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Loreto in Vietnam

The Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program (LVAP) supports and assists children who are disadvantaged, poor and disabled, through a variety of educational programs. LVAP has won world-wide acclaim for its well-targeted projects to help young Vietnamese students in rural and inner city areas providing thorough opportunities to attend and maintain schooling. The slogan of LVAP is: “lifting learners into the future”.
 

Trish Franklin and kids on bikesThrough careful planning and in association with local partners, LVAP's absolute focus and emphasis is on education for needy and disabled children. LVAP exercises a strong commitment towards sustainability for local communities and over a period of 14 years, LVAP has ‘withdrawn’ from 6 projects which are now able to function strongly and independently.


Thanks to ongoing support from numerous donors within the Australian community, LVAP currently maintains eight projects involving over 6000 children.

Recent achievements


In July 2011 LVAP was granted an upgraded licence to permit activities to be carried out in far, remote and very isolated places. Towards the end of July, LVAP ‘broke ground’ for the first of three projects in far-away places. Ca Mau Province is 300 kilometers for HCMC and a new kindergarten in Khanh Binh Tay village will allow 250 poor students to have access to early education.

On August 15th, LVAP broke ground again for another kindergarten to begin construction in Son Thanh Dong village in Phu Yen (600 kilometers from HCMC). The inexcusable poverty of hundreds of children in this area will be eradicated through the construction of this beautiful learning environment.

Whilst in Phu Yen, LVAP undertook the official opening of a refurbished and newly equipped computer room (funded by the Loreto Program) for hearing impaired children at Niem Vui School. The lives of these students have been enlivened as they communicate their new information technology through sign language.

Ongoing initiatives include:


Rural Schools and Kindergartens:
  • Construction, equipping and resourcing supplies to enhance curriculums
  • Scholarship funding
  • School uniforms and “School Packs”
  • New bicycles to ease transport difficulties for students to be able to go to school.

Trish Franklin at school for vision impaired childrenSchool for Vision-Impaired:
  • Financial support for special projects: Computer Room, Life Skills Room, school van, music, sport, excursions, extra nutrition
  • Opportunity to learn a second language – English: ongoing development of an English Braille library
  • Increased self-confidence to attend mainstream school and be a part of inclusive education
  • Development of communication and IT skills
  • ‘Swim-with-a-Vision’ Program
  • Extra nutrition and clothes
  • Scholarships.

Sunrise Special School 1:

  • Construction, equipping and resourcing the whole school – 2001
  • Developmental activities in music, art, sport, library, rehabilitation and water therapy for disabled students
  • New musical instruments and sports equipment
  • Professional consultation
  • Modern, well equipped computer rooms
  • Intense teaching Training Workshops
  • Teachers studying English to enhance their professional development
  • Scholarships.
Sunrise Special School 2:
  • Construction, equipping and resourcing the whole school - 2009
  • Support for disabled students studying Vocational Training: horticulture, sewing, massage, cooking, hospitality, craft works, computer, photography
  • Scholarships
  • Support for the development of life skills and confidence to live independently
  • Assistance with job placements for trained students.
Rural Shelter for Orphans and Disadvantaged:
  • Supporting these children towards total schooling: providing all requisites: ‘School Packs, uniforms, shoes, bus fares
  • Total nutritional assistance
  • Excursions
  • Inter-school activities
  • ‘Clean Up Days’ and painting/maintaining the Shelter
Rural School for Intellectually Challenged
  • Support for children to be able to merely attend school
  • School requisites for curriculum development
  • Total nutritional assistance
  • Musical equipment
  • Payment for van driver to be able to transport the students to and from school
  • Clothes and toys.
PENDING PROJECTS IN CONSIDERATION:
  • LVAP is currently aiming to reach areas of Vietnam that are remote and isolated and which are troubled with acute poverty and a great lack of early education facilities.
  • Construction, equipping and resourcing a new Primary School in District 9 (50 km from HCMC): the children at this school currently learn in an area with dirt floors and Styrofoam ceilings
  • Building a Library, Educational and Resource Room at LVAP’s rural Shelter to provide opportunities for many learning activities
  • Son Thanh Thay Kindergarten – Phu Yen

For further information