the N.G.O

the third week with U.C is about N.G.O in general and its activities in Vietnam in particular. The teacher requires us to read some text ( I'm so happy and my eyes are so thankful to you LOL since the reading is long enough for them hahaha ) and search as much information as possible about one N.G.O in Vietnam to get prepared for a discussion with officers from some N.G.O at class this week.

At first, I know exactly which N.G.O I want. I want SJ Vietnam, Solidaritee J something that I can't remember because it is in French and it's kinda long hoho I was a volunteer there for 6 months last years and I think I know a lot about it, except for how it has been in progress 1 year up to now. But I don't see it in the list at http://www.ngocentre.netnam.vn/cgi/master.asp . How sad :( Then I had to choose one among all the list of some hundreds NGO hichic Which one to choose? I go to several websites and there're some problems. I can't know exactly how what the NGO did benefits the nation. They merely list out their activities and mostly say about stories of disadvantage people in VN that in need of help to attract donors. I hardly find out info else where and the only way to approach is reading their website or going directly there. I wonder how successful are those things posted on the website really are??? If I put my money there, where would they go? Would they end up in someone's private pocket? And most importantly, does what they do really make any difference for Vietnam? so many other questions...

I chose to read about "Children of Vietnam", available at http://www.childrenofvietnam.org/. The website is nice :) and moreover, as I read more, I find out how applicable and meaningful their projects are. They know what really means for the kids, what they really need to facilitate their studies and all. For example in addition to programs like scholarships and tutoring that other NGO have been offering the disadvantaged kids, COV asked for donation to give a bike for the kids. In rural Vietnam and especially in mountainous areas, houses are generally far away from schools. It takes some kids around half day walking on foot, even bare foot in winter... to school. They had love for learning and knowledge, their parents bare a dream of changing life by letting kids to school. But the harsh life drives some away from such dreams. The rate of dropping out of school recently is increasing as the kids grow up and their family needs their help more in earning their lives. They still crave for schooling but the distance is another factor contributing to the drop-out. It's a sad fact and though the government has been trying by many means, even sending teachers to each household to bring the kids back to school and help out with the parents but life isn't that easy. And a bike at that time is such a great motivation for more schooling and of course also very much helpful for the whole family's life.