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

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 23.00

Zero tolerance on illegal

activities.

Locking the door

Smoking outside or on the

roof.

Cleaning

'Quiet times'

'Sexy time'

EMERGENCY!

Police 113

Fire 114

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 11.30

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

Ky Quang Pagoda

Ky Quang Pagoda

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