We have placed an entry in Ashoka Changemakers competition on Powering Economic Opportunity. Our entry has been made in the hopes to continue our work in the villages in Northern Viet Nam - to continue helping the villagers make their own changes in a way that works for them. We are really excited to be able to participate in such a worthy competition in which we are up against so many other great causes!
If you want to help us earn that $50,000 we welcome and encourage you to take a few minutes of your time, check out our entry, "like" our entry, and leave a comment. If you are a tourist to Ta Phin or Lao Chai and have met some students from Capilano University or Hanoi Open University on your travels, please share your experiences with us through the comments on the Changemakers website. If you have been involved in our projects as a volunteer, please share what change your involvement has created in your life and in the lives of those you worked with. We look forward to hearing from you!
Here is the link to our entry: http://bit.ly/llC7f0
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day One Updates!
Just a quick update from here in the village. We are working away with setting up a market/information house for the tourists. Despite not many tourists visiting the village today, we have already had a sale and a donation. This is a great start and we are really excited about the potential success of this new set-up.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Off to Sa Pa we go!
A few updates from us here in Viet Nam...
The team is very excited to be joined by Casey Dorin!
Casey is the former Dean of Tourism and co-author of the proposal for the PATA Foundation project. After a late flight into Hanoi on Thursday night, he has adjusted quickly and is looking forward to a great trip.
Yesterday, we were lucky enough to be able to attend the Hanoi Open University graduation thesis presentations, followed by a delicious lunch with the HOU faculty and guests from the public and private sector of the Viet Nam tourism industry.
The team will be catching the legendary "soft-sleeper" train up to Sa Pa this evening. After a brief stop to freshen up, we will be heading straight up to Ta Phin to get right into the next phase of training! Wahoo!
The team is very excited to be joined by Casey Dorin!
Casey is the former Dean of Tourism and co-author of the proposal for the PATA Foundation project. After a late flight into Hanoi on Thursday night, he has adjusted quickly and is looking forward to a great trip.
Yesterday, we were lucky enough to be able to attend the Hanoi Open University graduation thesis presentations, followed by a delicious lunch with the HOU faculty and guests from the public and private sector of the Viet Nam tourism industry.
The team will be catching the legendary "soft-sleeper" train up to Sa Pa this evening. After a brief stop to freshen up, we will be heading straight up to Ta Phin to get right into the next phase of training! Wahoo!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Work, work, work!
Yesterday we had an exciting day again! Taryn and Louise met the Footprint family for the first time and we all had lunch together (some duck for good luck - viet?) in a restuarant that overlooked the Red River.
Following that meeting we had a great meeting with Ngoc Anh from HOU. We're all looking forward to working together in Sapa next week! In addition to working with Hanoi Open University, we are very happy to accept the invitation to attend this years graduation ceremony starting tomorrow!
Today we'll be working on honing our activity and lesson plans, and staying hydrated in the 38 degree humid heat of Hanoi - we are definitely not in Canada anymore!
Monday, June 6, 2011
GOOOOOOOOOOOD MORNING VIET NAM!
We have arrived in Hanoi, Viet Nam and are checked in and ready to get to work! Our Canadian team has assembled, met and on break! We know you are all watching the hockey game back in Canada, but we have work to do (so send us a score update please?)!
Hanoi is hot, humid and busy. We have a few days here and are really looking forward to the Hanoi Open University Graduation ceremonies this week - Congradulations to the grads! This morning we will meet with Ngoc Anh and jump right into work.
For now, wish us luck - we have pictures and more info to come - and can't wait to hear your comments on the newly posted video! (Which, within 24 hours has had hits from 9 countries! Keep it coming)
Thanks for your support!
CBT Team :)
Hanoi is hot, humid and busy. We have a few days here and are really looking forward to the Hanoi Open University Graduation ceremonies this week - Congradulations to the grads! This morning we will meet with Ngoc Anh and jump right into work.
For now, wish us luck - we have pictures and more info to come - and can't wait to hear your comments on the newly posted video! (Which, within 24 hours has had hits from 9 countries! Keep it coming)
Thanks for your support!
CBT Team :)
Hong Kong!
Taryn and Louise have arrived in Hong Kong! We are really excited - the airport is beautiful and the trip so far has gone well. We're really looking forward to our second - relatively short - flight to Hanoi! We'll be arriving in about 4 hours, and can't wait to connect with the rest of our CBT Vietnam team. Missing Jen and Kim already :) Sorry they couldn't join and wishing the best to you both!
More updates and details to come from Hanoi - the Graduation and our first days experiencing Vietnamese culture - here we come Vietnam!
More updates and details to come from Hanoi - the Graduation and our first days experiencing Vietnamese culture - here we come Vietnam!
