Christmas at Blindschool

No Christmas tree, no decoration, no Santa Claus but nevertheless a lot of happy children. The blindschool staff, me as a English teacher, the Blindschool coordinator Trang and two local volunteers had organized a Christmas party to introduce an important western tradition to the blind students. Since blind people lost one of their five senses they focuse on the development of the ears, the nose and the sense of taste.


So we brought a CD-player with a “Best of Christmas”-CD and all kinds of cookies, among others the famous German “Spekulatius” and “Lebkuchen”, known for their specific taste. Soon we had more than 20 kids sitting in the English classroom, listening to “Merry Christmas”, enjoying the cookies and chatting lively with each other.

Highlight of the party were the presents we bought for the kids. Pencil cases, soft toy animals and other little gifts waited for their new owner. But first the kids had to play stone-paper-scissors to compete for the best presents. In the end the room was empty, no cookies, no presents, no children left. Only a few poor volunteers who had to tidy up the chaos.
Marius

This article is from the old SJ Vietnam blog, still online but out of date, and can be viewed here: http://blog.sjvietnam.org

Ha noi, January 20, 2010
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Message from an Italian partner organization

Medium Term Voluntary Project
For the following projects a motivation letter is required

APPLICATION DEADLINE 12TH FEBRUARY
Send the application to incoming@legambiente.it

LegMTV13 Verona (Vr) Veneto 1/03/2010 – 31/5/2010 ENVI
2 female volunteers

For the 7th year Verona will host international volunteers during the entire year. Verona is a very famous city (do you remember Romeo & Juliet by Shakespeare???) in the North East of Italy; it is a very tourist place with a long history and culture; rich of historical monuments, first of all the famous arena (the ancient roman theatre). Even it is a great example of fortified town, in fact the walls and the surrounding area is going to become a national park. Unfortunately some parts of the area are still damaged and abandoned.
Read both projects carefully, and express in the motivation letter your preference, keeping in mind that volunteers from both projects will be in continuous contact. The local group will consider the volunteer's choice and decide the place to stay according to the preference of the volunteer and the needs of each project.


VILLA BURI
Legambiente’s projects are addressed to anyone who wants to live an unusual experience, wising to get from their own ideas to adapt their habits and making them sustainable for the care of the planet.
In our projects the volunteers will experiment a different life style : they will have the opportunity to deal with ecological practices such as the production environment friendly detergents, separation of garbage for it’s reuse and recycling, water and electricity saving, food based on local and season products, etc.
Volunteers will practice principles of sustainable mobility using bicycles and public transport, they will discover a different kind of tourism, exploring the territory rich in nature, according to the workcamp’s context instead of visiting the bigger and more common cities.
Life in community is a key point in any of Legambiente’s project, since it is the link which allows the cultural exchange and the discovery of the surroundings.
Therefore, it is important that the candidates are willing to adapt their own habits during the period of the camp and realize together how a different world is possible!

Villa Buri is a Venetian Villa built ate the beginning of the 1600’s. It is located about 5 kilometres far from the centre of Verona (20 min. by bike).
This Villa is surrounded by 4 hectares of park which have an interesting range of flora and fauna. The association “Amici di Villa Bosco Buri” is in charge of the maintenance and the valorisation of the Villa’s park since 2005. The work in Villa Buri is perfect for people who love nature.
The main tasks are:
- Park cleaning and maintenance
- Gates opening and closing
- Medicinal, herbs and biologic vegetables growing
- Manual Work inside the Park
Volunteers will work about 30 hours, together with Italian volunteers and in collaboration with local people. The association offers board and lodging. The volunteers will organise shifts to clean the house and prepare meals. Villa Buri’s international volunteering program is reserved to girls only.
The official language is Italian but it will be possible to communicate in English, Spanish or French. For this reason, it is required to send curriculum vitae and a motivation letter. The internet access and a house phone are available in the apartment. Volunteers will also have a bike at their disposal. Accommodation: Apartment inside the Villa Buri’s park .
Number of participants: 2 girls
Official languages: Italian, English, Spanish and French
What to bring: working shoes, working clothes (old clothes you can get dirty), warm clothes (even if it is Italy, it gets cold sometimes!), raincoat.
Suggested: sleeping bag, games, instruments, something typical from your country

Ha noi, January 13, 2010
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SJ Vietnam birthday

SJ Vietnam is busy celebrating its 5th birthday. Everybody is eager and expects a wonderful and memorable evening with the attendance of all SJ Vietnam's staffs, Vietnamese and international volunteers, together with all respectful guests and many exciting activities such as brief introduction about SJ Vietnam, music performance, game shows, etc with humorous MC.

Ha noi, December 18, 2009
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In Between festival

The festival named “IN BETWEEN” will be organized at Nola café’, at Hoang Hoa Tham street, (near Botanical garden) on 24th, January, 2010 by the international volunteers, belonging to SJ Vietnam. This festival is organized for the purpose of calling support for the citizens living in the fishing village near the Red River and in broader sense of making public aware of some social issues at present such as sustainable development, environment protection, poverty against. We all hope that the festivals would help the poor people in the fishing village have a better life.
There will have many interesting activities during the event. They are donation activity, picture exhibition, music show, free shop and many many other exciting and crazy activities by dancing groups in Hanoi, and international volunteers. All money and belongs collection from this event will be directly sent to poor people living near Red River. In order to make the festival more successful, SJ Vietnam need all supports from volunteers for the preparation work. For whom wants to join and perform in this event, please register with Ms Fred before 8p.m, 20th, December, 2009

Email: fred.sjvietnam@gmail.com
In the email, please clarify:
- Your full name and nationality
- Your email address and phone number
- The name of the activity you want to perform or join
- The time of performance (how much time it lasts) and primary description of that performance.
- What instrument you need for your performance.

Thank you very much for your cooperation!

Ha noi, December 17, 2009
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International Volunteer Day 5th dec 2009

"A day for recognizing and honoring the efforts of volunteering worldwide, and an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to show case their contribution to the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals."

Here were the goals of the International Volunteer Day 2009 which took place on the 5th of December at the Botanical Garden of Ha Noi as in many other capital cities throughout the world.

This year, the event was organized thanks to the contribution of 14 local and international organizations active in the sphere of volunteering in Ha Noi.

The global theme was “Volunteering for our planet”  and provided the participants with the opportunity to find more about a wide range of volunteer opportunities. It also allowed them to increase their knowledge of environmental issues and environment protection through thematic activities that covered topics like wildlife protection, the ocean, green transport, waste, 3Rs, global climate change and urban pollution. They also took part in many leisure activities such as fun games and music performances done by the volunteers themselves and had the chance to get to know other local and international volunteers.

During the whole day, SJ Vietnam staff, international and local volunteers contributed to the celebration by holding SJV’s own tent and organizing many activities (fun games, music, dance and cheer performances).







Ha noi, December 7, 2009
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News from Tomas !

Here is the link to a video made by Tomas (a former long-term volunteer) during a workshop on 27 November in Czech Republic:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqwolPwzQF8
This video was made for the kids of the Youth House. Thanks to all participants!

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To raise dress subscription for residents at the fishing village near the Red River bank

The fishing village near the Red River bank, which is behind Long Bien market and under bustle Chuong Duong bridge, is the habitation of nearly 21 households or 21 boats floating on water all the time. Most of them come from many different provinces in Vietnam and have to completely suffer a hard life. They often collect litter, rubbish or work for other people with very few money to make their daily livelihood. In addition, if most children are happy at school with their friends and teachers, the children living in that village have to face the hard life everyday, collecting fruits and vegetables left in the Long Bien market to sell at very cheap price to others. Many poor but lovely children even have to beg to help their poor families.

Concerned about this issue, SJ Vietnam, a non governmental organization with the Youth House Project, has organized many programmes and activities to call for donation from other people to assist this poor village. This winter, we expect all support from donators. We will be very happy to get your old clothing (all kinds of clothes for children, middle-age, or old people), blankets, mosquito-curtains, etc to support their hard life. With your kindness, those can help “warm up” their life in this cold winter.

Anyone who would like to do charity or donation, please contact us by the following address:

Deadline: 21st, December 2009 (All days except Saturday and Sunday) from 9a.m to 6p.m

Place: No 16, An Xa street, Phuc Xa, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Contact:

Ms Lan: 0906 599 856 or via email: project@sjvietnam.org
Mr Tung: 0949 866 308 or via email: workcamp@sjvietnam.org
We would like to thank you very much for your support!



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Training for trainers

On 13th November, 2009 at the office of SJ Vietnam, Suite 306, Building C6, Block 1, My Dinh 1, Hanoi, Vietnam, there is a special event “Training for trainers”. The event has lasted one day and attracted all staff of SJ Vietnam, Vietnamese and international volunteers as well. This is a good chance for every participant joining in a friendly environment and gaining expertise in the field of broadening the understanding the roles of training and trainers in global education. In addition, all participants also have opportunities to have deep understanding of formal and non-formal education through special methodology such as simulations, games, discussions, group work, etc.

The event began with the interview each partner. Then, each person presented not about herself or himself but about his or her partner. As a result, all people joining the event both have clear understanding about their partners and other participants. From this simple but exciting activity, all participants can understand how to become a professional ice-breaker in a training or in any event when many unfamiliar people join together.



The next interesting step is to make the rules during the training. As far as we know, it is very important for everybody to follow the rules to make the success of any event, any organization. One special thing about this is that all the rules, which are built by both trainers and trainees, get the agreement of everybody. The lesson is that the rules needs to be clear, common. It matches the need and demand as well as serves the benefits of all members in an organization.
Everything is in surprised process when the facilitator builds the expectation, defines the contribution and the fear as well through brainstorming, discussions and so forth. All of those above is contributed by all participants. They give their ideas about them, and then stick them on the wall, which help each person understand themselves and other people more. As a result, the trainee would understand the ways to modify the demand, the wish of all the participants to match, and the participant’s fear to overcome.



Another special and amazing thing is that all participants have many opportunities to have role-play as a trainer. They themselves need to take part in the position of an icebreaker, a team-builder, etc. They also organize the games to involve other people. There are many exciting games that need the full energy, good and sustainable corporation and solidarity, smart thinking from all members of the team to succeed. For example, every member of a team has to close their eyes, takes hand together, and then creates the best circle. The team which makes the better circle with shorter time will become the winner. In this game, people need quick, smart thinking, and good cooperation so that a perfect circle could be made. There are many many games during the training, and as a participant you can join, understand and feel about them, after that, you yourself could have your own lessons for the next training with the trainer position. Finally, all participants have a wonderful time during the training, a special and rare chance with games, smile, creativity, contribution, expertise etc and they could get the certificate for “Training for trainer” which deserve to them, excellent participants and trainers.




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Call for a camp leader of Work camp SJV 0930

(30/11 – 11/12/2009) Dear committed volunteers, SJ Vietnam is calling for a camp leader of the coming Youth House Work camp (30/11 – 11/12/2009). The address of Youth House is No 16, An Xa street, Phuc Xa Area, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

The selected camp leader will work full time and stay in Youth House during the work camp. It’s great chance of sharing culture, thoughts, attitudes, and feelings among volunteers coming from different countries.

Benefits:
-You will have opportunities to share culture and investigate other countries
-You will show your management skills
-You will receive a certificate for excellent camp leader
-You will be supported all meals and transportation cost

Duties:
Be energetic, enthusiastic, and responsible
Have ability to lead a group of international and national volunteers
Have ability to communicate in English
Cooperate and support Coordinator to solve unexpected problems
Inform working rules in Workcamp and accommodation rules in Youth House for all international and local volunteers.
Check if they follow the rules or not.

Deadline of Application: 5pm 29/11/2009

Contact:
Mr Tùng: 0949866308 or
workcamp@sjvietnam.org

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International Volunteer Day

  The United Nations (UN) annually observes the International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development on December 5. The day, which is also known as International Volunteer Day (IVD), gives volunteers a chance to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national and international levels.

What do people do? This day hopes to heighten people’s and governments’ awareness of the voluntary contributions. It also focuses on stimulating people to offer their services as volunteers, both at home and abroad. Over the years, governments, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals contribute the International Volunteer Day through various activities including:

• Voluntary community projects.
• Parades, marches, or rallies.
• Award ceremonies for volunteers who made significant contributions to their communities.
• “Time donation” campaigns that involve people pledging hours of voluntary service to specific projects.
• Companies launching voluntary programs as part of their corporate responsibility.
• Volunteer competitions.

Activities and events for the day help promote the impact of volunteering and the UN’s Millennium Development Goals, via volunteering to:

• Help eradicate poverty.
• Achieve universal primary education.
• Promote gender equality and empower women.
• Reduce child mortality and to improve maternal health.
• Reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, malaria and other major diseases.
• Help ensure environmental sustainability.

IVD 2009:

SJ Vietnam would like to collaborate with UNV and other international volunteer associations to organize IVD 2009 with the topic “Volunteer for Environment” It is coming soon, to join IVD 2009 with local and international volunteers, please register and contact our coordinator:

1.      Joining Music Show: Ms Hang LTV via email: ltv@sjvietnam.org or Ms Linh via email: linhbtt@gmail.com
2.      Joining Fun games: Mr.Tung WC via email: workcamp@sjvietnam.org
3.      Joining The translation team: Ms Hang fat-cat via email: out@sjvietnam.org
PR Coordinator, Tran Sy Son


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Latest news for October

SJ-Vietnam says "Hello" to 6 new long-term volunteers from Belgium, France, Sweden, Holland and Germany. They are enjoying a lot all the fascinating and new impressions. The introductory week helped to familiarize more with SJ-Vietnam’s projects and an organized City Tour provided a good insight into Hanoi’s lively streets. So the volunteers could start with a good feeling to work in their projects in the youth house, blind school and in the office. We are also looking forward to welcome 2 more long-term volunteers from Australia this month.

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"Something evil is lurking in the dark…" - Halloween at the LTV house!

Halloween on the 31st of October, the time when ghouls and ghost are up to no good and the kids go trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, is usually well-known as a traditional event in the USA. We gave the proof that it’s possible to celebrate it proper in Vietnam too. International and local volunteers as well as SJ-Vietnam staff members had plenty of fun to dress up in crazy costumes and trying to scare each other. Local volunteers had helped to decorate the LTV house to turn it into a nice Halloween-party-house. A very funny game in beginning enhanced the party mood. Thanks a lot to the local volunteers! Food and drinks ranged from traditional Vietnamese snacks to pumpkin soup and was of course hauntingly delicious. Everything was just right to enjoy the evening together and to make it a memorable Halloween.



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Halloween Party

On the occasion of Halloween, staff of SJ, SJV club, Vietnamese volunteers together with all international voluteers haved joined and talked together friendly, and happily. People came to the Youth House at number 10D, 28 lane, Tay Ho road early to prepare for this special party, bring with them apples, sweet-potato and corn cakes, snacks, and with drink, pumpkin soup, cakes made by international volunteers. All people were eager to talk, shared emotions, had dinner and  joined the games hand in hand. Games were very interesting and creative inspiration. People were divided into three teams, with about ten members in each team, including both Vietnamese and international volunteers. Each team has to stand on only 2 legs with all members of the team. Consequently, every member needed to be very clever and creative in order to manage it. No team won or lost, but everybody was very satisfied with this. Besides, with the dubious light form candle when turning off the light and the thriling sound, as well as masks of vampire, etc really made people have the feeling of a Halloween Day. The monsters seemed to come back to the earth and threatened the stable life of people. However, with the solidarity and unitification of everybody, people can win and drive all the vamprires and monster out. That is also the spirit of SJ Vietnam. In brief, everybody had a wonderful day and this is really a good chance for gathering people together, to understand more about each other.


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Call for volunteers to write fundraising project

The Youth House School is a small non-formal education center for disadvantaged, street and poor children. It is also a friendly place for young local people and international volunteers to come to explore their cultural diversity with lots of youth exchanges such as music performance, photos exhibition, and lessons for the children and funny leisure activities. The purpose of the project focuses on making fund for the children at Youth House. Our plan is going to organize an English class for children who want to learn English with foreigner, make friends, and exchange culture with the other countries all over the world. We will spend money gained from this project supporting the disadvantaged children for food, book, medicine, water filter, toothpaste, and second-hand warm clothes. Now we call for an enthusiastic and conscientious team to work with us to investigate and make a plan for this project. Details of the project will be available when you are accepted. Deadline of application is 9, November, 2009.  If you want to apply or have any question, contact us via email:
info@sjvietnam.org
Or via phone:    046.287.2829             042.215.4993    

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About PR

Public Relation (PR) Intern Recruitment Solidaritiés Jeunesses Vietnam (SJ Vietnam) is a branch of a French non-government organization. Founded in 2004, SJ Vietnam has organized volunteer activities including environmental and educational projects, social welfare activities…   We are looking for a dynamic candidate for PR Intern position.

Responsibilities:

1.      Keep in touch with SJ Vietnam’s partners (local and international)

• Collect informations and make reports regularly to manage about the situation of partner and PR field of a project

• Assits PR Coordinator in controlling and directing PR task
• Come up with controlling solutions
• Draft and draw up press release, invitation letter
• Prepare a plan and time schedule for a project with related partners
• Maintain and develop relationship with media corporations,universities and domestic partners

2.      Construct funding strategies (fundraising) with PR coordinator

• Appeal for funding  projects and events
• Keep constant contact with permanent and potential sponsors
• Draft outline of  project

  Requirements:

• Good command of English
• Enthusiastic about social work
• Experience in press and media is an advantage
• Good interpersonal skills
• Sound computer skills

This is a non-payment position and you are expected to work 4 hours per day in the office. Please send a CV and application letter to Mr. Son, pr@sjvietnam.org by 16/10  

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Call for a camp leader of Work camp SJV 0930

  (15/11 – 29/11/2009)
Dear committed volunteers, SJ Vietnam is calling for a camp leader of the coming Youth House Work camp (15/11 – 29/11/2009). The address of Youth House is No 16, An Xa street, Phuc Xa Area, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi. The selected camp leader will work full time and stay in Youth House during the work camp. It’s great chance of sharing culture, thoughts, attitudes, and feelings among volunteers coming from different countries. Benefits:

• You will have opportunities to share culture and investigate other countries
• You will show your management skills
• You will receive a certificate for excellent camp leader
• You will be supported all meals and transportation cost

Duties:

• Be energetic, enthusiastic, and responsible
• Have ability to lead a group of international and national volunteers
• Have ability to communicate in English
• Cooperate and support Coordinator to solve unexpected problems
• Inform working rules in Work camp and accommodation rules in Youth House for all international and local volunteers. Check if they follow the rules or not.

Deadline of Application: 5pm 1/11/2009 Contact: Mr Tùng: 0949866308 Ms. H?ng: 0975750540 Or via email: out@sjvietnam.org or workcamp@sjvietnam.org

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Sponsorship Invitation

Mid-Autumn Festival is coming for all the children throughout the country. While other children can enjoy this special day with their family and friends, many unlucky ones have to stay in the hospital for long-time treatment or do shoes shining and sell newspapers on the streets to make their living… “Smiles in the Full-moon night” is a social event organized by SJ Vietnam at Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi on October 3rd 2009. Through this event, we would like to bring a warm and memorable Mid-Autumn Festival to more than five hundred disadvantaged children at Bo De Pagoda, Fisher Village on Red River and child patients at Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi. The children will participate in many traditional games, creative activities such as making lanterns, drawing pictures and performances held by our local and international volunteers. Besides, there will be an exhibition and auction of pictures drawn by the children to raise fund to help them. In order to organize a successful event, we would like to call for your financial contribution or materials donation; together we will bring a meaningful Mid-Autumn Festival to unfortunate lives.   Thank you very much! For more details, please contact:   Mr. Tran Sy Son PR Coordinator Cell phone:
0902 282 919            Email: pr@sjvietnam.org  

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CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS TO WRITE A PROJECT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Dear volunteers, SJ Vietnam starts to write a project in “European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR)” program of European Commission. The project will focus on activities to promote women’s and children’s rights, the rights of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups. We chose a center in Hanoi about which we intend to write the project.  
  Now we call for an enthusiastic and conscientious team including both international and national volunteers to work with us to investigate the center as well as write a project with creative activities to help vulnerable and disadvantaged children and women there. The project will be submitted to European Commission. If accepted, we will receive a grant to run project.  
  If you want to apply or have any question, contact us via email:
out@sjvietnam.org Or via phone:    046.287.289/ 042.215.4993 

  Hope to receive your cooperation as soon as possible to complete this project in the middle of September.  
  Join us to make a big difference for the disabled, the disadvantaged, and the vulnerable groups!

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Call for home stay for 3 British volunteers  

(15/11 -29/11) Dear volunteers, On November, we are going to host 3 UK volunteers from SJ Vietnam’s partner  to join our projects in Bode Pagoda and Youth House. There will be a big opportunity of cultural exchange and friendship if your house can host them. We are calling for home stay for the 3 volunteers from now because it will take time to prepare documents and accommodation. We will discuss and support your family during the procedure of submitting necessary documents and the period of home stay. If you have any question regarding to this call, please feel free to contact SJ Vietnam’s office via email: info@sjvietnam.org or via official phone: 0462872829 Look forward to receiving your cooperation! Warmest regards   

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