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Port of Call |
LAST UPDATE July 12, 2005
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| site design imagesparkle.com |
| July 22, 2004 |
Da Nang, Vietnam – Da Nang
Street Children Programme and Vocational Training Center |
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| Participants gather outside the Vocational Training Center |
The kids living at Da Nang city's Street Children Programme (SCP) are friendly,
curious, and eagerly welcome visitors with a smile. However, unlike the majority of kids today, the
kids at the SCP come from broken homes, are orphans, or come from families with no means to support
them. As a result, they have spent much of their young lives on the streets - begging, sleeping under
bridges, or selling goods to survive. |
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| Students typing away during computer class |
On the second day of Peace Boat's visit to Da Nang a group of over 60 participants
set off through the city's busy streets to visit the Street Children Programme and the Vocational
Training Center, an extension of the SCP. The SCP was founded in 1997 and because of the hard work
of many employees and sponsors, and especially due to the children's ability to accept a new family
environment, the programme has continued to grow and be sucessful. The SCP now houses 150 children
divided into five domitory style homes with 30 children in each. The kids, ranging in age from 4 to
17 years old, are provided with clothes, healthcare, and attend both school and the Vocational Training
Center. |
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| Embroidery class student trying out an origami hat given to her by a Peace Boat participant |
According to The Training Center's Vice President, Mr. Diep, the purpose of the
center is to educate children so they can get work and contribute to society. He continued to explain
that after an influx of international donor support in 2001 the school was able to expand, and now
provides children, ages 14 and up, with basic training in computer systems, embroidery, sewing, electronics,
and mechanics. Most of students come from Da Nang, but as the margin between rich and poor in Vietnam continues to rise (90% of Vietnam's poor live in rural areas) so do the people migrating to the
cities. The phenomenon of migration further increases the number of children on the street and the
center now cares for children from three other provinces besides Da Nang. Currently the center teaches
105 students and has successfully graduated 400 since it began. |
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| This picture of a participant and two of SCP's children was taken with the help of Tho, a twelve year old from Da Nang |
After visiting the school, the participants broke into groups, jumped into buses,
and set off to spend the rest of the day at one of the Street Children Programme's five dormitory
style homes. Soon after arriving, participants and kids quickly got to know each other. Watching the
kids interact with each other it was clear to participants that SCP has provided a safe and caring
family environment for the 30 brothers and sisters to grow up in. |
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| Blowing bubbles was popular among the children |
Despite not sharing a common language the participants and children were soon able
to communicate with each other by playing games, blowing bubbles, drawing, creating origami, and playing
music. As the afternoon progressed the children were eager to try something new with their new friends.
One of the highlights became staring at recently captured images on some of the participants' digital
cameras. Soon several participants watched the excited kids run around with the cameras, snapping
photos like old pros.
After sitting down together for lunch, the children and participants sang songs in both Vietnamese and
Japanese. Then before saying goodbye the participants gave the kids stationary and other needed goods
collected by United Peoples Alliance or UPA, a volunteer-based Peace Boat group that gathers donated
goods from businesses and past voyage participants in Japan. |
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