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 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 TV, computer Washing machine Phone Stove Common room Bathrooms (water pump) Roof-top / balconies Near to Peace House Restaurants / street food 2 supermarkets (Big C, Coop) Swimming pool Post office (intl & domestic) Book store (Fahasa) Superbowl / cinema 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 weekends but not lunch and dinner. Meal sheets Meal times Breakfast: from 7.00am Lunch: 12.00pm Dinner: 5.30pm 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, lights) Lock the front door when you go out or upstairs. Close the rooftop and balcony door when you leave. Keep valuables in your room, not downstairs. Fire extinguisher at the bottom of the stairs. Emergency power-breaker near to the door. Power cuts are infrequent but not uncommon. Be careful with travel adapters.

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

EMERGENCY! Police 113 Fire114 Ambulance 115 Past incidents International or local? Paying the bill

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

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

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

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

WORKING WITH DISABLED CHILDREN Playing Assisting walking Feeding General welfare Constructive games Work in 2 sessions AM: 8.30 to PM: 2.30 to 5.00 Children and staff all sleep after lunch. Volunteers eat lunch at Peace House 2.

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

Ky Quang Pagoda

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

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

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

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

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