Dear friends!

In just a few days we will set off on the education support program: To the Border Area of Bù Gia Mập, Bình Phước.

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To be better prepared for the trip, please take a few minutes to read through the notes below.

I/ PROGRAM ORGANIZING TEAM

When you join the program, please save the following phone numbers so you can get in touch when needed, ask questions and get information and help:

1/ Team leader: Nguyệt Đình Khôi
Phone: 0985674772-0934197772
2/ General program coordinator: Nguyễn Hữu Nhơn
Phone: 0969092372
3/ Head of logistics (taking care of everyone's meals): Fiona Oanh
Phone: 0903 698 369
4/ Post-production, sound and lighting team: Lê Bá Duy
Phone: 0902 573 000

II/ TRIP SCHEDULE:

26/9
– 2:30 a.m. on 26/9: Members gather at the Y Tam office at: No. X1, CMT8 apartment complex, Thép Mới Street (near the Hoàng Hoa Thám - Trường Chinh intersection), Ward 12, Tân Bình District, Ho Chi Minh City
– Those who live far away can come and sleep at the Y Tam house on Friday night so they are in time in the morning; those in Bình Dương, Thủ Đức and District 9 will be picked up at the Bình Phước intersection.
– Everyone can park their motorbikes at the parking lot next to the Y Tam office
– 2:45: Load gifts and supplies onto the coach
– 3:00: The coach departs from Saigon for Bù Gia Mập, Bình Phước
– 8 a.m.: Arrive at Đắk Á Primary School
– After breakfast, split into teams to prepare for the Mid-Autumn festival: hang the backdrop, set up game stalls, prepare the games, logistics….
– From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
+ Big group games and activities
+ Give scholarships and gifts to the children
– 4 p.m.: Prepare for the campfire night
– 6 p.m.: Mid-Autumn lantern procession
– 7 p.m.: Campfire + music and performances with the children.
– 9 p.m.: The campfire ends and the get-together with members and the school's teachers begins

27/9:

- 5 a.m.: Wake up, have breakfast and pack up to leave
– 7 a.m.: Visit and climb Bà Rá Mountain
– 1 p.m.: Board the coach to Đồng Phú
– 2:30 p.m.: Stop at Đồng Phú Primary School to give more scholarships to the children
– 3 p.m.: Board the coach back to Saigon
Expected arrival in Saigon around 5:30 p.m.

III/ THINGS TO BRING:

The weather in Bù Gia Mập is quite cold at this time of year, and we will also be visiting and climbing a mountain on the trip, so please remember to bring all of the following:
– 1 blanket + pillow
– 1 set of long-sleeved clothes to sleep in,
– A red shirt to wear on the festival day, and enough trousers for 2 days
– 1 pair of sports shoes for climbing + socks + 1 pair of flip-flops
– Mosquito repellent
– Face towel + toothbrush + toothpaste + soap + face mask
– A wide-brimmed cloth hat
– Personal ID: national ID card (mandatory)

Above all, the most important thing to bring is good health to conquer this volunteer journey, so from now until the trip, everyone please take good care of yourselves!

IV/ OTHER NOTES

Our destination is an area right next to the Cambodian border, home to many ethnic minority communities such as the S'tiêng, Mnông, Khmer…. So this is not only a politically sensitive area, but also a culturally sensitive one in terms of customs and ways of life.

Even though we will only be there for 2 days for the program, please keep the following in mind:

– Never leave the group to go off alone for any reason; if you want to do that, save it for another time. Any kind of risk may arise if you leave the group on your own without telling anyone.
– Never use the word “dân tộc” (ethnic) when talking with the villagers. It is a serious taboo and comes across as disrespectful; when referring to them, only use the word “đồng bào” (fellow countrymen).
– Never touch or use the villagers' belongings without asking permission first. If you like a certain product, you can ask to buy it, but do not take it on your own.
– Do not tease the villagers' local pigs or mess with the fruit trees and crops they grow.
– If you want to take photos with the villagers, remember to ask permission first
– Never bring up religion or politics when talking with the villagers

These are the most basic notes, so please try to keep them firmly in mind. The team leader will tell you more about task assignments and the detailed program once we are on the coach.

Warm regards!
Y Tam Charity