HOP THANH (VIETNAM) PROJECT

The Rotary Clubs of Rydalmere and Kellyville have joined forces to sponsor a community development program for a rural community in Vietnam.

Hop Thanh is a rural commune located some 60 kilometres southwest of Hanoi. It is home to just over 3000 people who live well below international benchmarks of "absolute" poverty. The pictures give a very small glimpse of the commune and some of its younger citizens.

The non-availability of satisfactory energy sources - particularly reliable electricity - is a major impediment to delivery of the services necessary for improved rural living standards.

In conjunction with Project Humanity (our partner Australian aid organisation) and the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (our "counterpart" organisation in Vietnam), our aim in this project is to rebuild and enhance the commune's electricity distribution system to safe, reliable, efficient and durable standard, and to extend to all households.

Concurrently we will provide hands-on assistance of FAIM teams in electrical, building, health and education activities, particularly in training local personnel in the ongoing maintenance of their electricity assets, and the installation of suitable maintenance management disciplines.

Work is now in hand to implement the project, and a "trailblazing" FAIM team visited Vietnam during November to enable more detailed planning for our subsequent work. Rydalmere and Kellyville have commenced fund raising, and the first improvements resulting from the project should also be apparent by early 1999.

We have been granted a 2:1 "helping grant" from the Rotary Foundation, and, with that secured, club-level fundraising is effectively multiplied by 6 when matched with Ausaid funds at 3:1. Ausaid funding has been approved.
This means that, with estimates as they currently stand, and the contribution from the local Vietnamese community, a project valued at around quarter of a million dollars can be delivered by our clubs raising about $18,000 per year for two years. This represents great value for our Rotary money, and, we believe, makes the fund raising challenge well worthwhile.

This is one of the biggest such projects carried out in this part of the country, and its successful implementation can be a stepping stone to the establishment of a Rotary presence in a country which can gain great benefit from Rotary principles and practices.

In this project it is literally true that "many hands make light work(!)", so there is ample opportunity for other clubs to contribute to the effort, both via hands-on input at the appropriate times, and particularly through financial support to help meet the funding goals.

We, the people and children of Hop Thanh, will be most appreciative of any assistance which you or your club may wish to offer.

Contact: Rob Mitchell, International Director rmitch@ozemail.com.au