoàng Hà becomes the new in-country director
• Construction for Dash Friendship Kindergarten begins -
2019
• Expansion of EOD teams with over 100 deminers
• Dash Friendship Kindergarten is completed and opened for Cooc village
• Friends Forever Kindergarten in Lay Village expansion is completed -
2020
• PeaceTrees Vietnam celebrated its 25th anniversary
• U.S. Department of State funds special 25th Anniversary Clearance Project in Huong Hoa District, Quảng Trị Province, Vietnam benefitting 2,581 individuals
• Prin Thanh Kindergarten is completed and opened in Quảng Trị
• Second kindergarten in Quảng Bình to be constructed in Ooc Village
• PeaceTrees 18th kindergarten, Cua Kindergarten to be completed before the upcoming school year
• Together with Mines Advisory Group and Norwegian’s People’s Aid, PeaceTrees formed a consortium to deploy high quality survey and clearance operations in Quảng Bình
• PeaceTrees responds to devastating flooding and landslides in central Vietnam delivering aid to 1,000 families
• PeaceTrees’ Quảng Bình Office opens in Dong Hoi
