Volunteering with the local community in Hanoi
From building sustainable livelihoods to fostering good governance, Action on Poverty (AOP) have been working for over 20 years with local partners to combat poverty and inequality in Vietnam.
Action on Poverty (AOP) have been working for over 20 years with local partners to combat poverty and inequality in Vietnam.
AOP works with and for the poor and vulnerable, including:
- ethnic minorities
- women
- youth
- the elderly
- the displaced
- landless
This is achieved through developing mutually beneficial relationships with the communities, along with partners in government and civil society.
AOP's work also extends into:
- climate change
- public health
- governance
PACE activities
Social research
Studying the quality of a basic health care service, designing a survey toolkit, interviewing local people, analysing results and formalising a report.
Marketing
Developing a marketing strategy to develop regional branding for low-income community SME's. Linking the communities small-scale production to the market included revising current brand identity, packaging, online presence.
Student experiences - Brittany Hannouch
Q: What do you study and where did you go on your PACE International activity?
A: I study a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Environmental Humanities. I completed my PACE activity in Vietnam working with Action on Poverty (AFAP). This involved three weeks in Hanoi working at the head office, and one week on a field trip to the mountainous Da Bac district undertaking research with two village communities.
Q: What was your role or project at your host organisation?
A: My role was as a social research intern. I worked with two other students to evaluate the impacts of AFAP’s Community-Based Tourism Project in the Da Bac district. We were responsible for designing the research project, undertaking interviews and surveys in Da Bac, analysing the data, writing a research report and presenting our findings and recommendations to AFAP staff.
Q: What attracted you to the PACE International program?
A: I was eager to travel and experience a new country and culture. I was drawn to the fact that I could gain experience working in my field of study while building relationships with new people and exploring a new country.
Q: What advice would you give a student who is thinking of applying for a PACE International activity?
A: Just do it! This experience was a huge learning curve for me, not just professionally and academically, but also personally in my everyday experiences and travelling. Living and working in Vietnam for a month opened my eyes to a culture entirely different from my own, and it will be something I will always remember.
Q: What was the best part of your PACE International experience?
A: Undertaking fieldwork in Da Bac was definitely a highlight, we stayed in traditional homestays with local families and spent our days exploring the jungle, swimming in the lake, learning local customs and enjoying delicious foods while completing our research