November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1204 – Fire Up Project

This project has been a great blessing for the Phuong Thinh community and the participants as they managed to refurbishing 3 classrooms and an ECO Love House. This project cannot be completed without the hardwork of youth from Hall 14 Nanyang Technological University Singapore and volunteers from ECO Vietnam Group.

The project was conducted in Phương Thịnh commune, Cao Lãnh , Đồng Tháp District, Vietnam – where the common life is living with flood, poverty and making end meets days by days among difficulites in education , transportation any many more.

Morning 14.6.2012, volunteers form ECO Vietnam Group started the project by picking up our lovely Singaporean friends from Nanyang University of Technology . After months of working together online preparing for the project, it was pleasant to finally meet each others. The greating and welcoming were covered with delight and excitement for the journey we’d shared in the next few weeks in Phuong Thinh commune.

Pick up at Tan Son Nhat airpot 14/6/2012

Welcome Ceremony in Phuong Thinh commune
– The peolpe committee

For almost all the volunteers, participating in Fire Up project was a new experience. They had the chance to work hard as a constructor. Things seemed to be easy at first turned to be extremely challenging, from carrying tons of bricks, mixing cement to bending iron and building walls, etc. Even though hardship existed in every works, our volunteers always showed the best attitude and responsibility. They pushed through all obstacles, ignored the burning sun, the unexpected rains to finish their job. What gave them the strength was the thought of a better life the people in Phuong Thinh would possibly have thanked to their hard-works.

Happiness shines on these faces when building up a house by their own hands

Carrying tons of bricks and always put a smile on their faces.

Came to Phuong Thinh commune, at first it was understandable to expect the burning sun in here would shut down all the excitement and determine. Nonetheless, it only made our volunteers’ enthusiastic burned even brighter. Along with building house for the poor households, our volunteers in Fire Up project also re-furnished many classrooms for the young generation in Phuong Thinh. They put their hearts in every single works. Seeing them carefully painted doors by doors, planted trees by trees were precious scenery could be found during those days in Phuong Thinh commune.

Painting doors by doors

Also in the project, our volunteers came and visited many poor households in Phuong Thinh commune. Each visit helped them to understand more of the harsh lives in this poor land.

Beside all the working hours during Fire Up project, the volunteers still found time to create many unforgettable memories together and with the lovely people in Phuong Thinh as well. From culture exchange stories during house-works to friendly football match with the commune’s boys , their friendship grew into a loving , unbreakable tie across countries.

Football match with the commune’s boys.

After the project, although the weather condition was harsh and facilities weren’t any close enough, with loving hearts and volunteerism nature , our volunteers had planted 100 trees, re-furnished 3 schools, visited 3 households, taught English to poor children and built one ECO Love House. These contributions, even though are small but they are the start of hope for a better life, better future in Phuong Thinh. That’s the precious achievement all volunteers in Fire Up project did.

In the farewell party, all the kids in the commune and the volunteers were in the brink of tear for saying goodbye and soon be apart. However, knowing the love that the people in Phuong Thinh had for them, our volunteers started longing for the reunion day, one day, in the not so far future

Farewell ceremony and Culture exchange party

Volunteers and the lovely kids in Phuong Thinh

“Fire Up” only lasted for 10 days, but all the things our volunteers left behind will forever stay in Phuong Thinh. A short journey in term of time but is endless in each individual mind. This is the journey that EVG volunteers and NTU students will never forget.

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1203 -Fly Up Project

Starting the project in Gina Bac highlands this summer, from 26/05/2012 to 02/06/2012, more than 25 volunteers (volunteers) of EVG with the Dunman High School, Singapore succesfully completed a trip in the project “Fly up 1” in Gia Bac commune, Di Linh district, Lam Dong province. With many meaningful activities during the trip, the young people did not only help people in this underprivileged highland, but also study and accumulated precious experience for their life.

Coming to “Fly up 1” this time, the volunteers had the opportunity to get closer to the children of the poor Gia Bac. From the operation of the library, everyone could learn, have fun and more link with each other.

The lively English class of the volunteers.

The funny performances of the volunteers in the chrildren’s festival.

After those activities, Sau những hoạt động như thế, everybody became fond of each other.

Besides, in this project, project “Be A Guardian” was implemented in parallel. With the desire to help the students get over the adversity, go on learning, the volunteers together looked for and helped the children in this area.

In the end of this project, the participants had a lot of emotion. The volunteer trip make people become tiny, but it was that trip which make us grow up. Let’s be together with EVG to experience that feelings if you have never.

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1202 – SHINE Project

PROJECT “SHINE” 19/5 – 25/5/2012

Phương Thịnh Commune, Cao Lãnh, Đồng Tháp, Vietnam

This project is a start of a new collaboration between EVG and Paya Lebar Methodist High School from Singapore. They had executed many educational and cultural activities in Phuong Thinh, Cao Lanh, Dong Thap before. Through this project, a new cooperation is formed and EVG is able to extend its influence in Singapore.

From 19/5/2012 to 25/5/2012, project SHINE hosted by ECO Vietnam Group (EVG) in cooperation with Paya Lebar Methodist Girls High School, Singapore was excitedly conducted in Phương Thịnh commune, Cao Lãnh, Đồng Tháp District, Vietnam with the mission to help and improve life condition in Phuong Thinh commune.

In 7 days, with much enthusiastic, determination and the thrust to build and develop the community in Phuong Thinh, almost 70 volunteers from EVG and Paya Lebar High School had did so many meaningful and genuine benefit for the lives in Phuong Thinh. Namely: visiting poor households, teaching English to children, fixing 3 classrooms, making 1km road.

In the first day in this commune, the volunteers immediately threw themselves in the hard-working routine of the project. They, first, came and visited poor households in the area. In which, not only did they gave away in need facilities to the families but they also built a loving connection with the people in Phuong Thinh – those they would help during their stay.

Visiting poor households

In the next days, the volunteers opened several Engligh classes for the children which gave a good impression to Phuong Thinh’s people, especially, the young ones. With active and friendly education methods, the classed had attracted many young students to join enthusiastically.

Also in Project SHINE, they had fixed and re-furnished 3 in order to create a comfortable and safe study environment for the students. Troubles were inevitable due to lack of experiences and other objective factors, yet, our volunteer were forbearing and determine to complete their jobs as best as possible.

This spirit was even higher and stronger when the volunteers making the road for Phuong Thinh commune. Under the burning summer sun, the girls from trường Paya Lebar High School together with volunteers form EVG had completed 1km road with the hope that there would be no more accident in the old slippery road during monsoon seasons.

Putting all their effort in completing the road.

Beside all the daily works during the project, the volunteers of project Shine also organized a culture exchange night with Phuong Thinh commune. Songs were sang in harmorny of new friendship and food was shared with family love .This marked the started of a long term and precious friendship between EVG volunteers and Singaporean volunteers as well as the lovely people in Phuong Thinh commune, the friendship that they will cheerish for their whole lives.

Everyone is having fun in the warm of the fire camp – on one summer night.

The last day finally came, saying goodbye to Phuong Thinh commune with the promise to come back , our volunteers headed to Cu Chi Tunnel and several famous spots in Ho Chi Minh City – The Notre Dame Church, War remnant museum and Ben Thanh Market. Thanked to which, we had a chance to introduce Vietnamese history and culture to our Singaporean friends.

Visiting the Notre Dame Church

Closing one week full of voluntarism spirit and hard works, there were time of tiredness and dispiritedness; however, our volunteers with their loving heart, undefeatable determination had portrayed the much inspirational image of a true volunteer. It is the unwavering, energetic, forbearing and compassionate spirit.

Departed from the project, what left in each volunteer’s shoulder was not just a backpack but also the priceless lessons and friendships they gained from this experience, which , they will carry for the rest of their lives.

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1201 – Home With A Heart Project

In 2012, ECO Vietnam Group (EVG) has collaborated with the Saint ‘Andrew Junior College (SAJC) – a long-term partner of EVG successfully implement the project “Home with a Heart” at Gia Bac commune, Di Linh District, Lam Dong province. This project is a continuation of Project READ with the main purpose is to add support for the Gia Bac community Library. With the participation of more than 30 volunteers from Singapore and Vietnam, within just a few short days, they have brought the practical support and significance actions to the community . Thereby, the volunteers also learn a lot of experience, more capital increases life for myself.

The first day of the project, Vietnamese volunteers and Singaporean volunteers had the opportunity to meet and get to know each other in the intimate and fun atmosphere at Tan Son Nhat airport, promising for a long tired journey but always happy.

Embark on the implementation of the project activities, the volunteers had a chance to test their strength with the hard work of a builder such as coating cement, painting and repairing Gia Bac Community Library. In difficult weather conditions, though they always tired to work, but when thinking about the meaning of their work to bring this highland, the volunteers tried their best to complete the job.

During this trip, the volunteers had a better understanding of young children through activities to enhance knowledge for local children such as teaching English and playing with the children.

End of trip, the volunteers had to remodel the Gia Bac community Library and helped children reach English.

Back home, the end of the project, each volunteer have their own emotions. It is the remembers about the days working together, is happiness because what I did positive results. Parting each other, volunteers will never forget Gia Bac Highland along with memories that will be the baggage for your lifetime. John Lennon said “A dream you dream alone is only a dream. And dream you dream with others is a reality. “Then you are ready to join us to do a significant dream!

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1107 – English Teaching Project

In 2011, ECO Vietnam Group (EVG) with the help of the Singapore’s National Institute of Education (NIE) had successfully conducted an education project named- “English Teaching” in Hoa Mau Don Open house in Tân Phú District, HCMC Vietnam. In this project, EVG volunteers worked closely with 12 college students from Singapore to teach English to the children in the Open House, whose English knowledge at the time was very little.

This project offered a change to a better future for the children, since English has become more and more important in Vietnam nowadays. We hope that giving this English education project will improve their English skill. As a paid back for all the tireless efforts from the volunteers, the students were hard working and eager to learn more. This positive response became the motivation for all the volunteers to make this project success.

In addition, the volunteers also cooked for the Open House frequently. They understood how important it was for their students to have meals to be healthy and able to study in their best shape and also it was a precious memory to them -seeing how joyful and happy the children were having a delicious meal with all of their favourite foods.

On the other hand, in free time, our volunteers organized games for the kids and played with them. They shared it made them feel so happy and much younger while playing with their student. Those free time games was the best way to relax after long period of teaching and learning English for all of the volunteers and their little students.

Even though what the volunteers did was just a small contribution to make their students’ futures a bit brighter but the meaning and the love behind all of those action were viral. They had succeeded to teach the students- not only English- but also- the importance in having a solid education base to grow bigger in life. This project was also a proof for the children in Hoa Mau Don Open House that there were still people care for them , love them and willing to help them.

After the project, all the volunteers still keep in touch with the children they taught, in a short period of time, they had grown into each other with all the memories they shared, all the fun they had. Therefore, “Goodbye” is not an option. The volunteers will always remember children in Hoa Mau Don Open House and the children will miss their teachers, certainly.

November 5, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

Sharing

“GiaBac trip is a platform which I achieved many practical lessons without being taught in school, participated in teamwork, and established many new relationshipS with local volunteers and international volunteers coming from Duman High School in Singapore.

All of my memories in GiaBac will be everlasting in my whole mind. It always reminds me the role of youth in my community nowadays.”

Kim Ngan, Participant from Vietnam

“I witness the poverty…how people actually survive with just a few US dollars per day,…., how confined they are such that they don’t know what is happening outside the world, how cruel and harsh reality can be at the other side of the world and so on.

But through this trip, i have really learnt a lot about the significance of service, which has really changed my outlook on life for the better. I think it is really time to review my role in my community, i want to be more active.”

Student from Saint Andrew Junior College, Singapore

“The conviction to help his community has made Harry Pham the founder, an outstanding youth leader in my eyes. He is always willing to give of his time to ensure that our students have a meaningful community project as well as provide

opportunities for their growth. His tireless work in Vietnam to change the mindsets of the youths and undergraduates in servant leadership is a Herculean task that he has taken on without any complaint and at great personal sacrifices.

I am proud to call Harry a friend, someone who shares my ideal of making the world a better place, one youth at a time.”

Lily Chua, Head of Humanities and History Department of Nanyang Girls’ High School

As soon as we got to say “Hello”, the next moment we were holding back saying “Goodbye”. Everything within me yearns to go back to Phuong Thinh and continue working in the hearts of the children there, to give them greater hope of a better future. But I will not cry my heart out at this – for I know that the children there now know that there are people who care for them and love them, which is all they need to have their dreams fulfilled.

The only words that are left for me to say are “Thank You”. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible, thank you to all the volunteers who came with us, thank you to the children who taught us so much more than we could give you, and thank you everyone else who joined me in this trip. I will cherish both the bitter and sweet memories of the time we had in Phuong Thinh.

(Joel Fluffy Pony Tan, Hwa Chong student – Pass On Project)

House for Hope was an unforgettable and hectic experience, the amount of sweat, hard work or even the minute details such as the sudden attack of an enormous centipede, were more than what I could have imagined. Despite this, at the end I felt a great sense of satisfaction when I saw the smile of happiness and gratefulness from the house owner, Ka Hoi. Although it was probably just a simple gesture of appreciation, it made me feel all our effort was worthwhile.

(Winnie Peck, Saint Advocate, Young For Cause Project 2011)

Indubitably, if there was one thing particularly meaningful I took away from this trip, it is appreciation of whatever I have. I left Singapore as an insatiable individual, but making friends with the kids and Vietnamese volunteers improved my character.

The frustrating reality of our measly 6-day Vietnam trip did nothing to help the situation. That said, I will stop crying my heart out, take what I need and be on my way. Here is a sincere thank-you to everyone who has made this trip a positive experience. Much as I’d like to round this up with something extraordinarily cheesy, I am just glad to have been part of this trip since the very first step, that’s all. Adios and peace out.

I miss all the kids and volunteers.

(Max Yoong, Hwa Chong student – Pass On Project)