Future Aid Project Work
2020 March, Phong Nha, Vietnam
Well the early stages of our 2020 March trip planning is underway.
Our 2020 Project is situated about 30kms west of the coastal town/city of Dong Hoi in the vicinity of a pretty rural village called Phong Nha. Dong Hoi is situated about 400 klms south of Hanoi.
This Project trip will comprise of three main tasks.
1) Roof Restoration of a rural School Block plus installation of new ceilings along with painting as required.
2) Phong Nha Medical Centre, Installation of an all-weather 10m X 10m roofed shelter with a concrete floor. Restoration of two of their consultation rooms.
3) The upgrade of a water reticulation system at a rural Kindergarten, new pipes and taps plus arrange the construction of a new well to improve their water supply throughout their summer period.
2020 February, Battembang, Cambodia
I'm circulating info about our project next year to all of you who have been members of project teams to Cambodia over last few years. Some of you haven't been so involved since your last trip but info on next year's trip might just re-spark your in interest.
It's a great project - building houses for very poor families living in dreadful conditions in small villages on the outskirts of Battambang. Also, some work at KNGO school and possible medical team working at a hospital in Phnom Penh.
Things are changing rapidly in Cambodia but it's still a mixed bag. The economy has been growing strongly for a few years now and there continues to be large investment from overseas particularly from China.
Some Cambodians in Phnom Penh are doing well and becoming very rich, but little has changed for most in poor people in rural communities. Health and education opportunities have not improved significantly.
The need for help is still considerable.
We've got a great project next - building houses for very poor families in rural villages close to Battambang.
I've attached details of the project and some background on KNGO's housing program including very challenging circumstances of some of the poor families we'll be helping with new houses.
It would be great if you could read the info - I'm sure you'll be touched by the stories of the vulnerable families.
We've worked with AllKids at Ream for the last 6 years and we've enjoyed assisting them in their great work.
But our program at Ream is completed for the time being (see the article that will appear in the newsletter shortly).
It's time to move elsewhere to help other needy communities.
Pete Angell is stepping back after 7 years as project leader.
Next year David Findlater and I will lead the project.
We'll be working with KNGO out of Battambang.
Planned project dates are to start work on Monday 9th February until Friday 21st February.
Can I encourage you to read the attached description of the project and the description of KNGO's housing program - the circumstances of some of the families we'll be assisting with housing are very moving.
Can you let me know if you might be interested in joining next year's team?
Regards
David Williams
Project Aid Work Over the Last 3 Years
Vietnam Project
New Kindergarten – Thanh Binh village, near Phong Nha – Quang Bin Province, Central Vietnam
Our ambitious two year project involves the construction of a new elevated two level kindergarten in Thanh Binh village and renovation of schools in the area. The people in the small rural village are mostly poor farm workers. The existing kindergarten provides for 80 children. It is an old building in a poor state of repair. The ground level classrooms are regularly flooded during wet seasons from the adjacent Son River. The new building will provide larger improved facilities and with elevated classrooms, internal toilets and storage areas.
Stage 1 completed in 2017
We completed stage 1 which involved engaging local contractors to construct the shell of the new building. The building design was developed with local community. PVI volunteers met their own travel and accommodation costs as well as making a contribution to direct costs for materials & local contractors.
In addition the PVI team of undertook major restoration works of neighbouring school buildings during 2017.
Cambodia Project
Clean Drinking Water for Schools – Ream, South East Cambodia
Clean drinking water & access to hygienic toilets are pre-requisites for improving health and education outcomes for children in poor rural communities in Cambodia. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of Cambodian children in rural communities still don’t enjoy ready access to hygienic toilets and clean drinking water with obvious consequences for their health. This situation has underpinned PVI’s work in the Ream area for the last 4 years. The “Water for Toilets for School Children program” has provided access to hygienic toilets for 2,800 children in the 3 large schools in the area, representing 90% of the school children in the area. The toilet water systems PVI has installed continue to function effectively.
In 2017 the program was expanded to include “Clean Drinking Water for School Children” in the Ream area. We installed an advanced, reliable and low maintenance filter system to provide clean drinking water for the children at Smach Deng School – they are the first in rural Cambodia to enjoy clean drinking water & hygienic toilets. Extensive repairs & maintenance were also completed at the school.
New Kindergarten – Thanh Binh village, near Phong Nha – Quang Bin Province, Central Vietnam
Our ambitious two year project involves the construction of a new elevated two level kindergarten in Thanh Binh village and renovation of schools in the area. The people in the small rural village are mostly poor farm workers. The existing kindergarten provides for 80 children. It is an old building in a poor state of repair. The ground level classrooms are regularly flooded during wet seasons from the adjacent Son River. The new building will provide larger improved facilities and with elevated classrooms, internal toilets and storage areas.
Stage 1 completed in 2017
We completed stage 1 which involved engaging local contractors to construct the shell of the new building. The building design was developed with local community. PVI volunteers met their own travel and accommodation costs as well as making a contribution to direct costs for materials & local contractors.
In addition the PVI team of undertook major restoration works of neighbouring school buildings during 2017.
Cambodia Project
Clean Drinking Water for Schools – Ream, South East Cambodia
Clean drinking water & access to hygienic toilets are pre-requisites for improving health and education outcomes for children in poor rural communities in Cambodia. The unfortunate reality is that the majority of Cambodian children in rural communities still don’t enjoy ready access to hygienic toilets and clean drinking water with obvious consequences for their health. This situation has underpinned PVI’s work in the Ream area for the last 4 years. The “Water for Toilets for School Children program” has provided access to hygienic toilets for 2,800 children in the 3 large schools in the area, representing 90% of the school children in the area. The toilet water systems PVI has installed continue to function effectively.
In 2017 the program was expanded to include “Clean Drinking Water for School Children” in the Ream area. We installed an advanced, reliable and low maintenance filter system to provide clean drinking water for the children at Smach Deng School – they are the first in rural Cambodia to enjoy clean drinking water & hygienic toilets. Extensive repairs & maintenance were also completed at the school.
Our Record of Aid Over 28 Years
The total value of our aid work (as at 2017) is $4.0 million which is comprised of direct costs on building materials, local labour hired on site, medical programs and volunteer’s costs. The breakdown of total costs is shown in the figure below.
Since 1998 there have been 45 teams composed of 691 volunteers who have provided 50,000 person hours of aid work.
In addition we have provided 3,000 wheelchairs, donated medical equipment with a total value of $63,000, provided scholarships to the total value of $13,000 and distributed some thousands of pairs of recycled eye glasses.
Our Aid Work in 2017 included :
Total value of Vietnam & Cambodia Projects
The total value of PVI on-ground projects in Vietnam & Cambodia includes direct costs (materials & supplies, and payment to local skilled contractors when they are engaged), travel costs of PVI volunteers and in-kind value of PVI labour.
PVI volunteers meet their own travel costs and contribute approximately 20% of the direct costs. The balance of the direct costs is met by generous benefactors & other fund raising activities.
The direct cost for our 2017 projects was $41,000 for the materials and supplies, and payments to local contractors. Our teams provided 2,800 hours of labour and met their own costs of $80,000. The total value of our work was $225,000.
Distributing recycled eye glasses in Vietnam & Cambodia
We distributed recycled eye glasses to needy people again in 2017 as part of our ongoing annual program. The glasses are collected in Australia by Redcliffe Lions Club as part of Lions International worldwide ‘Recycle 4 Sight’ program. The glasses are provided through our in-country local networks to appropriate parties who then ensure they are properly prescribed and allocated through.
John Robertson & Tony van Boxmeer Scholarships
The scholarships were established to honour the memory of 2 esteemed past PVI members. The scholarships to the value of US$1,100 each per year for 2 years were awarded in 2017 to outstanding young students who have completed schooling at Khmer New Generation Organisation’s Centre in Battambang, Northern Cambodia. The students will undertake Dental Assistant training with Cambodia World Family in Phnom Pen. There are good opportunities for fulfilling and sustainable employment on completion of the training.
Good jobs provide obvious benefits to the young scholarship holders and their families as well as providing positive role models for other young people in the community.
Wheelchairs to Cambodia
Being aware of the work by Sihanouk Hospital Centre for Hope for many poor families in Phnom Penh, we wanted to assist in an appropriate way. With advice from hospital staff we purchased 15 wheelchairs locally at the low cost of US$62 per chair and donated most of these to the hospital. The donation was greatly appreciated and the chairs are now being well used by patients as needed while they are at the hospital.The total value of our aid work (as at 2017) is $4.0 million which is comprised of direct costs on building materials, local labour hired on site, medical programs and volunteer’s costs. The breakdown of total costs is shown in the figure below.
Since 1998 there have been 45 teams composed of 691 volunteers who have provided 50,000 person hours of aid work.
In addition we have provided 3,000 wheelchairs, donated medical equipment with a total value of $63,000, provided scholarships to the total value of $13,000 and distributed some thousands of pairs of recycled eye glasses.
Our Aid Work in 2017 included :
Since 1998 there have been 45 teams composed of 691 volunteers who have provided 50,000 person hours of aid work.
In addition we have provided 3,000 wheelchairs, donated medical equipment with a total value of $63,000, provided scholarships to the total value of $13,000 and distributed some thousands of pairs of recycled eye glasses.
Our Aid Work in 2017 included :
- Building projects in Vietnam and Cambodia
- Distributing re-cycled eye glasses
- Awarding John Robertson and Tony van Boxmeer scholarships
- Donating wheelchairs in Cambodia
Total value of Vietnam & Cambodia Projects
The total value of PVI on-ground projects in Vietnam & Cambodia includes direct costs (materials & supplies, and payment to local skilled contractors when they are engaged), travel costs of PVI volunteers and in-kind value of PVI labour.
PVI volunteers meet their own travel costs and contribute approximately 20% of the direct costs. The balance of the direct costs is met by generous benefactors & other fund raising activities.
The direct cost for our 2017 projects was $41,000 for the materials and supplies, and payments to local contractors. Our teams provided 2,800 hours of labour and met their own costs of $80,000. The total value of our work was $225,000.
Distributing recycled eye glasses in Vietnam & Cambodia
We distributed recycled eye glasses to needy people again in 2017 as part of our ongoing annual program. The glasses are collected in Australia by Redcliffe Lions Club as part of Lions International worldwide ‘Recycle 4 Sight’ program. The glasses are provided through our in-country local networks to appropriate parties who then ensure they are properly prescribed and allocated through.
John Robertson & Tony van Boxmeer Scholarships
The scholarships were established to honour the memory of 2 esteemed past PVI members. The scholarships to the value of US$1,100 each per year for 2 years were awarded in 2017 to outstanding young students who have completed schooling at Khmer New Generation Organisation’s Centre in Battambang, Northern Cambodia. The students will undertake Dental Assistant training with Cambodia World Family in Phnom Pen. There are good opportunities for fulfilling and sustainable employment on completion of the training.
Good jobs provide obvious benefits to the young scholarship holders and their families as well as providing positive role models for other young people in the community.
Wheelchairs to Cambodia
Being aware of the work by Sihanouk Hospital Centre for Hope for many poor families in Phnom Penh, we wanted to assist in an appropriate way. With advice from hospital staff we purchased 15 wheelchairs locally at the low cost of US$62 per chair and donated most of these to the hospital. The donation was greatly appreciated and the chairs are now being well used by patients as needed while they are at the hospital.The total value of our aid work (as at 2017) is $4.0 million which is comprised of direct costs on building materials, local labour hired on site, medical programs and volunteer’s costs. The breakdown of total costs is shown in the figure below.
Since 1998 there have been 45 teams composed of 691 volunteers who have provided 50,000 person hours of aid work.
In addition we have provided 3,000 wheelchairs, donated medical equipment with a total value of $63,000, provided scholarships to the total value of $13,000 and distributed some thousands of pairs of recycled eye glasses.
Our Aid Work in 2017 included :
- Building projects in Vietnam and Cambodia
- Distributing re-cycled eye glasses
- Awarding John Robertson and Tony van Boxmeer scholarships
- Donating wheelchairs in Cambodia
Completed Aid Work Projects
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