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VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

August 5th to August 16th
, 2019
ADDRESS OF WORKCAMP Thuy An commune, Ba Vi district, Hanoi
MEETING POINT At VPV office

No.72 Pham Than Duat Str., Mai Dich, Cau Giay, Ha Noi

MEETING TIME No later than 12 p.m on Monday, August 5
th
, 2018

CONTACT PERSONS Incoming Coordinator

Thanh Mai Nguyen, +84 904988445;
Mélissa Parra; +84 70.505.1493; workcamp@vpv.vn

PARTICIPATION FEE 5,000,000 VND

(Payment by cash on the 1

st day of the camp)

1. INTRODUCTION TO THE PROJECT
1.1. Project Description
Thuy An Rehabilitation Centre for people with disabilities finds itself 13kms away from small
town of Son Tay and 70kms from down town of Hanoi. Founded in 1976, the centre was
originally opened for disabled children whose parents are the veterans infected with the
Agent Orange, the toxic chemical used in American war. Over time, however, the centre has
started to render its services to all disabled children. Thuy An Centre is a ‘campus’ housing
up to 150 children and 50 staff. The children aged 0 to 18 suffering from mental or physical
disabilities are helped in any of three ways, depending on their disability.
1. Rehabilitation: This consists of physical therapy, orthopaedic surgery (Galvanic
electrolysis, ultrasound, laser acupuncture...), and backbone relaxation treatment and in
providing for and assisting the children with the use of aid equipment.
2. Education / Vocational training: This consists of special education, integration education,
vocational training such as sewing, wool knitting, embroidering and computer teaching.

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION
3. Upbringing / Looking after: The children are well looked after by staff who are disciplined
and efficient. The job requires high level of responsibility and self discipline.
The Centre receives financial support from the government as well as NGO’s and occasional
businessmen. Though receiving assistance from various sources, there are still a constant
need of help in infrastructure and finance. The ultimate goal of the centre is to help the
children re-integrate into society. While special education helps to lessen the burden of
children’s families by teaching the disabled to help themselves with personal activities, the
vocational training programs enable handicapped children to earn their living and able to live
independently in the future. There were thousands of children benefited from the education
here and many of them have a stable job. The centre itself has five staff who were nursed
and educated in this school and now they are helping the other unlucky children.
1.2. Schedule of the camp
August 5
th Arrival Day and Orientation Day
August 6
th – 9
th Working Day

August 10
th – 11
th Days off

August 12

th – August 14

th Working Day

August 15

th Cleaning and cultural exchange day

August 16
th
Departure Day

1.3. Work
There are two types of work that volunteers are expected to support the center: manual
outdoor work with construction and social indoor work with children.
Physical work varies from time to time but the need for renovation and construction is
constant because the center was built more than 30 years ago. VPV has sent groups of
volunteers to the center since May 2008 and did support the center in some construction
work and small projects. There are also a lot of unnamed work that the staff want to do but
do not have enough time and work force to carry out. Volunteers will also join the activities
that the children and people there are doing everyday such as preparing meals, cleaning the
center and others. For this camp, the expected work is to help to finish building the
playground : cleaning the area, even out the ground (with sand), putting bricks
and creating small fences around the trees. The volunteers might need to help with
the construction of the sewerage as well.

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION
At the same time, volunteers can work in the classrooms for special education
such as retardation class, basic education for deaf and mute children or the vocational
classes where children learn to sew, do embroideries, wool knitting... if the volunteers have
the necessary skills. Working with kids here requires a lot of creativity and different groups
prefer different approaching methods. It is advisable if the volunteers can bring some
educational materials. Our former volunteers often use pictures, drawing, clay, games, CD
and music to teach some dance moves.
Note: The work may change everyday and be informed at short notice, which is based on
the requests of the center. Therefore, volunteers are expected to be flexible with sudden
changes.

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

2. PRACTICAL INFORMATION
2.1. Travel guide to the meeting point from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi
By taxi
From Noi Bai International Airport, volunteers can take a taxi or bus to go to VPV Office
By Taxi: It costs 300,000-350,000 dong (15-20 US Dollars) (Do not pay the highway tax if
the driver asks you to do so. It is included in the price.)
Some reliable taxi brands that you may notice:
-Noi Bai Taxi +84 4 36 666 000
-Mai Linh Taxi +84 4 38 222 666
-Taxi Group +84 4 38.51.51.51
Besides, Grab is available in Vietnam. You can easily get a sim card with 3G at the airport to
book a ride (cost around 280,000 dong).
By bus
Volunteers can take bus no. 07(yellow and red bus) which costs 7.000 VND/ride at the far
right corner of the parking area to the last bus stop. Then volunteers can take a taxi from
there to VPV House (3-4 USD).
VPV House Address: No.72 Pham Than Duat Str., Mai Dich, Cau Giay, Ha Noi.
You can show the taxi driver the address in Vietnamese “Số 72, Phạm Thận Duật, Mai Dịch,
Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội”.
VPV can also arrange a pick-up for you. In that case, please send us details of
your flight via email some days in advance and pay for the taxi yourself.
Directions on google maps: https://goo.gl/VqnBN4
2.2. Leisure time
Volunteers are encouraged to come to the workcamp with ideas for group
activities of the camp.
Location: https://goo.gl/vQgb3y
Free time
Volunteers will have 2 days off on Saturday and Sunday at the end of the 1

st week of camp.
Volunteers can travel to Ba Vi National Park, one tourist attraction near the center. Or

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION
volunteers can leave the village on Friday afternoon and take the bus back to Ha Noi or
other provinces. In case volunteers stay at the village, food and accommodation are still
provided.
*Recommended Travel Agency:
Lily’s travel agency
Office: 18 Ngo Huyen, Hoan Kiem District, Ha Noi, Viet Nam.
Phone: +84-4 3938 2065 ; Hotline: (+84) 98 683 5103
Email: lilynguyentour@gmail.com
2.3. Food and accommodation
 Volunteers will stay in the guestrooms of the center, which are close to each other.
 The center will provide mattresses, pillows and blankets. Volunteers should bring their
own mosquito nets.
 Bathrooms and toilets are available close to the rooms. There’s no hot water.
 Volunteers will have lunch and dinner in the center. VPV will prepare breakfasts for the
group which include a few options such as breads, sticky rice or dumplings. If you are a
vegetarian, or have special diets, please let us know in advance.
 No washing machine for the group, so prepare yourselves to do hand-washing.
 No wifi available
2.4. What to bring
1. Suitable clothes for outdoor and manual activities.
2. Summer clothes. The weather at that time is hot and rainy.
3. Personal water bottle
4. Mosquito repellent and mosquito net
5. Sunscreen
6. Flashlight
7. House shoes/ slippers
8. Any medicine you take regularly (we will provide general medicine)

VPV19-02 – SOCIAL WORK
AND LIGHT CONSTRUCTION

9. Toiletries (towels, tooth brush, tooth paste, shampoo...)
10. Sleeping bag (a thin one )
11. Umbrella/Raincoat
NOTE: your personal items are not insured by us! So PLEASE avoid bringing
expensive electronic items!!!
2.5. Currency exchange
It is recommended to exchange money at the airport. The currency in Vietnam is Vietnamese
Dong (VND)
1 £ = 30 553 VND
1 € = 26 239 VND
1 US $ = 23 199 VND
1 AUS $ = 16 341 VND
2.6. Electricity in Vietnam is 220 V and 50Hz. Check your appliance before your trip to see
whether you need a voltage converter.
There are three main types of outlets in Vietnam: flat blade plug, two round pins, and two
parallel flat pins with ground pin. If your appliances plug is different (such as those from
Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, Hongkong, New Zealand, Singapore) you will need a plug
adapter. The adapter can be purchased from many outlets in your home country as well as
at the airport.

2.7. Visa
Normally the volunteer only needs a tourist visa to join VPV’s workcamps.
We advise that you get a visa on arrival from