World Heritage Workcamp at Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

  Vietnam

• Hanoi: 
Hanoi

Duration of Program: 1-2 weeks
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: inquire for specific dates

Description: Description of the Workcamp
The second Patrimonito workcamp organized by SJ Vietnam in Hanoi and Ha Long Bay will take place in collaboration with the Youth Union in Quang Ninh, a local environment organisation and local environment clubs.

The main objective of the workcamp are to raise awareness of the locals and tourists about World Heritage protection through non-formal education and the participation of international and local volunteers.

It should also catch the interest of the local government in order to encourage the promotion of Ha Long Bay as a World Heritage Site and increasing the role of young people in protecting it.

Description of the Site
Ha Long Bay consists in 3,000 limestone and dolomite islets and covers an area of 1,500 square kilometres. Its unique topography makes it be one of the most visited places in Vietnam.

The site was first listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.

Work Description
Fuel and oil, garbage, as well as the constant raising number of tourists, have had a negative impact on the ecosystem of the islands.

During the workcamp, 20 local and international volunteers will work to encourage the protection of the site. Their main activities will be to organize workshops and exhibitions, collect garbage along the beach, ride bicycles through the city, visit local schools and a coal company.

The workshops will consist in making a video about Ha Long Bay and preparing an exhibition to present in a high school and in the University of Economics and the University of Public Health in Hanoi.

Accommodation and Food
During the first two days, the volunteers will stay at SJ Vietnam Youth House in Hanoi (15 minutes walking distance from the centre). In Ha Long Bay, they will stay at a Vietnamese basic guesthouse.

The volunteers will cook and clean in teams. The food will be purchased at the local market everyday.

Highlights:
To reach it's goals about youth education, peace, tolerance and solidarity, SJ Vietnam mainly organizes 4 kinds of Activities:
    * Workcamps
    * Long Term Volunteer Projects (LTV and EVS Projects)
    * Training courses, seminars and conferences
    * Sending of Vietnamese volunteers abroad

LTV stands for Long Term Volunteer and it is used in SJ Vietnam to refer to all volunteers committing to a project for more than one month. So it is not the same as leaving for two weeks during holidays - it is a serious decision about leaving one's matters and starting something here. To decide to join a LTV project means also to accept to live as local people / volunteers (food, accommodation, budget, work and social activities) and to wish to integrate oneself into the way of life of local people.

In cooperation with several local partner organizations and institutes, SJ Vietnam organizes around 60 long-term projects (LTV-projects) in and around Hanoi each year. Long-term volunteers are required to participate more actively in the SJV organization and the project management. The LTV-projects are a lot more intensive than the STV-projects and need a higher motivation because they have to participate actively in the management of the project, sometimes they have also to supervise and support short-term volunteers. LTV's will stay in one of the SJ Vietnam houses in Hanoi and will live together in an international environment with many different cultures. Cooking, cleaning, having fun and learning about each culture will be part of everyday life. The volunteers will be of different ages, between 18 and 30 years old- but sometimes of higher ages. Remember that a long-term stay is not a holiday or a social-humanitarian project! At the end of your work as a long-term volunteer you may see the world from a different point of view.

Our long term projects are organized in Ha Noi, Hai Duong, Nam Dinh with tasks related to SJ Vietnam office work, teaching, improving the live of children and disabled people, environment and society to support sustainable development. Long-term volunteers will live and work like local people. In 2009, SJ Vietnam will start to host EVS volunteer (European Voluntary Service)

Qualifications:
- At least 18 years old
- Serious about volunteering abroad
- You are independent and responsible.
- Ready to work with local people and international volunteers

**Special requirements**
* Should know how to ride a bicycle
* Bring typical products & items from your country (clothes, music, photos, food...)
* Bring games & instruments
* Bring old clothes you can use to collect the garbage
* Don't forget your sunscreen, a cap, and a raincoat!

Cost in US$: 130

Experience Required: no

Age Range: above 18

This Program is open to American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Vietnam Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Job and Internship Network

Solidarites Jeunesses Vietnam's Mission Statement: By developing International Volunteering, we aim to: 1. Work towards a society of justice, peace and solidarity. 2. Break cultural misunderstanding between people and nations. 3. Improve local and global environment, provide informal education, help to reduce poverty and strengthen human rights 4. Encourage young people to participate actively in the society in which they live.

Year Founded: 2004