Save the Children's Souls
Cows Project in Bamboo Village, Luang Prabang
Dienstag, den 03. Mai 2011 um 06:17 Uhr | 
Geschrieben von: Administrator | 
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On 8 to 16 April, Save the Children’s Souls went to the Bamboo Village, a Khmu indigenous community in Luang Prabang to have a series of final meetings before the cows delivery.
The Process
After a few trips last year for the other SCSI projects, SCSI went to the village again on 9 April 2011 to inform the Village Committee Deputy Leader and the Head of the Village the amount of the money we could contribute to buy cows for the village which is 3,000 EUR, an equivalent of around 31 million Kip.
Village Committees had done some researches for an average of cow price which is around 2.5 million Kip per one female grown up cow. The cows are cheaper than it was expected.
On 9 April, the Village Committee held a meeting in the village to list down 15 family names who are selected to receive a cow.
Family assessment and Village Consultation Meetings
A family, with the following four criteria, is selected:
a) Is poor and is in need of a tool for income generation
b) Is responsible
c) Has some knowledge in raising a cow; and
d) Wants to raise a cow.
Through a village meeting where all 74 family leaders gathered, 15 family names are agreed. In addition, the village meeting formed a Cow Project Committee which consists of:
1) Project Leader (selected from Village Committee members)
2) Project advisor
3) Two Project Committees/Accountant
4) Account Auditor
5) Soldier Volunteer
This Cow Project Committee drafted a Cow contract with five conditions. The contract is summarised as below:
Article 1 – The Cow Owner has to take his/her cow to get a vaccine when it is due. This is to prevent the cow to get disease and to protect infectious in the village. If he/she does not bring his/her cow for the vaccine which results in the cow getting a disease and dies, he/she has to find a cow to return to the village. If the cow gets the vaccine, but for some reasons the cow dies, the Cow Project Committee will consider how to help the Cow Owner on a case by case basis.
Article 2 – If the Cow Owner does not take good responsibility of his/her cow and the cow causes damage to the other villagers’ property, the Cow Owner has to be responsible to what the damage costs.
Article 3 – In the situation when the cow dies because of a lack of careful attention, being stolen and there was no trace of the cow dead body, the Cow Owner has to pay back the village the price of the cow. If the cow dies with a trace of the dead body and the Cow Project Committee considers the Cow Owner a responsible person, the Cow Project Committee will consider how to help the Cow Owner on a case by case basis.
Article 4 – For the first baby born from the project cow, the Cow Owner has to take care of the baby for the first 10 months and then give the baby to the village so that the village can give the baby to the next poorest family in the list.
Article 5 – For the male cows which will be given to the village for mating, all those families, who are given the cow, will help each other to take care of these male cows. If these male cows make any damage to the other villagers’ property, all those families will have to take responsibility together.
Buying Cows and the Delivery
The Cow Project Committee went for cows shopping during 12 to 23 April. They went from one village to another to ask if there was someone wanting to sell their cows. They took almost two weeks researching and negotiating the price (and because it was during Songkran’s Festival and most Lao people were celebrating the New Year), and managed to identify eight qualified cows to be purchased.
SCSI went back to the village on 24 April and gave them the money for the cows purchase. The Cow Project Committee and the selected families had to walk the cows back from where they were purchased which took the whole night. On 25 April, SCSI staff went to deliver eight cows to the selected families. With the Project remaining money, the Cow Project Committee will continue to research for more cows to be purchased.
SCSI will keep you all updated in the new few weeks.
Aktualisiert (Dienstag, den 03. Mai 2011 um 16:26 Uhr)
6 Projektkühe für FlutopferDonnerstag, den 14. April 2011 um 06:28 Uhr | Geschrieben von: Administrator | | |
Am 13.1. fuhren wir, Lennart Rieck, Martin Westerkamp, Loan Nguyen Quoc und Christian Volker Ide zusammen mit den zwei Projektbesuchern Ole Buchholz und Laura Lakaff nach Huong Giang, eines der ärmsten Distrikte Ha Tinhs, der drittärmsten Provinz Vietnams. In Zusammenarbeit mit der Provinzregierung planten wir hier 6 Projektkühe an von der Flut besonders schwer getroffene Familien zu geben. Wir beauftragten die Regierung 6 Arme Familien vorzuschlagen, welche von der Flut schwer getroffen wurden, schon vorher als sehr arm galten und eine Kuh sinnvoll einsetzen können. Wir fuhren zu jeder Familie, um die jetzige Lage und die Folgen der Flut zu analysieren. Besonderen Wert legten wir darauf festzustellen, ob eine Projektkuh individuell die richtige Hilfe für die Familien ist. Zudem erläuterten wir den Vertrag und klärten Unklarheiten. Dieser sieht vor, dass das erste Kalb der gespendeten Kuh an eine weitere arme Familie gegeben wird, welche von der Dorfgemeinschaft bestimmt wird. Diese Familie erhält das Kalb unter denselben Bedingungen, sie muss also wiederrum ihr erstes Kalb abgeben, sodass eine Kettenreaktion entsteht. Weitere Kälber können zur eigenen Zucht verwendet werden. Während unserer Analyse konnten wir feststellen, dass alle sechs Familien unseren Voraussetzungen entsprachen. Alle waren sehr arm, hatten schwere Flutschäden aufzuweisen und können durch eine Kuh wieder effektiv ihre Felder bewirtschaften. Hierbei ergaben sich verschiedene Bilder der Armut. Während einige Familien Kinder, teilweise mit Behinderungen, hatten, handelte es sich in anderen um Altersarmut. Das Alter macht die Bewirtschaftung der Felder schwer, eine Kuh stellt hier eine enorme Erleichterung und Hilfe dar. Nachdem wir die ausgesuchten Familien für Hilfs würdig einstuften, beauftragten Regierung und Kuhhändler passende Kühe für die Familien zu finden. Eine Kuh sollte hierbei nicht den Preis von 9.000.000VND (~320€) übersteigen. Nachdem die sechs Kühe ausgesucht waren, fuhren Christian Volker Ide, Kamonrat Chayamarit, Loan Nguyen Quoc, Lennart Rieck und Martin Westerkamp erneut nach Huong Giang, um die Kühe zu übergeben. Die Provinzregierung organisierte die Zusammenkunft, sodass Kuhhändler und Familien zum Regierungsgebäude kamen. Die Verträge wurden durch die Familien unterschrieben und die Kühe durch Save the Children’s Souls bezahlt. Die Kühe wurden nummeriert und an die verschiedenen Familien verlost, sodass auch unter den sechs Familien gerecht verteilt und niemand benachteiligt wurde. Nun können die Empfängerfamilien effektiver ihre Felder bewirtschaften, Überschüsse verkaufen und haben durch die Zucht eine zusätzliche Einnahmequelle. Ganz besonders möchten wir uns bedanken bei der Kirchengemeinde Bensberg und dem TSV Lohberg, durch deren gesammelte Spenden das Projekt erst möglich wurde. Es konnte sechs armen Familien direkt geholfen werden. Durch die entstehende Kettenreaktion ist das Projekt besonders nachhaltig und das ganze Dorf wird durch das Projekt profitieren. Da die folgenden Empfänger im Vorhinein feststehen, achten diese auch auf die Weitergabe und das Projekt erhält sich selbst am Leben. Zudem wird das Prjekt natürlich weiterhin durch Save the Children’s Souls betreut.
Aktualisiert (Donnerstag, den 14. April 2011 um 08:08 Uhr) SCS Cooperation with DEDSonntag, den 09. Januar 2011 um 09:49 Uhr | Geschrieben von: Administrator | | |
Quick aid to flood victims in Ha TinhAfter devasting floods in the province of Ha Tinh , the German Development Service DED provided quick aid for the victims. Affected families were given food, and whithin six days DED workers cleaned 104 wells.  Flood victims in Binh Loc Commune on 23/10/2010 In Oktober 2010 the province of Ha Tinh was hit by two subsequent floods. Officials estimated that about 800.000 people were affected. More than 200 died, and scores were cut off by floods up to three meters high.
The German Development Service DED has been working in Ha Tinh province for many years. Even before the food waters receded, a DED relief team was formed around Christian Ide, the “weltwärts”-DED volunteers Martin Westerkamp and Lennart Rieck, and Diethelm Schirdewahn and Ms. Tran Thi Nhu Trang from the province of Quang Nam. This forceful team, in cooperation with colleagues from the German Agency for Technical Cooperation GTZ could immediately provide a number of relief services. Rice and noodles for thankful flood victims in Duc Dong DED experts and locals distributing food, Although most of the inhabitants of Duc Dong had been able to seek shelter right at the beginning oft the flood, 11 adults and one infant lost their lives, and another 25 people were badly injured. The survivors now have to deal with the impact of the floods. Together with other helpers from Ha Tinh, Lennart Rieck and Martin Westerkamp were able to bring most needed items such as food, blankets and life jackets to the people of Duc Dong. Their efforts of making their way through destroyed roads and over collapsed bridges were rewarded by 700 thankful people, who were showing all their gratefulness. Due to the support of the district government, the allocation of the goods went without problems. 104 wells cleaned for fresh drinking water Experts and locals are cleaning wells to ensure safe drinking water for the families Ironically, the floods caused a severe lack of safe drinking water all over Ha Tinh. Polluted flood water had inundated almost all family drinking water wells. Cleaning the wells was therefore one of the highest priorities. The German Technical Cooperation GTZ in Ha Tinh coordinated the operations and held contact with local authorities, while Mr Diethelm Schirdewahn und Ms Tran Thi Nhu Trang determined the demand and supervised the works at the wells. Equipment was bought and brought to the wells over washed out roads and caved in bridges. Within 6 days 104 wells were cleaned providing safe and clean drinking water to families. Irrigation pumps repairedFlood waters also damaged most of the water pumps used to irrigate the paddy fields. By drying, cleaning and refitting the insulation, most of the pumps were repaired at little cost by staff members of the Vietnam-German Technical Vocational School. Tribute to the helpers – a piece of hope for the peopleIn total, by the 1st of November 104 wells have been cleaned, 110 water pumps inspected and, if necessary, repaired, and more than 3.000 families – approximately 18.000 people – supplied with food, blankets and life jackets.  The province of Ha Tinh thanked the helpers, their friends and families with a provincial certificate of recognition The helpers were decorated by the provincial government on 1st of November 2010 for all their efforts and received a certificate of recognition. Their assistance can serve as a model for disaster aftercare. “You are extending very professional aid to the people, who are affected by the flood; you are giving back a piece of hope”, said Mr. Ding. He also pointed out the assistance extended by the helper’s friends and relatives: “Your support from Germany and Vietnam gave the helpers the backing for their assignment, which they needed in a difficult situation.”
Source: http://vietnam.ded.de/en/features/quick-aid-to-flood-victims-in-ha-tinh.html Aktualisiert (Sonntag, den 09. Januar 2011 um 09:53 Uhr) |
Projectvisitor's ReviewDonnerstag, den 14. April 2011 um 06:12 Uhr | Geschrieben von: Administrator | | |
The Sound of Silent Donation: A cow project in Huong Giang
By giving cows, we equip them with a hand-up and empower them to gradually come out of poverty and gradually become a self-reliance family. The result of its all is we give them hope and a sense of pride.
The companions We left the rainy Ha Tinh city at 9am and was en route to the villages in Huong Giang district. This was the fourth trip by the three German gentlemen, Martin Westerkamp, Lennart Rieck and Christian Ide from Save the Children’s Souls and their Vietnamese translator, Loan Nguyen Quoc , to the villages after a thorough research of data collection and needs assessment of the poor families living there on their first, second and third trip they took a 3 weeks ago. This fourth trip was now to deliver the six breeding cows to those six identified poorest families.
The Lutheran community Bensberg and the football team TSV Lohberg collected 2100€ for the flood victims in October 2010, enough to buy six cows to be donated to the poorest families in the district. An anonymous yet gracious support from those people who donated makes them able to buy six live fully grown cows which cost 54 million VND altogether (9 million VND per one cow or 360€). The price of a cow was a little high this time during the winter and just right before the Tet, the Vietnamese New Year. Another reason was because of the extreme climate during the winter this year that 17,000 cows died all over Vietnam.
To a poor family like in the other Southeast Asian countries’ context be it Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam, a cow can help improve the poor families’ economic condition tremendously and continue to give year after year. With each and every calf born, the family will gain an income equal to this poor family’s annual income.
The route and the landscape The rice field after the rain in the winter time in Ha Tinh is nothing but just marvelously fresh. The special thing about the landscape (no matter any where in the world) is it never looks the same twice, even on the same day. The route to Huong Giang is no exception; there are different views in summer, rainy and winter seasons. Today 29 January 2011, along the muddy road farmers were planting their rice in the cold and little flocks of ducks were to be seen occasionally near the ponds, warming their body with their fluffy water-proof feathers.
Huong Giang We reached Huong Giang at around 11am. Most of us know that Hà Tĩnh is among the poorest provinces of Vietnam with 2008 GDP 420 USD/person/year. The poverty is attributed to the harsh natural conditions with severe coldness in winter and extreme heat in summer, floods and storms every fall and unfavorable soil and natural resources. Recently Ha Tinh was also severely damaged by the flood that hit central Vietnam in October 2010. And Huong Giang is one of the poorest districts of Ha Tinh. So to say, we reached the poorest of the poor district of Vietnam. Houses in the villages were made of wood, looking like it stands there for many decades, making it through the war time, and ready to collapse now because of aging. It is a shame we could not pay a visit to every family like we did last time because of the rain which made the road totally muddy.
The attentive family representatives Representative from the six families were waiting for us already at the provincial center when we arrived. The three German Gentlemen were greeted happily by the villagers. Loan, the translator then gave out a cow contract to everyone to read before signing. Mr Le Ba Hau, the oldest man among the group, was walking slowly with the contract in his hand and was reading the contract attentively. Cutely, he was reading the contract with full attention, reading it out loud word by word to himself like he was making understanding to what was written in the contract and making sure he understood every single word. This has shown how much he was looking forward to receiving the cow and how much he appreciated and acknowledged what was written in the contract and the whole process. All the family representatives were gathered in a meeting room afterwards. 6 names Le Ba Hau, Tran Hanh, Ngi Thi Thanh, Nguyen Truong Hanh, Phan Van Trung and Ngu Quoi Hoan were read out by the provincial officer. There are some little observations that three representatives were ladies one of which whose husband was waiting behind. For those who have lived in Vietnam for a while will know that this is not a case for Vietnam whose society is a man dominant kind of society.
A little about the Cow Process Three copies of each contract were signed, by the family representative, Martin, and the provincial officer. One copy of signed contract was given to each family representative; one was kept with the provincial officer and one with Save the Children’s Souls. Then number 1 to 6 were written in a piece of paper and put in a plate, after six cows were numbered. Each family representative picks one number from the plate. A little thank you gesture video was made on the cow delivering (link) which will be put up on our webpage later to show the donors what the impact heir donation had made.
Now come the impressions Here is the impact. The most wonderful things you get from the whole trip was the look of the eyes of those families - the eyes which are now filled with hope and pride. We will come visit the villagers again in March to help the cow registration process and see how its goes with the family.
Last but not least, what is more beautiful of an act than to give to those in need without expecting anything in return like all of our donors did.
By Kamonrat Chayamarit Aktualisiert (Dienstag, den 26. April 2011 um 04:52 Uhr) Zement und Sand Übergabe für Flutopfer in Ha Tinh StadtSonntag, den 09. Januar 2011 um 08:30 Uhr | Geschrieben von: Administrator | | |
Am 03.12.2010 begann die Übergabe an die Familien des Gemeinde Projektes mit der Kirche in Ha Tinh Stadt. Wir trafen uns morgens um 7 Uhr vor der deutsch vietnamesischen Berufsschule in Ha Tinh. Versammelt waren, Toan Reporter Ha Tinh TV, 2 Gemeindeleiter des Projektes, Loan freiwilliger Mitarbeiter von Save the Childrens Souls und ich selbst. Erst wurde die Vorgehensweise der Verteilung besprochen und die Zeitpunkte geklärt. Danach fuhren wir gemeinsam zu einem Rohstoffhandel. Dort trafen wir auf 4 weitere Gemeindeleiter, der Kirche in Ha Tinh Stadt. Nach Kauf des Zements, für 37 Projektfamilien je 2 Tonnen, regelten wir die Lieferung. Auf dem Gelände der Firma luden wir den LKW mit den Zementsäcken voll. Das Fernsehen in Ha Tinh nutzte die Gelegenheit dort eine Übergabe an die Gemeindeleiter zu Filmen, um einen Bericht im Fernsehen zu senden. Es wurde gefilmt wie wir die Säcke auf den LKW luden und im Rahmen der Übergabe jedem der Leiter gratuliert wurde. Alle waren sehr dankbar dass wir den ärmsten ihrer Gemeinden, bei der Bewältigung der Flutschäden an ihren Häusern, helfen. Nach dieser Zeremonie führen wir an die Universität in Ha Tinh Stadt, diese wurde als erster Übergabe Punkt vereinbart. Dort luden wir Material ab um nahegelegenen Familien die Möglichkeit zu geben, ohne großen Aufwand, den Zement abzuholen. Weiter Mittel wurden auf einen kleineren LKW geladen der mit uns zusammen in das erste Dorf fuhr. Dort trafen wir, zusammen mit dem Gemeindeleiter, die Familien und überreichten die Zementsäcke. Nach der erneuten Besichtigung der betroffenen Häuser wurde auch hier eine Übergabe durch ein Händeschütteln durchgeführt. Wir gratulierten den Familien im Namen der deutschen Spender und Save the Childrens Souls und wünschten ihnen für die Zukunft alles Gute und Gesundheit. Leider konnten wir auch hier mit unseren bescheidenen Mitteln nicht alle Menschen erreichen, weitere Familien warten ebenfalls auf Unterstützung. Doch alle freuten sich und bedankten sich ebenfalls für die Hilfe die wir den Menschen zukommen lassen. Alle waren sich einig, die Hilfe wird dringend benötigt und für arme Familien ist es ein enormer Gewinn für 1.300.000 VND Sand und Zement zu bekommen. Die weitere Unterstützung von Sand wird einzeln an den Auslieferungsstellen durchgeführt. Alle Familien nutzen das Material um Schäden an ihren Häusern zu beseitigen oder als Unterstützung um ein neues Haus zu bauen. Wir sahen wiederum dass die Unterstützung ihrer Gemeindemitglieder sehr groß war, alle halfen dabei die Häuser neu zu bauen oder wieder instand zu setzen. Alles in allem, mit kleinen Zeitverzögerungen der Lieferfirma, kann man sagen dass die Übergabe hervorragend geklappt hat. Herzlichen Dank an alle Spender von den Familien der Gemeinden in Ha Tinh Stadt. Gesamtkosten der Maßnahme: 1850€
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