WORKCAMP IN SUMMER 2009 – Hanoi + Halong Bay, Vietnam – VFCD.org

INTRODUCTION
This special program is an unique workcamp combined conservation with education and community development. Participating in this workcamp, volunteer will have opportunity to share difficulties with orphanage in particularly and local community in general as well as reserve environment in Halong bay, one of the world heritage in Vietnam.
During the work camp, volunteers would have as many chances as possible to contact with local people, work with homeless children in an orphan school and help the community protect their unique living environment and ecosystem with beautiful beach and island Halong bay. A “culture-exchange day” would be held to promote the understanding within different groups of people and between international volunteers and Vietnamese people.                                                                                                  
Throughout the year, various trips are arranged for volunteers. The objectives of the excursions are to be fun but more importantly to help the orphan school to fix and upgrade basic infrastructure and protect the ecosystem in Halong bay. The trips include one week working in the orphan school in Hanoi, Vietnam capital, and the other week in Halong . We hope to bring members a meaningful volunteer program combine with ecological tourism, refreshment and cultural exchange. 
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Nguyen Viet Xuan School was founded in 1969 with the aim to house orphaned military children. Since 1993 its mission changed to take care of the orphaned and disadvantaged children from the general populace. The school is currently fostering more than one hundred orphaned children; from parents infected by HIV/AIDS, children whose parents are in prison and children orphaned by conflict.  
Currently, the orphanage is facing serious problems. The school only receives merge sponsorship for each child’s housing, welfare and education cost, to the tune of 300.000 VND (17$) per month. This sum does not even cover each child’s nutritional needs. Also the school’s facilities have suffered from this lack of funding too. All the infrastructure of the school downgrades.
 Halong bay is a very famous world heritage with not only Vietnamese people but also oversea friend. With mysterious and wonderful scenery, it's reasonable for UNESCO to recognize Ha Long Bay as a world heritage. However, Ha Long bay is suffering from consequences of human activities. Due to the fast economic development and tourism, the environment of Ha Long bay has been affected seriously, especially with floating garbage on the area along the Northern shore of the heritage.

 
 
 
Project goals:
The main goal of the program is to contribute to improving people's awareness on environmental protection, especially the young people in the community living near the heritage site  and help children to have a better studying environment. Otherwise, we offer a variety of programs such as extra-curricular activities, English skills, and IT skill training. We believe this can give these children an exciting summer before starting a new school year and an opportunity to integrate into the community. In addition, communal activities organized by volunteers such as growing vegetable can raise their awareness of protecting environment and helping repair the dilapidated school can give them a sense of public duty, amongst others.
Move to our world heritage, VFCD cooperates with Ha Long Bay Management Board to ensure that the VFCD's volunteer program for preserving world heritage will be sustainably implemented in Ha Long. With the participation of local people and international volunteers, this program is expected to contribute to protecting this treasure for future generations.
Activities with VFCD to clean the beach can not immediately solve the problems affecting the environment, but this event can help educate the people and raise their awareness about the seriousness of environment preservation. The main program's message is "build up awareness on environmental protection through real activities" This is also a statement of VFCD with the commitment to keep water clean and sustainable for long-term. 
At a glance
. - Project Location: Hanoi, capital of Vietnam and Halong bay
-          Start Date: This workcamp running for two weeks duration from June to September each year
-          Program Length: 2 weeks
-          Food: Communal meals both at the fishing village home stay and at the VFCD house
-          Accommodation: All volunteers will live in home stays at the fishing village and at VFCD house
-          Working Hours: 6 hours per day
-          PARTICIPANT FEE: $300 for two weeks or $450 for one month
-          Supporters: Vietnam Volunteers & VFCD Coordinator
Schedule
-          1st day:
Morning:  Orientation with VFCD to outline workcamp’s activities, introduce ourselves to each other.
Afternoon: Tour of Hanoi (visit Old Quarter, Temple of Literature…. )
Night: Welcome Party (Vietnamese traditional meal)
-          2nd day to 5th day:
Morning: Fix all infrastructure, paint walls in the school
Afternoon: organize extra activities for children
-          6th day:
Morning: planting tree surrounding the schoolyard
Evening: collect all rubbish, play games and say goodbye with children
-          7th day:
Morning: Travel by bus to Halong Bay
Afternoon: Arrive at local home stay and meet guest family for lunch.
Evening: watch traditional Vietnamese music performance day.
-          8th day and 9th day:
Morning :Working in groups to collect rubbish and clean up the environment and beaches in Halong Bay; talking to local people about environmental protection consciousness.
Afternoon (1.30pm to 5.30pm): Activities in local school (teaching English, organize games and activities for kids…)
-          10th-11th day:
Morning: Taking boat to Vong Vieng, Cong Dam fishing villages to collect the floating garbage.
Afternoon: Working in groups to grow tree in salt- marsh area
-          12th day: Taking bus to Dong Trieu to visit and give present for people in the social welfare center.
-          13th day: Visit Cat Ba island.
-          14th day: Take bus to Hanoi, farewell party
Extra activities                    
·     HANOI city tour will be available in the beginning of the program(free) & HALONG Bay tour at the end(free)
·     Fishing
·     Visit Cat Ba National Park
·     Kayaking in Halong Bay
·     Stream bathing
 
Suggested skills and interests
·     A keen interest and willingness to educate the people about ways to protect themselves from diseases and protect their natural environment
·     Strong interpersonal and communication skills
·     A willingness to help others and engage in physically, emotionally and mentally difficult work
·     Good at painting is an advantage
 
 
Volunteers responsibilities:
·         Join into English and IT skill teaching to improve the orphanage’s knowledge.
·         Join into communal activities such as planting trees, vegetable, clearing the campus, painting wall etc….
·         Suggest ideas to build other extra activities such as sexual education, soft skill training, picnic…
·         Work with local people in Halong bay to collect rubbish and plant tree in salt- mash area
·         Talk with local people to increase their awareness about environment protection
Suggested donation
The school is lack of food, books and equipment for teaching, we are highly appreciate if you can donate food, books, toys and clothes for those children. Your donation will contribute to help them have better lives.