1. Alumni Activities Ford Foundation Center for Educational Exchange
International Fellowships Program (IFP) Vietnam
Center for Educational Exchange
with Vietnam (CEEVN)
Alumni Activities

3. IFP Journey
Origin
Return

4. IFP Alumni in your countries
are waiting for you!

5. IFP Vietnam Alumni Activities As of February 2008
Annual meetings
Funds contributed and created by alumni
Training/Lecture events
Meetings with alumni in the region
Involvement in IFP Vietnam program
What IFP Vietnam alumni would like to do with alumni from other countries
Challenges

6. (image taken by Doan Thi Tuyen, 2001 cohort)
IFP VIETNAM ALUMNI
(image taken by Doan Thi Tuyen, cohort)
Unique
individuals
supporting
diversity
collective actor
networking
freshness
ready to serve!

7. 10 host countries where IFP Vietnam Fellows study
Canada
United States
United Kingdom
The Netherlands
Australia
New Zealand
China
Malaysia
Philippines
Thailand
Total 156 fellows: 76 completed study
58 returned to Vietnam; others pursuing further studies

8. 12 alumni members met with mentors, formed Mission Statement &
contributed money to create Water-lily Fund
First Meeting in Jan 2005
Water-lily Fund
“The IFP Vietnam alumni are committed to apply our knowledge and skills to increase access to economic and educational opportunities for persons of marginalized and disadvantaged communities. Our work will demonstrate the values of accountability, philanthropy, integrity, democracy, respect for a person’s rights, networking and mutual support.” - Jan 2005

9. Second Meeting – November 2006
35 Alumni & CEEVN presented a mid-term report on IFP Vietnam to the Vietnamese government And IFP stakeholders
Alumni met with government officials, diplomats, FF Rep, IFP stakeholders
US Ambassador’s residence

10. to share with each other and with invited guests
Second Meeting – November 2006 (cont’d)
Each alumnae created individual poster of his/her Origin, IFP Journey, and the Return
to share with each other and with invited guests

11. skills, knowledge, passions
Second Annual Meeting – November 2006 (cont’d)
Alumni discussed and listed by regional groups what assets they have in terms of
skills, knowledge, passions
Contributed $470 to create Alumni Admin Fund
Nominated 4 coordinators
Alumni Admin Fund

12. Third Annual Meeting – January 2008
Formed 5 interest groups: (health, education,
community dev, library & IT, charity & fund
raising). Each group chose a leader.
Designated an IT group responsible
for alumni website management;
Two alumni volunteered to serve as
Contact Persons for two years, replacing
former 4 coordinators;
Hospitality Committee formed to take
care of alumni related matters; also manages
Alumni Admin Fund created in 2006;
Created a new Charity Fund with $ 683
contributed by alumni at the meeting.
Third Annual Meeting – January 2008
Formed Charity Fund Committee - Ban Tu Thien
Chair: Vo Minh Phuc
Quy Tu Thien

13. Funds contributed and created by alumni
Quy Hoa Sung ~
Created in 2005
Support to poor college students who
Might have to drop out.
Voluntary contribution.
Current balance: $1,203
Referrals by alumni. No managing committee yet. Funds kept in CEEVN
Water-lily Fund
Quy Tu Thien
Quy Alumni
Alumni Admin Fund
Charity Fund
Created in 2008 to provide 10kgs rice monthly to the most vulnerable group of HIV-AIDS patients in Bac Lieu province.
Voluntary contribution at 3rd Annual Meeting,
Jan 2008: $683. Managed by Charity Fund Committee, chaired by Dr. Vo Minh Phuc (who had to suspend his study at U Hawaii due to cancer)
Created in 2006 for alumni admin expenses
and hospitality matters, min $24/year/person.
Managed by the Hospitality Committee.

14. Post-Fellowship TRAINING/LECTURE/WORKSHOPS
1) April 2006: Asset Based Community/Citizen-driven Development (ABCD) training for 15 alumni at An Giang University, Vietnam
2) July 2006 – two alumni to Coady International Institute (Nova Scotia, Canada) for 3 week training in ABCD supported by Ford Hanoi Office
3) Nov 2006 – re-entry Lecture in Hanoi: “Understanding Vietnam’s three sectors: The State, Business, and Civil Societies – 35 alumni attended.
4) March 2007 – Proposal Writing workshop at Da Lat U– 18 alumni (2 days)
5) Dec 2007 – 7 day-ABCD training at An Giang University for 25 alumni (Vietnam and Thailand)
6) January 2008 – Seven alumni attended Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. (7 days)
7) April 2008: Workshop at Hong Duc University, Thanh Hoa Province, to share experience using different participatory approaches in working with local communities. Organized by one alumnus for 12 alumni with 20 development practitioners and community people.

15. MEETINGS WITH REGIONAL ALUMNI
April 2006: one alumna attended first IFP Thailand alumni meeting to share about our experience in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) training;
Dec 2006: two alumni attended the IFP India Alumni Network Meeting in New Delhi;
January 2008: 6 alumni atteded Global Social Justice Forum: ABCD training for 40 alumni from 6 countries.
November 2008: 3 alumni attended IFP Indonesia Alumni meeting in Bali, Indonesia;
November 2009: 9 alumni attended meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City for 20 participants from 6 countries in the region and Russia. Topic: Disability Issues and Policy.
February 2010: 2 alumni attended IFP India Alumni meeting in Jaipur, India where they also met alumni from China, Thailand, Phililippines,Indonesia, and Russia.

16. 40 alumni from six countries in Asia region attended Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GLSJF) Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2008, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

17. Alumni Involvement with CEEVN in IFP Vietnam Program
In-country outreach & recruitment
Application advising to potential candidates in difficult and remote areas
Facilitating activities during selection process
Post-selection orientation/Skills Assessment
Pre-Academic Training (PAT)
Pre-Departure Orientation (esp. SUPs, Clusters)
Plan & host post in-country fellowship activities in
Plan and implement Global LSJForum

18. WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH OTHER ALUMNI
Meet to share challenges and effects of the Mekong River with those from Mekong river countries
- Share our experience applying the Asset-Based Community-driven Development (ABCD) approach in our work
Learn more about micro-finance
Host seminars/conferences to bring alumni together to share ideas, experiences, and discuss issues related to indigenous knowledge, inclusive education, poverty alleviation, HIV-AIDS, micro-credit
- Learn from other alumni experience and skills in developing local NGOs, working in NGOs; …

19. Challenges
Living in 28 different provinces – far away from each other, not too easy to get together
Country’s conditions do not yet allow for formation of an Association/NGO; limited from fund raising in Vietnam (not allowed to make a stamp or official receipts, unless registered)
Do not have one alumnae who can designate time to plan and coordinate alumni activities; managing website; creating newsletters…

20. The End