Friday, April 23, 2010

Sincere thanks to our supporters....


ACCV does not receive any government funding at all. We are entirely dependent on the support of individuals, groups and organisations. 


We simply cannot work to help the underprivileged and blind youth of Vietnam without assistance.

We are very grateful for your generosity... 


Kind regards 
Alison & Rose

(please drop us a quick email so we can acknowledge your kindness)

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Oh how times change...

When we first met these guys they were so shy and withdrawn!

 

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

ACCV - We have our very own office....


One of the highlights of our recent trip to Hanoi was the setting up of the ACCV office, it was very exciting for us all and we couldn't let the occasion go by without an official launch.


Our wonderful new National Program Manger, Chau, worked very hard to set everything up in a very short period of time. Within a couple of days our office looked great, even the photos were on the wall!
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Chau has great experience working with NGO's, she has also been a good friend and support since our very first trip to Vietnam. So it is with great delight we welcome her on board, we're very lucky to have her.

   Welcome Chau!

Our good friends from the Blind Association came along to join in the fun, we really had a lovely time.


Our office is in a very central location and we have plenty of room for visitors and even a small class. We have some great plans for tutoring sessions, listening activities, even a library for the students to visit.

They  have already decided that it will be a great place for them to hang out and even have their own English social club.


They had a bit of a sing along just to christen the place and see how well the Karaoke sessions will work!


Our friends very kindly brought along a beautiful bouquet of flowers to congratulate us on the occasion of setting up the ACCV office. They were genuinely celebrating our good fortune, it was a great day.


kind regards
Alison & Rose

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Volunteer English language teachers needed.....

The ACCV English language programme for blind students is really moving ahead now. We have been asked to place it in a number of other centres around Hanoi. So we need to recruit more teachers and teaching assistants.

Here is our ad...

Volunteer English language teachers to work with blind students.
 
The Australian Charity for the Children of Vietnam (ACCV) is a grassroots Australian NGO  working  with underprivileged and blind children and teenagers in Hanoi, Vietnam. ACCV has developed an interesting and challenging English language programme for blind students. The pilot course has been successfully  implemented and we are looking to run future courses in numerous Blind Association centres around Hanoi.

ACCV is looking for English language teachers prepared to donate their time twice per week for a ten week course. To register interest in volunteering to teach future programmes in and around Hanoi. 

We are also looking for a number of Vietnamese teaching assistants with a high level of English.
 
This is an interesting and challenging project which will make a significant  and positive impact in the lives of both teachers and students.

If you would like to register your interest in participating in future projects or if you would like further information then please attach your CV and email Alison Vidotto at accv@bigpond.com


Thank you

Alison Vidotto


Monday, April 12, 2010

Friendship, support & Inspiration..

This past weekend Rose and I have made a quick trip to Hoi An, a nice little town just an hour’s flight from Hanoi. We went to catch up with a good friend Nadine who has relocated. But what started out as a couple of days break from our hectic schedule soon became a weekend of unexpected professional development.
Nadine was in the NGO/ charity world for quite a number of years in Hanoi. We met her when we first went to Blue Dragon, she’s been a great friend and support to ACCV ever since (we miss her).

Nadine introduced us to a few women who are doing great work in the Hoi An area. You may have already heard of Jackie from Kianh Robyn from CHIA and Karen from lifestart foundation   Rose and I spent quite a bit of time with them over the weekend and they kindly shared their stories, knowledge and they gave us some invaluable advice.

Karen’s work in particular resonated with what we are doing and what we hope to do long term here at ACCV. She's also an Australian woman who is running the organization from Australia with a few trips to Vietnam each year. She has been doing this for ten years now and Lifestart is a wonderful organization that is really changing lives. It was great for us to see just how successfully it can be done.

Lifestart works with disabled and impoverished people in the Hoi An area. They train and support them so that they can produce and sell a product of their own, generating an income and enjoying all the other positives that being empowered brings.

Exactly what ACCV is all about, we’re just a little less travelled along this road.

Karen invited us to their workshop and store, it’s a wonderful set up. If you’re in Hoi An, I can highly recommend a visit to lifestart foundation

Hai makes & sells lanterns while he continues his education.


Kind regards

Alison & Rose

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Sunday, April 4, 2010

I can hear music.....

It's great to be back in Hanoi, lots happening and we're achieving many things. It's a really busy time for us both, but it's also alot of fun, so no complaints, that's for sure
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We ducked into The Blind Association for a quick meeting and to collect some materials we wanted to update. We had a very nice chat and cuppa with a few of the staff and students, we were treated to a lovely impromptu music session. They're a talented bunch this lot

Quy is quite a master with the guitar and flute, just delightful to listen to.

He's passed on a few musical skills to his friends, here Dat joined in the fun and there was also a bit of singing. Suddenly, we were treated to a concert.

Khanh kindly came along to translate and join in the fun.

Once again it was lovely to see everyone.