Nghia-Sinh International
NghiaSinh International, also known as, the International Volunteers for Human Service and Leadership Development is a humanitarian organization founded in June 1963 in Saigon to provide emergency assistance to the elderly and the poor who arrived in Saigon as refugees from the countryside of Vietnam.
Nghia-Sinh has also provided food, clothes, shelter, and medicine to war victims since 1966. Between 1968 and 1975, Nghia-Sinh established the Nghia-Viet High School for the poor; Hung-Vuong Social Service Center for homeless children; Tran-Binh-Trong Shelter for displaced persons; and Chanh-Hung Human Care Program for juvenile delinquents. Nghia-Sinh served thousands of people for 12 years in Vietnam. As a result of its dedicated service to humanity, the Prime Minister of Vietnam, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Labor, and the Minister of Social Services presented Nghia-Sinh four National Medals of Honor including: a Medal for Youth Scouts Services (Thanh niên Bội tinh); a Medal for Educational Services (Giáo dục Bội tinh); a Medal for Social Services (Xã hội Bội tinh); and a Medal for Employment Services (Lao động Bội tinh).
After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Nghia-Sinh began a new life in Chicago as a sponsor and reception agency (VOLAG) for Vietnamese and other Indochinese refugees. From 1975 to 1987, Nghia-Sinh resettled over 1,000 such refugees in Illinois. On some occasions, this resettlement work was carried out solely by unpaid volunteers. At other times Nghia-Sinh had subcontracts from the U.S. State Department/AFCR. These funds were used partly for providing direct financial assistance to newly arrived refugees and partly for paying part-time staff. This resettlement work involved airport pickups; food and housing for the first thirty days; escort; link-up with social security; access to health clinics, schools, and public aid; access and linkage to previously resettled Indochinese refugees. Each refugee received $250 in cash upon arrival. In addition, each refugee and every refugee sponsored by Nghia-Sinh received $50 as a wedding gift and $50 for family funeral assistance. Over 70 percent of the refugees are now working. More than 20 percent are attending colleges while another 10 percent are taking retirement.
On Thanksgiving each year, refugees sponsored by Nghia-Sinh get together to thank God for His blessing, to share life experience with one another, and to celebrate with an Asian American dinner together.
Beginning in 1987, Nghia-Sinh started to address the issue of youth problems such as school dropouts, drugs, gangs, and crimes through its prevention programs. Nghia-Sinh also offered cross-cultural workshops, individual counseling sessions, after-school programs, and martial arts classes, among other programs.
At the White House in April, 1983, President Ronald Reagan personally honored Nghia-Sinh and its founder, Dr. Nguyen-Trung Hieu,[1] with the Presidential Medal of Volunteer Community Service [2] for its volunteer human care services.
NghiaSinh Int'l Logo 1983
NghiaSinh Human Service Academy: Helping people prevent illness and poverty.
NghiaSinh Leadership Education Academy: Making vision and mission come to fruition.
NghiaSinh Youth Leadership Academy: Preparing future leaders for families, schools, corporations, communities, and other organizations.
141 Sisters of the SPC Province of Đà Nẵng attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the SPC Province of Da Nang and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
The above illustration reflects NghiaSinh’s Vision, Mission, Values, and Services.
126 Parish Pastors and Lead Sisters of the Diocese of Kontum attended 6 seminars on Leadership and Teamwork Skills in 2012, 2013, 1014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. Topics covered include Self Leadership, Servant Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. These seminars were conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
152 Parish Pastors and Seminary Professors attended a 4-day conference on the Leadership Arts and Management Skills, organized by the Diocese of Vinh and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy from August 21 through August 24, 2012, in Huong Khe, Ha Tinh, Vietnam.
54 Seminarians of St. Francis Xavier Seminary attended a 30-hour graduate class titled, “Organizational Skills and the Art of Leadership” organized by the Diocese of Vinh and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy from 2012 to 2019.
Seminarians of the St. Joseph Seminary attended a graduate class titled, “Servant Leadership and Teamwork Skills,” organized by the Archdiocese of Hanoi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Pre-seminarians of Vinh attended a 30-hour class titled, “Community and Teamwork Skills,” organized by the Diocese of Vinh and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018.
Pre-seminarians of the Archdiocese of Hanoi attended a 30-hour class titled, “Servant Leadership and Teamwork Skills,” organized by the Archdiocese of Hanoi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Cardinal JB. Phạm Minh Mẫn, Archbishop of Saigon, visited the class, “The 7th Seminar on Servant Leadership Skills,” and addressed the students on January 4, 2020. The seminars - attended by priests, nuns, and graduate students - were organized by the NLYT and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy at the Saigon Pastoral Center.
Cardinal Peter Nguyễn Văn Nhơn, Archbishop of Hanoi, visited the class, “The 5th Seminar on Servant Leadership Skills,” and addressed the students on January 16, 2020. The seminars were organized by the Archdiocese of Hanoi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy for 5 years, in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
More than 100 Religious Sisters of the SPC Province of Hà Nội attended a workshop on “Creative Leadership Arts and Skills” held in 2019 at the Provincial House. Creative Leadership promotes teamwork to develop innovative ideas and creates conditions to enables creative thinking and practice in the organization. This event was organized by the SPC Province of Ha Noi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
40 Franciscan Priests and Brothers attended a seminar on “Teamwork Skills and the Development of a Brotherly Community.” This seminar was organized by The Franciscan Provincial Office of Vietnam and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in Summer of 2014.
The Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of St. John the Baptist (CSJB) attended seminars on Leadership and Teamwork Skills in 2018, 2019, as well as three additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Leadership, Servant Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. These seminars were organized by CSJB and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
The Priests and Brothers of the Congregation of Charities and Social Services (CCSS) attended the seminars on Leadership and Teamwork Skills in 2017 and 2019, as well as three additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Leadership, Servant Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. These seminars were organized by the CCSS and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
25 Deacons of the Franciscan Institute of Theology attended a 30-hour graduate level class titled, “The Art of Leadership and Management Skills.” The program was organized by the Franciscan Provincial Office in Saigon and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in 2015.
The Religious Sisters of the Diocese of Vinh’s Inter-Congregational Academy of Theology (ICAT) attended the seminars on Leadership and Teamwork Skills in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Self Leadership, Teamwork Development, Servant Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other themes. These seminars were organized by ICAT and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy over the past 6 years.
117 Religious Sisters of the Congregation of Our Lady of the Missions (RNDM) attended a 30-hour class titled, “Servant Leadership and Teamwork Skills.” It was organized in 2015 by the RNDM and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy in Saigon.
133 Religious Sisters of the Congregation of Mary Queen of Peace (CMQP) attended the seminars on Leadership and Teamwork Skills in 2012, 2013, 2014, as well as two additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Leadership, Servant Leadership, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. These seminars were organized by CMQP and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
115 Religious Sisters of the SPC Province of Hà Nội attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and one more year of study. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the SPC Province of Ha Noi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
151 Religious Sisters of the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Tam Hiệp (CDST) attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2018, 2019, as well as three additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the CDST and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
125 Religious Sisters of the SPC Province of Sài Gòn attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2019, 2020, as well as three additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the SPC Province of Ha Noi and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
60 Religious Sisters of the CND Province of Sài Gòn attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2019, with an additional four years of study. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the CND Province of Sai Gon and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
36 Religious Sisters of the Association of Dominican Sisters of Gospel (ADSG) attended seminars on “Self Leadership and Servant Leadership Skills” in 2017, 2018, 2019, as well as two additional years of study. Topics covered include Self Improvement, Teamwork Development, Spiritual Leadership, Transformational Leadership, Leading with Humility, Leading with Emotional Intelligence, and other topics. The seminars were organized by the ADSG and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
540 Team Leaders of the Diocesan Family Pastoral Committee attended classes on “Relationship Building and People Skills.” The training programs were held in three cities: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, and Quang Binh.
180 Team Leaders and Members of the Association for Catholic University Students of Vinh Diocese attended classes titled, “Servant/Stewardship Skills and the Art of Leading” for five years in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Bishop Paul Nguyễn Thái Hợp presided over the First Youth Leadership Training Camp on “Leadership Skills for Parish Eucharistic Youth Leaders” which was held in the City of Ha Tinh in June of 2015 with the participation of more than 450 VEYM members. This event was organized by the Diocese of Vinh and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.
540 VEYM members attended the Second Youth Leadership Training Camp on “Leadership Skills for Parish Eucharistic Youth Leaders” which was held in the City of Nghe An in July of 2015. This event was organized by the Diocese of Vinh and conducted by the NghiaSinh Leadership Academy.