Center for Educational Exchange with Vietnam (CEEVN)

Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP)

Vietnam

Alumni Activities

Origin

IFP Journey

Return

IFP Alumni in your countries are waiting for you!

IFP Vietnam Alumni Activities As of February 2008

Annual meetings Funds contributed and created by

alumni Training/Lecture events Meetings with alumni in the region Involvement in IFP Vietnam program What IFP Vietnam alumni would like

to do with alumni from other countries

Challenges

IFP VIETNAM ALUMNI (image taken by Doan Thi Tuyen, 2001 cohort)

Total 156 fellows: 76 completed study58 returned to Vietnam; others pursuing further studies

•Canada •United States•United Kingdom•The Netherlands•Australia •New Zealand•China •Malaysia •Philippines•Thailand

10 host countries

where IFP Vietnam Fellows

study

12 alumni members met with mentors, formed Mission Statement &

contributed money to create Water-lily Fund

“The IFP Vietnam alumni are committed to apply our knowledge and skills to increase access to economic and educational opportunities for persons of marginalized and disadvantaged communities. Our work will demonstrate the values of accountability, philanthropy, integrity, democracy, respect for a person’s rights, networking and mutual support.” - Jan 2005

First Meeting in Jan 2005

Water-lily Fund

35 Alumni & CEEVN presented a mid-term report on IFP Vietnam to the Vietnamese government And IFP stakeholders

Alumni met with government officials, diplomats, FF Rep, IFP stakeholders

Second Meeting – November 2006

US Ambassador’s residence

Each alumnae created individual poster of his/her Origin, IFP Journey, and the Return

to share with each other and with invited guests

Second Meeting – November 2006 (cont’d)

Nominated 4 coordinatorsContributed $470 to create Alumni Admin Fund

Second Annual Meeting – November 2006 (cont’d)

Alumni Admin Fund

Alumni discussed and listed by regional groups what assets they have in terms of

skills, knowledge, passions

Third Annual Meeting – January 2008

Formed 5 interest groups: (health, education, community dev, library & IT, charity & fundraising). Each group chose a leader.

Designated an IT group responsible for alumni website management;

Two alumni volunteered to serve as Contact Persons for two years, replacing former 4 coordinators;

Hospitality Committee formed to take care of alumni related matters; also manages Alumni Admin Fund created in 2006;

Created a new Charity Fund with $ 683 contributed by alumni at the meeting.

Formed Charity Fund Committee - Ban Tu ThienChair: Vo Minh Phuc

Quy Tu Thien

Funds contributed and created by alumni

Alumni Admin Fund

Quy Tu Thien

Quy Hoa Sung ~

Water-lily Fund

Charity Fund

Quy Alumni

Created in 2006 for alumni admin expenses and hospitality matters, min $24/year/person. Managed by the Hospitality Committee.

Created in 2008 to provide 10kgs rice monthly to the most vulnerable group of HIV-AIDS patients in Bac Lieu province. Voluntary contribution at 3rd Annual Meeting, Jan 2008: $683. Managed by Charity Fund Committee, chaired by Dr. Vo Minh Phuc (who had to suspend his study at U Hawaii due to cancer)

Created in 2005Support to poor college students who Might have to drop out. Voluntary contribution. Current balance: $1,203Referrals by alumni. No managing committee yet. Funds kept in CEEVN

Post-Fellowship TRAINING/LECTURE/WORKSHOPS

1) April 2006: Asset Based Community/Citizen-driven Development (ABCD) training for 15 alumni at An Giang University, Vietnam

2) July 2006 – two alumni to Coady International Institute (Nova Scotia, Canada) for 3 week training in ABCD supported by Ford Hanoi Office

3) Nov 2006 – re-entry Lecture in Hanoi: “Understanding Vietnam’s three sectors: The State, Business, and Civil Societies – 35 alumni attended.

4) March 2007 – Proposal Writing workshop at Da Lat U– 18 alumni (2 days)

5) Dec 2007 – 7 day-ABCD training at An Giang University for 25 alumni (Vietnam and Thailand)

6) January 2008 – Seven alumni attended Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum at Khon Kaen University, Thailand. (7 days)

7) April 2008: Workshop at Hong Duc University, Thanh Hoa Province, to share experience using different participatory approaches in working with local communities. Organized by one alumnus for 12 alumni with 20 development practitioners and community people.

MEETINGS WITH REGIONAL ALUMNI

April 2006: one alumna attended first IFP Thailand alumni meeting to share about our experience in Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) training;

Dec 2006: two alumni attended the IFP India Alumni Network Meeting in New Delhi;

Jan 2008: attended Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum GLSJF) at Khon Kaen University, Thailandwith 40 alumni from six countries

40 alumni from six countries in Asia region attended Global Leadership for Social Justice Forum (GLSJF) Jan 25 – Feb 1, 2008, Khon Kaen University, Thailand

Alumni Involvement with CEEVN in IFP Vietnam

Program

In-country outreach & recruitment Application advising to potential candidates

in difficult and remote areas Facilitating activities during selection

process Post-selection orientation/Skills Assessment Pre-Academic Training (PAT) Pre-Departure Orientation (esp. SUPs,

Clusters) Plan & host post in-country fellowship

activities in Plan and implement Global LSJForum

CEEVN

WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH OTHER WOULD LIKE TO DO WITH OTHER ALUMNIALUMNI

- Meet to share challenges and effects of the Mekong River with those from Mekong river countries

- Share our experience applying the Asset-Based Community-driven Development (ABCD) approach in our work

- Learn more about micro-finance

Host seminars/conferences to bring alumni together to share ideas, experiences, and discuss issues related to indigenous knowledge, inclusive education, poverty alleviation, HIV-AIDS, micro-credit

- Learn from other alumni experience and skills in developing local NGOs, working in NGOs;

…

Challenges

Living in 28 different provinces – far away from each other, not too easy to get together

Country’s conditions do not yet allow for formation of an Association/NGO; limited from fund raising in Vietnam (not allowed to make a stamp or official receipts, unless registered)

Do not have one alumnae who can designate time to plan and coordinate alumni activities; managing website; creating newsletters…

The End