COCOA VIETNAM NEWS FEBRUARY / MARCH 2011

Education in Vietnam

Getting a good education is an important for all children. It stands to reason that parents in every country want their children to have the necessary qualifications after graduation which will enable them to get a good job so they can support themselves and their family. As the age pension scheme in many of these undeveloped countries is very poor or nonexistent it is also important that children are able to support their parents when they are too old to work. In rural areas of Vietnam, many houses don’t have clean water or sanitation facilities and this is the norm. This also is common with many schools as well. COCOA visited Tan Phuoc Village Pre-School and one of the two Tan Phuoc Village

Primary Schools on the 2^nd of March to see the location of a well that will be provided by COCOA at each school. Tan Phuoc Pre-school has 4 classrooms, but no toilet facilities. Tan Phuoc Primary School (A) has 15 classrooms, 300 students, but only one toilet. The school had been divided some time back and the other school (Tan Phuoc Primary School (B) has 400 students and 18 classrooms. ( I am not sure how many toilets, if any are at School B). Health and sanitation is an important part of a child’s education. In the rural areas this part of their education is not being addressed, either at home or at school. The 2 wells being located at these schools are part of a Community Program, where local villagers can access clean water during the dry season. So these wells will serve dual purposes, by providing for the schools and for the local community.

Students at Tan Phuoc Preschool

Lan teaches the students a new children’s game while they wait for their teacher to arrive

An old well, but no water

This is what the students use for a toilet, 3 walls, a cement floor, no door or privacy, no toilet system, no roof and no water.

Tan Phuoc Primary School

One toilet for 300 students and teachers

                                                         Students doing exercises

                                                               Drilling the new well

Minority Houses Project

Two new houses have been approved for 2 poor families in Dong Tam Village. On the 2^nd of March Lan and I visited the families in Dong Tam Village and saw the condition in which they are living and informed them of the decision to give them a new house. They were very grateful for our consideration of their current situation.

2  families in Dong Tam Village who will receive a new house

Prayer Requests