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 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1106 – R.E.A.D Project

By the end of the month 11, when project “Step up” had just ended, but other projects have also started, EVG go on with the journey of meaningful projects!

In the past week, from 27.11 to 2.12 Gia Bac was pleased to welcome Vietnamese students and the Saint Andrew’s Junior College (SAJC) – Singapore and the Singapore Management University (SMU) on project READ, Gia Bac, Di Linh district, Lam Dong. Our project’s objective is to build native libraries for students in Gia Bac to improve education , enabling them to enhance their knowledge. This is also the beginning of the project construction plan “community center” for GiaBac long term support.

Frist activity was to visit and learn about the area they would work in the coming days.

On the next working day, these volunteers knitted bamboo doors for libraries; building walls from local soil. With the goal to be environment friendly, preserve ethnic culture, the material for library construction were taken from Giabac nature (bamboo, local red-soil mixed with a binder).

Knitting not only requires technical level, thoroughness and ingenious, but it also takes too much time. On the first time everything was completely new, but the problems encountered errors, mechanical errors motifs remake to be removed, or injured by sharp bamboo but in a day when they’re done properly a sample bamboo just as guidance. It contributes to retaining cultural of ethnic K’Ho, Gia Bac

Also in recent days, with the program “House for Hope”, in order to separate the kitchen from the main house, ensuring health and safety in cooking, these volunteers would have to work together very seriously hard to catch up and complete kitchen.

Besides the activities of the project, the volunteers also helped local people on coffee harvest.

Stay tuned for next journey !!

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1105 – Step Up Project

In November 2012, STEP UP is the initial campaign of the year in the Overseas Community Involvement Project (OCIP), a cooperated annual activity between EVG and Singapore educational institutions. This is our third time to hold Nanyang Girl’s High School in Phuong Thinh rural area, Dong Thap province.

This time, EVG was pleased to collaborate with 6 teachers and 39 students from Nanyang Girl’s High school. Before departing to Phuong Thinh destination, our local volunteers together with participants from Singapore were warmed up by some interesting activities in Ho Chi Minh city.

The first place in the city tour was the War Remnants Museum, a renowned attraction that contains exhibits relating to the American phase of the Vietnam War. In addition, in order to give our Singaporean fellows an insight into Vietnamese school life, we decided to visit Ba Dinh Secondary school in district 7 and indeed had a cozy culture exchange there. The city tour in HCMC was not only enjoyable but also gave the foreigner volunteers a great chance to explore more about Vietnam.

Step Up team in War Remnants Museum

Memorable time with Ba Dinh Secondary students

In the dawn of November 19th, after a two-hour car trip, we arrived at peaceful Phuong Thinh rural area.

From November 20th-24th:

With the intent to reach the targeted goals, all tasks were divided up among 6 different groups. In other words, each group was in charge with a main duty such as building houses for a poor families, teaching English for young children, planting trees along roads, preparing meals at home and consolidating the road surface. In addition, tasks were switched between teams everyday so that everyone could experience and contribute to different parts of work. Through daily life, the local people here and our Step Up team were getting closer to each other and somehow, we felt like we were living in another big family!

Who says girls cannot build house?

After 4 days straight of hard-working and devotion, we were surprised by our own achievements, remarkably was the reinforcement of 2 houses, 150 planted trees along the road, the consolidation of village roads and above all was the happiness of Phuong Thinh citizens. Little was our contribution to the wealth of this needy remote area, yet we have brought here the belief for a brighter future.

Young children were very fond of studying English with us!

November 9, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1103 – Pass On Project

The project called PASS ON. True to its name this meaningful project includes a series of activities connected with the desire to achieve results from the RISE project. Occur within 6 days 31/05/2011-05/06/2011, along with 29 high school students Hwa You Chong, 12 EVG volunteers, the project provided a lot of supports to the local, especially children, through practical and highly effective activities such as teaching and assisting the work of the local people Thinh Phuong commune, Cao Lanh district in Dong Thap

1. Participate in meetings organized by local committee

Through a long way to Phuong Tinh, everyone seemed tired. However, this feeling quickly passed when we saw what the local government has prepared for the union: a cozy gathering at the headquarters of the People’s Committees of communes. We received the heartfelt thanks as well as provide information about the actual condition of Phuong Thinh, local changes from the most recent project of EVG.

2. Mending schools, cleaning classrooms

The work was conducted in two days 1 and 2/6. With the guidance of the local people, the volunteers in the group had an unforgettable experience. Crossing over 10km journey by boat to reach Phuong Thinh II primary school, this is the first time we traveled by this means. The initial fear was replaced by sympathy with the struggle of students wanting to go to school here.

On that day, thanks to all the energetic of everyone, we have finished cleaning, scrubbing and sanding primer the entire door and iron railings, paint the entire outside wall and inside the room school; rearrange entire furniture. Although everyone is sweating on the environment but are beaming smile knowing that the next day, the students will be learning in the bright and clean classrooms

3. Teaching

Innocent face, her eyes filled with excitement, the kids were listening intently to every word of the lecture of the volunteer about English lessons with subject: “Body Parts” and “dish food, drinks and fruit. “Standing in front these kids, the volunteers tried their best to convey a fairly easy way to lessons with the children in all patience and love. Though not much time teaching, but we’re glad to see that we have to arouse passion in their academic.

Helping with local’s work

4. Visit local houses

The group had visited poor families in Phuong Thinh. The volunteers did not mind the distance to each house to give small gifts were prepared. They talked, shared with local people for the purpose of better understanding the difficulties of their thoughts. Through these conversations the relationship between volunteers and people have become a lot closer.

Cultural Night

On the last day, as we saw off the Singaporean, everyone was sad. Across the tears, handshakes, hugs close … But while waving goodbye from deep heart, people believe that day will soon meet again.

The project gives volunteers meaningful memories, the memories will surely follow them throughout their lives.

Sincere feelings of the volunteers had to be with the locals. From the initial shyness, they were open, ready to trust, love and sharing.

With all the activities taken together, we make sure that the project has contributed to building relationships deep emotional attachment between people from two countries: Vietnam, Singapore. And: “We’ll meet again, some day.”

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)

October 30, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1101 – House For Hope Project

Project “House For Hope” was taken from 26/5/2011 to 4/6/2011 with the desire to:

Raise awareness about the harmful effects of smoke from the kitchen
Change cooking habits near the bed
Receive new lifestyle: build a separate kitchen space
Take advantage of the fresh air at home

After three months of testing, for the first time, EVG finally applied teaching English in Gia Bac. The students participate in English classes. Beside learning English, they also got to learn about personal hygiene. Through encouraging them daily brushing, bathing, nail clippers, pedicure and wash hands before every meal, the group wanted to send a message to the children: hygiene will help the body healthy.

In addition, the Group also guided students in computing basic knowledge like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint and Paint. Before each lesson, Singapore students and Vietnam volunteers discussed, prepareed lesson plans and other outdoor activities. During school hours, through the friendly and easy way of communication, students became more bold and exciting. The class quickly connected to the group a most natural way.

Playing “Simon Says”

Before “House for Hope”, we continued to meet families Ka ‘M System in the previous project to introduce the goals of the project. The team succeeded in explaining the harmful effects of smoke kitchen and convince families to build separate cooking area for sleeping. Right after that, the group conducted to help families build new kitchen behind the house with “construction workers” are students. With enthusiasm, the Group has overcome the initial difficulties, wasn’t afraid to take up work under the sweltering heat and heavy rains. After the hard work, the kitchen was built in the happiness of Mo Ka He and the group.

Putting the closet togerther for Ka’ M Hệ

Putting the closet together for Ka’ M Hệ

House For Hope Project has brought on the first “International Children Day festival” for the children in Gia Bac. People can feel the joy of the children being awarded many prizes from the fund that were dedicated build.

Despite bad weather, the program still takes place in its entirety. In the future, the group will try to organize more similar events significant to help them better integrate into the community.

What is OSL?

I. What is OSL?

OSL stands for Overseas Service Learning.
It is a program from Foreigner’ schools and Universities, in which, a group of elected and trained students are send to developing countries to do community projects. This model is preferred as Service Learning. This is why OSL project is called Overseas Service Learning Projects.

OCIP is a not-unfamiliar phrase with oversea students.

ECO Vietnam Group is proud to be the host for these projects in Vietnam since we were first established in 2009. Together with our partners from Singapore, we have made more than 20 successful OSL projects in poor regions and ethnic minority communities around Vietnam to make a better life and education in these areas.

OSL projects also have another name such as Regional Community Involvement Project or Overseas Service Learning where overseas students to come to Vietnam for providing the support and at the same time to learn from the community. It strictly follow the model called Service Learning.

II. What we have done

In each OCIP, our partners and we have worked for months of research (includes reece trips), preparation and training to come up with the best plan and the best solution for our 2 weeks working in the chosen region.
Since each OCIP has different targets, each with different needs, therefore our projects serve various causes depend on the actual needs of these areas.
For more than 3 years, our Singaporean and Vietnamese volunteers (all are students) have done many jobs from painting classrooms, repairing houses to building roads, kitchens, houses, toilets, and teaching as well, etc.

Harvesting coffee bean in Youth Project.

III. Where have we been?

+ GiaBắc commune , Di Linh, LâmĐồng province , Vietnam

+ PhươngThịnh commune,Cao Lãnh, ĐồngTháp province, Vietnam

+ TânQuới commune , ThanhBình, ĐồngTháp province, Vietnam

+ An Hiệp commune, Ba Tri, Bến Tre provine, Vietnam

+ Lộc Khánh Commune, Lộc Ninh, Bình Phước province, Vietnam

Girls from Paya Lebar Methodist School were building road in Phuong Thinh Commune (Dong Thap province).

IV. Who have we worked with?

Universities:

+ Nanyang Technological University
+ National University of Singapore
+ Singapore Management University
+ National Institute of Education

High schools:

+ Hwa Chong Junior College
+ Saint Andrew Junior College
+ Dunman High School

Secondary schools:

+ PayaLebar Methodist School
+ Nanyang Girl High School

During our five years in action, 1,037 Singaporean students and 708 Vietnamese young people have participated in our projects, with a total spending of 286,739 USD for contributing to community service and education. We have received awards and merit certificates from the government for numerous projects. More than 700 Singaporean teachers and students, 200 Vietnamese volunteers, 30 ECO Vietnam Group members.

Teaching English for children.

v. What have we got?

Through these projects, our young generation of Singaporean and Vietnamese students has had the opportunity to experience a new –different world, to adapt into a different life routine to make friends across countries, to understand, learn and grow together.

Thanks to all the life lessons they achieve from the people they served, from their teachers, EVG’s advisor, their friends and also their self’s criticism during the project, these volunteers have become more confident, responsible and extremely enthusiastic with community service.

They were working very hard like real briklayers! – Building the IT room for Gia Bac secondary school

AND ALSO

[Until 7/2012]

+ 1 IT library room values more than 100 million VND for a Secondary School in Gia Bac commune.
+ 1 school-yard (800 meter square) for a secondary school in Tan Quoi Commune.
+ 3.5km road.
+ 5 kitchens.
+ 3 ECO Love Houses for the poor in Phuong Thinh commune.
+ 500 trees.
+ 1000 kg rice for the poor.
+ 1,325,500,000VND
+ 3 Letters of Appreciation from Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front – Cao Lanh District, the People Committee- Phuong Thinh Commune and Association of Vietnamese Youth League – Cao Lanh District.

OCIPs 2009 – 1/ 2013

October 26, 2013 by ECO Vietnam Group

1002 – RISE Project

Rise is the 14 day charity project in Phuong Thinh – Cao Lanh – Dong Thap which Eco collaborated with the NanYang girls high school to organize.

On 16/11/2010, an early flight from Singapore landed at Tan Son Nhat airport in the excitement of everyone.

The hard volunteer trip started when the team arrived at Phuong Thinh – an underpriviledged region of Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province. The works in the starting day is a lot and full of obstacles. Everyone must be very flexible to change plans and to work out in time. This project started by remodeling a school for the children at Phuong Thinh. The volunteers have to shave lime, paint the walls, and to tidy up the bushes, … After remodeling, people still have to clean the dust on the table, dais and scrub the classroom floor, this serial work there seemed to be endless.

Moreover, the volunteers had to walk for hours to reach the site of the fixing road under the severe weather’s condition. After finishing the road, they continued to plant trees around the new residential area.

The difficulties for Nanyang girls, maybe, was teaching Vietnamese for the children, because they cannot speak Vietnamese fluently, they were also not good at the pronunciation, but they took pains to learn and overcome. The happiness and learning enthusiasm in the eyes of the children were the greatest motivation for them to deal with any problems.

Rise was not only give them the experience of team working, how to take actions to the difficulties, but also show them the unfortunate lives, which built a fire of passion and enthusiasm to serve the community in our volunteers and the Singaporean girls.

Before leaving, the team organized Culture Night to exchanges and give the gifts to Phuong Thinh students and celebrate for the achievements. Singaporean girls, Vietnamese volunteers performed their unique and attractive item, people in the village also joined