CNCF Vietnam- 1 -

SAIGON VIETNAM SERVICE WEEK

12 – 17 MARCH 2018

NAME:___________________________________

The purpose of this activity is to introduce students to the culture and lifestyle of Vietnam

and to assist at the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation

CNCF Vietnam- 2 -

The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation in Vietnam

Objectives of the CNCF Schools Visit Programme

To help students learn the importance of service to others and provide the opportunity for cultural integration and promote awareness of projects undertaken by the Foundation.

To promote an understanding of the types of issues and difficulties that are faced by the children of Vietnam and the services offered by CNCF to help alleviate these difficulties.

To spend quality time with the children within a structured and informal environment and in this way also benefit CNCF children by giving them cross cultural interaction and providing an opportunity for them to practise speaking English.

The Children The children you will be working with are a variety of ages, possess various abilities and come from poverty stricken backgrounds. Background and understanding to CNCF Students visiting have a responsibility to undertake research prior to the visit. Information regarding the Foundation’s philosophy and vision can be found on our website: www.cncf.org. Christina Noble has also written two books “Bridge across My Sorrows” and “Mama Tina”. These books are a great source of information, an inspirational and moving read, and provide a very clear understanding of how and why Christina was compelled to establish the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation. The film “Noble” is also a powerful way to understand Christina’s story and motivation. Attitudes and Behaviour There is an expectation that students will behave and engage with the staff and children within all the programmes, in a respectful and constructive manner. Communication must always be positive. Swearing, arguing or derogatory comments are not to be used and shall not be tolerated. Due to the language barrier, some students may find it difficult to engage with the children; nevertheless we encourage everyone to make an effort to interact, as the children are very sociable and have an incredible sense of fun. Ultimately, it will be this interaction that will determine how rewarding your experience will be. Cameras During your visit it is important you keep in mind that each program visited is both a home to the children and a working environment for the CNCF team. Therefore, in order to respect and protect the children and staff, CNCF have guidelines limiting the use of cameras. We do understand some schools wish to take photos to document the visit for their school project or to provide evidence of donations for sponsors. Photos are permitted once approval has been given by the accompanying CNCF staff member and it is suggested that one or two students only take photos for the whole group and the CNCF staff will advise what is appropriate.

CNCF Vietnam- 3 -

Clothing Vietnam has a very conservative dress standard and while visiting our Foundation students must be dressed appropriately and comfortably at all times. Appropriate dress means that the only parts of the body that are to be visible are the head, neck (not the chest), lower arms and lower legs. This applies to both boys and girls

• Shorts are good but are required to extend below the knees. • T-shirts are also good, however are considered inappropriate if they are

sleeveless or if they display offensive material. • Exposing of the midriff, cleavage and thighs is inappropriate.

Please remember that you are working with disadvantaged and poor children. To reinforce our respect for the children and their backgrounds, Jewellery should not be worn when visiting CNCF projects and the use of mobile phones is not permitted. AISHK visit We are visiting two of the CNCF centres – The Sunshine School and The Tay Ninh Centre for Visually Impaired Children. Please read the following information about each. The Sunshine School The Sunshine School was opened by Christina in 1991, to provide primary education and medical assistance to children from underprivileged families. The students range in age from five to eighteen years old and are taught the mainstream syllabus as per all schools throughout Vietnam. When combined with the extracurricular activities organised by CNCF [art, music, drama, English and sports] it provides children with a well-rounded education in preparation for continuing in mainstream Vietnamese schools. The Sunshine School can accommodate 150 – 200 students. Education plays a major role in removing children from the destructive cycle of poverty. Opportunities in Vietnam, whether in vocational training schemes or finding employment, are few and far between for a child; and without a Grade 5 certificate it can be virtually impossible. The social influences and encouragement a child receives at school play a significant role in the social and moral development of a child and their future in the society. The main goal of the Sunshine School is to reintegrate children into fulltime education. Many of them go on to be supported financially by the Foundation’s Education Assistance Programme. For older children who do not want to continue on in mainstream schooling, they may choose instead a vocational path and will be provided with assistance in selecting a reputable school as well as funding for their training. AISHK students will be introduced to CNCF and the Grade 1B students. We will then travel to TiNiWorld for interaction with the children and participate in free play in the facilities (eg maze, ball house etc), a soapmaking class, and games in small groups.

CNCF Vietnam- 4 -

The Tay Ninh Centre for Visually Impaired Children Tay Ninh Centre is located about 2.5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, towards the Cambodian boarder. The high incidence of blindness in this area has been attributed to the use of Agent Orange and other defoliants during the War, inadequate health education or access to medical care, and a high rate of malnutrition in the Province. CNCF, in co-operation with UNESCO, constructed five residential homes within a purpose-built compound in January 2000. This was to provide homes for up to 60 visually impaired children as well as education and vocational training. For many of these children, especially those born blind, arrival at Tay Ninh Centre will be their first introduction to schooling. Almost all the residents attend daily classes either at the Tay Ninh School for Visually Impaired Children or at a local public school, depending on the educational level. Besides academic study, all the children have regular classes in functional rehabilitation, enabling them to develop orientation skills and the independence to accomplish daily tasks. In 2011, through financial support from the Australian Government, a rehabilitation room was fitted out. There the children are able to practise daily tasks such as; cooking, ironing, cleaning, doing laundry, setting the table and washing up. The children are encouraged to participate in a wide range of extracurricular activities such as singing, karate, aerobics, dance and others. Children who possess musical talents are encouraged to take music lessons in a variety of musical instruments. The children are taught traditional crafts and skills, including, weaving brooms and mats and making incense sticks, which they are then able to sell locally. In 2006 the Centre started to

promote blind massage as a promising career for visually impaired people under the tuition of the respected and internationally known blind masseuse, Mr. Graham Laycock. Such educational and vocational opportunities provide the children with a means of escaping the cycle of poverty and becoming a valued member of their community, whilst developing life skills which will assist them in becoming independent and financially sustainable. School Interaction at Tay Ninh centre

The children at Tay Ninh love to receive visitors and thrive on interacting with new people. During your school visit you will be shown around the centre and have the opportunity to meet and interact with the children of Tay Ninh. Your interaction with the children will last for 1.5 hours. The children love to perform a few songs and dances for the international schools to display their many talents. AISHK Interaction and Performance AISHK students will prepare the following for interaction with the children at the Tay Ninh Centre:

a performance to present to the children

a range of appropriate activities and games suitable for visually impaired children and bearing in mind the language barrier. Activities that incorporate music, sensory activity, movement and art work well, such as teamwork games and sculpting. It is a good idea to close your eyes while planning your activity to feel how it would be to be visually impaired.

…

CNCF Vietnam- 5 -

Some useful Vietnamese phrases.

1. Hello! - Xin chao! (seen chow!)

2. Goodbye - Chao (chow!)

3. How are you? - Ban co khoe khong? (ban co kwe khome?)

4. I'm fine, thank you! - Cam on ban toi khoe (gahm un ban thoy kwe)

5. And you? - Ban thi sao? (ban ty sao?)

6. What's your name - Ban ten gi (ban thane zee)

7. My name is... - Toi ten la (thoy thane la...)

8. Thank you - Cam on (gahm un)

9. You're welcome - Khong co' gi (khom go zee)

10. Yes - Vang (vung)

11. No - Khong (khome)

12. Excuse me... - Xin loi (seen loy)

13. Can you help me? - Ban giup toi duoc khong? (ban zoop thoy duc khom?)

14. I'd like to eat - Toi muon an (thoy moowan un)

15. I'd like to drink - Toi muon uong (thoy moowan oowanh)

16. Good - Tot (thote)

17. Bad - Khong tot (khome thote)

18. What is this? - Cai nay la gi (guy nai la zee)

19. How much - Bao nhieu (bow nyew)

20. Too expensive - Mac qua (mahk qwa)

21. Where is the nearest internet shop - Cho internet o dau (choh internet uh doh)

22. Where is the nearest bank - Nha bang o dau (nya bung uh doh)

23. Hotel - Khach San (khack san)

24. Hot - Nong (nom)

25. Cold - Lanh (lang)

26. Coffee - Ca phe (cah feh)

27. Hot black coffee - Ca phe nong (cah feh nom)

28. Hot Coffee with milk - Ca phe sua nong (cah feh sua nom)

29. Tea - Tra (chah)

30. I like - Toi thich (thoy tick)

31. I am happy - Toi vui (thoy vuoy)

Extra words I learnt in Vietnam

CNCF Vietnam- 6 -

TOUR ITINERARY

Date Time Detail

Day 1 Monday 12 Mar

0600 Meet at airport – Aisle C HK International Airport

0825 Cathay Pacific flight CX767 depart Hong Kong

1020 Arrive Ho Chi Minh City

Airport meet guide and pick up on 30 seat coaster bus &

transfer to and check-in at Grand Hotel.

Lunch at local Pho 24 restaurant

Half-day city tour with guide on bus to visit History Museum,

City Museum (entrance ticket included), Municipal Post Office

and Cathedral

Return to hotel.

Water puppet show

1930 Buffet dinner at Bong Sen 1 hotel, then walking to view the Rex Hotel

Day 2 Tuesday

13 Mar

0730 Breakfast in hotel

0900 City Walking Tour

Meet guide for morning city walking tour to Reunification

Palace, War Remnants Museum, Ben Thanh Market and Sky

Deck.

Lunch Nha Hang Ngon

http://www.vietnam-guide.com/nha-hang-ngon.htm

Afternoon free to enjoy hotel facilities

1730 Walk to Opera House – A O Show (The Village)

http://www.aoshowsaigon.com/ao-show

subject to schedule in 2018

1930 Dinner Set menu Wrap and Roll Restaurant

CNCF Vietnam- 7 -

Date Time Detail

Day 3 Wednesday 14

Mar

0700 Breakfast in Hotel

0800 Transfer

Meet guide and pick-up 30 seat coaster from Grand Hotel.

Transfer to CNCF, 38 Tu Xuong St, Dist 3, HCMC.

0830 CNCF

Excursion with Sunshine School children - Interaction with the children at TiNiWorld - AEON Mall Binh Tan

Lunch provided

1500 Return to CNCF

1515 Leave CNCF for return to hotel on bus

1900 Vietnamese Cooking Class

http://saigoncookingclass.com/about/presentation-1- 74/7 Hai Bà

Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Việt Nam

Day 4 Thursday 15

Mar

0600 Breakfast at hotel

0700 Transfer

Meet guide and pick-up 30 seat coaster from Grand Hotel.

Transfer to Tay Ninh Centre for the Visually Impaired Highway

22B, Long Yen hamlet, Long Thanh Nam Village, Hoa Thanh

District, Tay Ninh Province

Lunch provided

1000 CNCF

Tay Ninh Centre – interaction with children

Lunch provided

1300 Chu Chi Tunnels with guide on bus

1800 Return to hotel on bus

1930 Dinner at Hoa Tuc Restaurant - 74/7 Hai Bà Trưng, Bến Nghé, Quận 1,

Ho Chi Minh City, Việt Nam http://www.hoatuc.com/wordpress/#

CNCF Vietnam- 8 -

Tour Operator: SaigonTourist Travel Services

Contact: Mr Truong Quoc Huy.

Office Phone: +848-38257783. Mobile: +84-903959546. Email: quochuy@saigontourist.net

Accommodation

GRAND HOTEL SAIGON 08 Dong Khoi Street

District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

Telephone: (84 8) 3915.5555

Fax: (84 8) 3827.3047

Email: info@grandhotel.vn

Website: www.grandhotel.vn

Date Time Detail

Day 5 Friday 16 Mar

0700 Breakfast at hotel

0830 MEKONG DELTA

Meet guide and pick-up 30 seat coaster from Grand hotel.

Transfer to Mekong Delta via Vinh Trang Pagoda in My Tho City.

Boat cruise on Mekong River to visit fruit orchard, coconut candy

firm, honey beekeepers' house and ride on a hand-rowed sampan

through small islets.

Lunch on the Island

Transfer back to hotel on bus

1930 Dinner at Jaspas Saigon - 33 Dong Khoi, District 1 (paid on night chose from

menu )

http://jaspas.com.vn/jashochiminh/location

Day 6 Saturday 17 Mar

0600 Breakfast at hotel

0730 Check out hotel

0800 Transfer

Pick-up from Grand Hotel on 30 seat coaster without guide and

transfer to airport

1125 Cathay Pacific flight CX766 depart Ho Chi Minh City

1515 Arrive Hong Kong

Students picked up at Hong Kong International Airport or dismissed

from airport as arranged by parents

CNCF Vietnam- 9 -

CNCF Vietnam- 10 -

PERSONAL REFLECTIONS

Keeping a Reflective Journal

As a part of your Activity Week service experience, you are expected to maintain a reflective journal. This journal is a log of your experiences while enjoying the culture of Vietnam and performing your community service.

It should include thoughts about your

service responsibilities

character strengths you have seen

new skills and accomplishments that you acquire

important incidents that occur

your thoughts and feelings

You will find it easiest to maintain the journal by jotting down notes at the end of each day.

The process is meant to enhance your learning experience, so use it in a way that will be most beneficial to you.

This journal will be useful in preparing the Assembly presentation as well as reports for School publications.

CNCF Vietnam- 11 -

PERSONAL GOALS FOR THE TRIP Why did you choose this trip? What do you want to learn about Vietnam from this trip? What do you want to learn about yourself from this trip? What character strength will you try to develop? What skills or competencies do you wish to gain or use on this trip? What achievements or successes would you like to achieve on this trip?

CNCF Vietnam- 12 -

Daily Diary & Reflection Each day in Vietnam you will be involved in some different experiences. The Daily Diary and Reflection are a means for you to remember the many activities that you participate in each day.

Day 1 MONDAY 12 March Reflections

What did you learn about Vietnam today? What did you gain from the visit to the History Museum, City Museum, Municipal Post Office and Cathedral? What do you think of the hotel?

What was a personal character strength you saw in yourself today? What is the strength and how was it shown?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

CNCF Vietnam- 13 -

Day 2 TUESDAY 13 March Reflections

What did you learn about Vietnam today?

How did you feel as you walked around the War Remnants Museum? What impact did it have on you and your thinking? Did you enjoy the visit to the Reunification Palace, the Market and Sky Deck? What was the most difficult part of the day? Why? What was the most satisfying part of the day? Why? In what ways did the AO performance provide an insight into the Vietnamese culture and way of life? What was a personal character strength you saw in yourself today? What is the strength and how was it shown?

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

CNCF Vietnam- 14 -

Day 3 WEDNESDAY 14 March

Reflections What are your impressions of CNCF? What did you learn about the community that the CNCF serves, and the people who work there? How many staff members interacted with you today? What were your feelings as you connected with the children from the Sunshine School? What did you learn from your Vietnamese cooking experience?

What was a personal character strength you saw in yourself today? What is the strength and how was it shown?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

CNCF Vietnam- 15 -

Day 4 THURSDAY 14 March Reflections

What are your impressions of and the Tay Ninh Centre ? Evaluate your interaction with the children. Was it successful? Did you have any challenges to overcome?

Were you able to make a difference today? What new knowledge or skill did you learn today? What do you think is the most important thing you learnt at the Chu Chi Tunnels today and hope to always remember?

What was a personal character strength you saw in yourself today? What is the strength and how was it shown?

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

CNCF Vietnam- 16 -

Day 5 FRIDAY 16 March What did you learn of the people, their culture and the country of Vietnam today?

What new knowledge or skill did you acquire today?

What was a personal character strength you saw in yourself today? What is the strength and how was it shown?

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________