VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE VIETNAM VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE

VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE VIETNAM

VOLUNTEERS FOR PEACE VIETNAM Established in 2005 in Hanoi. From 2007 in Ho Chi Minh City. VPV Aim: to promote cultural learning and education and as an approach to address social problems. Main office in Hanoi but works in many provinces in the countryside in the North. Works in partnership with many international sending organisations (eg. IVHQ, VS, EIL).

VPV SOUTH MAIN ACTIVITIES Individual volunteer programs (teaching English, taking care of disabled children, medical) International Workcamps – 2 week projects with a set aim. Usually around 10 -20 participants doing manual work, painting, cleaning, gardening and also spending time with children. From many different countries. INTO Vietnam – 2 week projects from 1 country (bi-lateral workcamp). Same work as IW. VPV Club – activities organised by our local volunteers.

VPV STAFF Management (in Hanoi) Don T. Phuong – Founding President Nguyen D. Cuong – Executive Director Co-ordinating team – over 15 staff Saigon Branch Don H. Minh – Branch Manager Vu D. Thanh – Program Co-ordinator Law M. Andy – Program Co-ordinator Co Ba - Cook

LOCAL VOLUNTEERS Assist international volunteers in teaching English Teach Vietnamese Give city tours VPV Club (150+ members) Raising money for activities for children. Cultural exchange, festivals

PEACE HOUSE Peace House 1 (Chien Thang) VPV Office Accommodation for Workcamp/INTO groups Peace House 2 (Phan Dinh Phung) Main dorm for individual volunteers

PEACE HOUSE LOCATION

PEACE HOUSE FACILITIES In Peace House Near to Peace House TV, computer Restaurants / street food Washing machine 2 supermarkets (Big C, Coop) Phone Swimming pool Stove Post office (intl & domestic) Common room Book store (Fahasa) Bathrooms (water pump) Superbowl / cinema Roof-top / balconies Park

MEALS AT PEACE HOUSE Breakfast – help yourself to fruit, bread, coffee. Lunch and dinner is cooked by Co Ba from Mon-Fri. Breakfast is available at Meal times Breakfast: from 7. 00 am Lunch: 12. 00 pm Dinner: 5. 30 pm weekends but not lunch and dinner. Meal sheets Please remember to tick your name for food, if you forget others will be give priority.

FIRE & SAFETY Turn off or unplug all electrical appliances (fans, chargers, of the stairs. lights) Lock the front door when you go Close the rooftop and balcony Keep valuables in your room, not downstairs. Power cuts are infrequent but not uncommon. door when you leave. Emergency power-breaker near to the door. out or upstairs. Fire extinguisher at the bottom Be careful with travel adapters.

PEACE House RULES No guests upstairs 'Quiet times' Doors locked at 23. 00 'Sexy time' Zero tolerance on illegal activities. Locking the door Smoking outside or on the roof. Cleaning

EMERGENCY! Police 113 Past incidents Fire 114 International or local? Ambulance 115 Paying the bill

ROAD SAFETY Highest cause of death Cross slowly but confidently Crosswalks Look in every direction Red lights Wave 'Side-walks' Don't stop suddenly One way streets Never run Traffic hierarchy Transport options

DIFFERENCES FROM d. OWNTOWN Bargaining Local community Foreigner presence Roads/walking Speaking English Cultural norms Safety Police Amenities

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES Shopping Mekong Delta Temples/pagodas Da Lat Dam Sen Giang Dien Waterfall Cu Chi Tunnels Local volunteers Vung Tau Mui Ne

WORKING WITH VPV Schedule Problems/issues Travel only at weekends Weekly meetings Working times Local volunteers Code of conduct Learning Vietnamese Representing VPV Clothing

WORKING WITH DISABLED CHILDREN Playing Work in 2 sessions Assisting walking AM: 8. 30 to 11. 30 PM: 2. 30 to 5. 00 Feeding General welfare Children and staff all sleep after lunch. Constructive games Volunteers eat lunch at Peace House 2.

Ky Quang Pagoda Built in 1924 Staff live there too Around 200 children Weekends very busy Classes for local children Main day-care room Classes for blind Families, mother figure Traditional medicine clinic Privately funded Individual / workcamp / other Recent new management organisations

Ky Quang Pagoda

Ky Quang Pagoda

Ky Quang Pagoda

Ky Quang Pagoda

POSSIBLE CHALLENGES Attitude to the disabled Children's conditions (cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome, Communication epilepsy, hydrocephalus, blind) Treatment by staff Baby room Behavior of children What to do if you see Common practices Changing the practices Ky Quang fund/donating What to do? something you dont like

BEING A VOLUNTEER IN VIETNAM Independent Respectful Flexible Patient Adaptable Open minded Reliable Self-motivated

VPV's ROLE Welcome Not a tour company/guide Direct Give you the opportunity to develop yourselves Support / solve issues independently Co-ordinate Advise Equal to all volunteers Our main focus is on work, not free time activities. Work together with volunteers.

PROGRAM FEE Accommodation Red-tape Food Police / permission Staff wages Developing VPV City tour Transport costs Pick-up

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Questions and answers City Tour Collect passports Visit projects Short walk Lunch & break Crash course Vietnamese