Since the Youth Centre project was launched 9 years ago SJ Vietnam has succeeded in meeting their first target goals due to the support of our local and international partners and endless hard work of our coordinators and volunteers.

SJ Vietnam had sent most of the disadvantaged, poor and street children to public school and vocational school where they can acquire a proper education and get integrated into the society. Nevertheless the school fees, provided entirely by SJ Vietnam, are rather expensive and need to be covered. SJ Vietnam will therefore continue to provide education to the children staying at the Youth Center but will also participate to activities to raise funds to cover the children school fees. The Centre demonstrates the important role of volunteerism and public-private partnerships in social development.

gathering together to establish this center for disadvantaged, poor and street children; create a space for people to exchange ideas, have a chance to study vocational skills and to be integrated in the community. We also want this center to be a place for Vietnamese youth to exchange their knowledge, experience and culture with international volunteers via workshops and everyday exchange. The Youth House school has now become a Youth center.

Organize activities for disadvantaged children who live illegally in the Red river and at the school nearby Youth center.

Volunteers will sleep in volunteer’s house at SJ Vietnams office. Meals are at local restaurant. Volunteers will have lunch at the Youth center with children and the other volunteers.

Hanoi

Noi Bai Airport (HAN)

Sleeping bag; sleeping mat. Toys for kids are appreciated as well.

Background BUOC-village is a small village of Thai-people (an ethnic group came from southern of China) with very pure landscape. As you can see on the above map, this area is placed by only green color and a lot of mountain. Because of this natural condition, Thai-people here rely mainly on agriculture. In the past, the village was located adjacent to streams and people in the village used water of the stream for gardening. During the rainy season water from the mountain goes down through the streams and washes everything away, making it very dangerous to live close to the stream. For this reason, the government has helped residents here to move to higher lands, and build permanent \traditional houses with wood. 10 years have passed since the new BUOC-village was reconstructed in 2002. Currently, firm houses, concrete roads, electricity have become the basic-living-condition of every villager. Although the stream is very beautiful it is dangerous. Despite the good aspects of new infrastructure, villagers still lack a lot of education and understanding about modern society. Therefore, it would be very helpful to help and stay with BUOC-villagers.

Help local people to garden and repair traditional houses (if needed), organize leisure activities for their children and cultural exchange with the villagers.

Buoc village, Hoa Binh city.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay together in the bamboo house; western toilets and bath room are available. Meals are normally served by the local people with the help of volunteers.

Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, pillow, prove-water clothes, raincoat, info materials, pictures, specialties and traditional clothes of your country, you are encouraged to bring along small gifts for the local people and the children and volunteers of your camp.

Giao Xuan is one of the poor villages in Nam Dinh province. Villagers’ lives are associated with sea including salt production, marine aquaculture. This hard work depends on the weather; therefore, villagers face many difficulties for their lives. More than 90% of the villagers are poor farmers and fishers, which makes them difficult to build good facilities for children in the village. Giao Xuan kindergarten is not an exception. The kindergarten was established in August, 1990. Experiencing 25 years, it is now in a bad condition such as cracked and moldy walls, leaky ceiling. However, there are still more than 100 children coming to this school every week. Although this is the only school of the commune, the living conditions of the children here are very poor and are in need of renovation.

Help to paint the rooms at kindergartens; organize games and leisure activities for the poor children; teach basic English through games, activities, songs…

Giao Thuy commune, Nam Dinh province, 150 km from Ha Noi.

Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)

Volunteers will stay with the host families. Meals are self-prepared.

Flash light, sleeping bag, prove-water clothes, raincoat, gift from your country for host-family, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.