Lets meet again at Asilomar May 30, 2015

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Dear Colleagues,

Eleven years ago, I walked into the first gathering of the VANGO Network without knowing much about many of you or your organizations. Today I am proud to continue to be part of this Network and still working tirelessly on behalf of many members and non-members alike to engage in collaboration, sharing resources and networking. 

I invite you to come back to Asilomar this May 30, 2015 to discuss:

  • The effectiveness and impact of your work in Vietnam
  • The type of collaboration or partnership that has worked for your organization
  • Your expectation for the roles and services of VANGO Network to your organization

Other topics for discussion:

  • Rethinking Scholarship – Beyond the traditional impoverished family and good grade pre-requisite
  • Innovative ways for Social Enterprise – Beyond non profit and bottom line for a sustainable economy and environment
  • From Mobile Medical Mission to Public Health – Training a new kind of workforce of healthcare professionals, school/institution personnel and caretakers/parents 

We will have an update on the work of the late James Do Ba Phuoc with the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation (VNPF). He is the co-founder of VNPF, VNHELP, Pacific Links Foundation, and the VANGO Network. Their books theNôm dictionnary printed in true type will be available for purchase. 

Please save the date!
Saturday, May 30, 2015
11:00 AM – 06:00 PM
Asilomar Conference Grounds
800 Asilomar Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA 93950

Registration here – Members $25, Non-Members $50 

For hotel lodging reservation, please book directly with Asilomar.
Join us in the planning committee. Send us your concerns.  
Are you interested in sponsoring the BBQ lunch? 

Be a Member – General Membership $100. Academia and Student Association $50 

Detailed agenda will be posted later

Saturday, May 30, 2015
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM  Registration, Meet & Greet and Food Prep
12:00 PM – 02:00 PM  BBQ Picnic
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM  General Members and Non-Members Meeting
Sunday, May 31, 2105
08:00 AM – 03:00 PM  Board of Directors Meeting

Find out more about the details of the historical event of the first conference in 2014

I am looking forward to meet you at this beautiful coastal resort and conference ground.

Best,
Cathy Lam
Secretary
Program Director
HIPE Co-Director
VA NGO Network
714 330 3589

VA NGO Network 2015 Spring Training Program – February and March 2015

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Advance Registration Required at Join the Trainings

ENGLISH TRAINING WORKSHOP
Lucie Smith and Theresa Kuo will deliver a short training program on English skills for high school teachers and HIPE staff during their visit to Vietnam in February 2015. The first workshop is on English teaching methodology, focusing on classroom activity ideas for EFL teachers. The second workshop will provide participants with opportunities to practice writing coherent and cohesive sentences and paragraphs. In addition, participants will discuss about how to improve listening and speaking skills.

  1. English Teaching Methodology (English 1)
    • Participants: High school teachers
    • Date: 9th February 2015
    • Venue: Park View Hotel, Hue
    • Presenters: Lucie Smith and Theresa Kou
  2. Conversational English and Writing Skills (English 2)
    • Participants: HIPE staff
    • Date: 10th and 11th February 2015
    • Venue: HIPE office or Conference hall at 5 Ha Noi St. Hue City
    • Presenters: Lucie Smith and Theresa Kou

SPRING ANNUAL TRAINING FOR HIPE
HIPE Annual Training agenda is developed based on actual working experience. This training provides opportunities for HIPE staff and volunteers to review and enhance their skills needed for their work. Besides presentations on reproductive health, adolescent health, video making and art and craft, the training will host discussion sessions on school-based reproductive health curriculum and tools and challenges in the work on reproductive health and making video.

  • Participants: HIPE staff and volunteers
  • Date: 7th and 8th March 2015
  • Venue: Conference hall at 5 Ha Noi St. Hue City.
  • Presenters: Cathy Lam, Tran Kim Anh, Lucie Smith, Tran Ai My and HIPE staff.

CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOPS
CBW is a series of on-demand workshops on child development, professional enhancement and social work.

  1. CBW in Vinh Long (CBW 1) Date: 8th and 9th March 2015
    • Topics: Early childhood care and education, dental care, setting limits and positive discipline, child’s temperament, social emotional development, and educational activities for preschool children.
    • Participants: Preschool teachers from Long Ho District
    • Venue: Long Ho District in Vinh Long
    • Presenters: binh nguyen rybacki, Cathy Lam, Tran Kim Anh. Nguyen Tri Nhu Quynh, Tran Ai My and Le Thi Hong.
  2. CBW in HCMC (CBW 2)
    • Topics: Early childhood care and intervention Date: 10 March 2015
    • Topic: Principles of dealing with handicapped children Date: 11 March 2015
    • Topic: Transportation and multiple trauma, and disaster drill Date: 13 March 2015
    • Venue: HCMC
    • Presenters: Dr. Quynh Kieu, PVNF team and Tran Kim Anh
  3. CBW in Hue (CBW 3) Date: 15th March 2015
    • Topics: enhancing soft skills (such as communication skills, listening skills and team building skills), early childhood education skills (such as learning though play and social emotional development) and community building skills.
    • Participants: Third year students from University of Hue
    • Venue: Trung tam Giao duc Nhan Dao Hue
    • Presenters: Tran Kim Anh, Nguyen Thi Kinh, Cathy Lam, Doan Thu Le, and Tran Ai My.
  4. CBW in Vinh (CBW 4) Date: 18 March 2015
    • Topics: Brain development and care for kids with disabilities.M/li>
    • Participants: Preschool teachers and care workers at institutions for kids with disabilities.
    • Venue: Pediatric Hospital in Vinh
    • Presenter: Tran Kim Anh

HEALTH EDUCATION INITIATIVE TRAININGS (HEI)
VANGO Network offers 2 kinds of PedFACTs training for preschool teachers and administrators: (1) PedFACTs Provider training and (2) PedFACTs Instructor training.
PedFACTs Provider training is for preschool teachers and child care givers. They will be equipped with first aid skills to response to different kinds of child injuries and illness.
PedFACTs Instructor training is for more experienced teachers who have presentation skills. They are trained to become certified PedFACTs Instructors who can conduct PedFACTs trainings on their own in their communities.

  1. PedFACTs Instructor training in Hue (HEI 1) Date: 8th and 9th February
    • Participants: Medical students
    • Venue: Trung tam Giao duc Nhan Dao Hue
    • Presenters: Tran Kim Anh and Dr. Dang Ngoc Thanh Thao
  2. PedFACTs Instructor and Provider training in Vinh Long (HEI 2) Date: 7th and 8th March
    • Participants: Preschool teachers and headmasters in Binh Tan district
    • Venue: Binh Tan, Vinh Long
    • Presenters: Tran Kim Anh, Dr. Truong Hoai Phong and Dr. Truong Thi Thu Cuc
  3. PedFACTs Provider Training in HCMC (HEI 3) Date: 12 March 2015
    • Participants: Preschool teachers
    • Venue: HMCM
    • Presenter: Tran Kim Anh, Dr. Quynh Kieu
  4. PedFACTs Instructor and Provider training in Hue (HEI 4) Date: 13th and 14th March
    • Participants: Preschool teachers in Hue and medical students
    • Venue: Trung tam Giao duc Nhan Dao Hue
    • Presenters: Tran Kim Anh and Dr. Dang Ngoc Thanh Thao
  5. PedFACTs Provider Training in Vinh (HEI 5) Dates: 17, 19, 20 March 2015
    • Participants: Preschool teachers and care workers at institutions for kids with disabilities.
    • Venues: Quy Chau District and Pediatric Hospital in Vinh
    • Presenters: Tran Kim Anh, Dr Quynh Kieu

In Memoriam – Do Ba Phuoc

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Dear VA-NGO Network Members & Friends,

It is with deep sorrow that the board of VA NGO Network announces the passing away of James Do Ba Phuoc, one of our leading lights.  Anh Phuoc was a pioneer in many fields and bravely blazed new trails:

  • In humanitarian work in Vietnam after 1975 by bringing IT boot camps to train Vietnam youth into a skilled workforce for economic development of the country,
  • As founding member of VN-Help, Pacific Links Foundation, VA-NGO Network and of the Nom Foundation.

In keeping with the family tradition of cultural contribution, he spearheaded the digital translation of Nom characters, the ancient Vietnam writing, into unicode and was one of the founders of the NOM Foundation, publishing a Nom dictionary on the internet.

His lifelong passion led him to continue the cultural endeavors while fully engaged with IT development in Vietnam.

I will always remember anh Phuoc as a gentle man with a dry sense of humor, but a determination of iron. His support allowed chi Kim-Anh Tran, his lifelong partner, to lead the longterm Capacity-Building Workshops to enhance Early Childhood Development Program for the VA-NGO Network and promote life-saving skills in Pediatric First Aid for caregivers.  He was at all time the wind beneath her wings.

His sudden death was a tragic shock for us all, a small network of professionals working closely in humanitarian assistance, and a reminder of lost opportunities in enjoying family and friends as a priority.

  • To anh Phuoc: we thank you for leading the way in contributing professional talents wherever life places us, you will be remembered as a guding beacon of selfless dedication.
  • To chi Anh: we pledge to stand by for you and continue the work that both of you started together.
  • To Minh: your father inspired us all, please consider us as family-at-large.

Cathy Lam flew to Vietnam to represent the US non-profit partners he has worked with, and to give support to the grieving family.  Farewell anh Phuoc, until we meet again…

With sadness in our hearts, and hope in anh Phuoc’s everlasting spirits,

Quynh Kieu, MD
VA NGO Network Chairperson