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"Hoa Binh Build"

Vietnam – November 2023

4th - 11th November 2023

Hoa Binh Province

Vietnam

Registrations close by July 7, 2023

In Vietnam’s Northern Upland is the province of Hoa Binh, whose beautiful natural landscape made up of mountains and forests, grottoes and caves, and crystal clear lakes and hot springs for bathing. Hoa Binh is rich in history and culture and is considered to be the cradle of Vietnamese ancient culture. The diversity of Hoa Binh culture combines several ethnic groups with their own languages and traditional literature, like Muong, Thai, Mong, Tay and Dao, which is expressed in the architecture, beliefs, customs and traditional festivals.

The ethnic minority groups within Vietnam’s society have not shared equally from the benefits of the country’s growth. Poverty, life expectancy, nutritional status and standards of living remain stubbornly low among these peoples. Geography plays a major part in the cultural practices of many ethnic minorities, but also negatively impacts access to infrastructure and services like health care and education. The 72 per cent of ethnic minorities lack access to latrines, and more than a quarter of ethnic minority households do not have access to safe water.

Many families in Hoa Binh live in homes built using temporary construction materials such as soil floors and silt houses, which are unsafe, unstable and not disaster-resilient. The high mountain typography means these families particularly suffer in the winter months, when extreme weather damages the floors and blow off roofs. In the face of climate change, natural disaster and pandemic, the security, safety and health of the most vulnerable households have become more and more threatened, especially within communities in the Quyet Thang commune of Lac Sonn one of the poorest districts in Hao Binh.

Through the Global Village program, Habitat volunteers will work alongside the vulnerable families to improve their living conditions and overall wellbeing by building safe, disaster-resilient homes of concrete blocks. In just a week, the team of volunteers will make a tangible difference to the lives and futures of the low-income communities.

Sample Itinerary

4th – 11th November

Saturday: Arrive in Hanoi

Your adventure begins today with your arrival in Hanoi! We will arrange your transfer from your arrival at Noi Bai International Airport to your hotel, where you have time to unpack and unwind. Take yourself on a walk to acquaint yourself with the city before heading back to your hotel for dinner. You will finally get to meet your fellow volunteers, your Team Leader and the Habitat for Humanity coordinator who will be accompanying you for the week. This is your opportunity to get to know one another and get excited to spend the week working together!

Sunday: Travel to Hao Binh Province

This morning, you and your teammates will travel to the build location in Hoa Binh Province and check in to the hotel where you will be staying for the duration of the build week. Habitat for Humanity staff will present a Welcome & Orientation session for the week ahead, including construction safety and building tips. After lunch, you will take in some of the local culture and reconvene with the group for dinner. Make sure you have a good rest to prepare for your first day on site the following day!

Monday: Begin construction of the house

Arriving on the build site for your first day of construction, you’ll meet the family whose home you will be helping to construct, and will have the opportunity to learn about their stories. The construction supervisor and local labourers will show you the ropes, and you can get started on the house construction. There will be rest breaks for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, which will all be provided on site. You can stop for a drink of water and a break as often as you need. At the end of the day, you’ll enjoy a team dinner and a well-earned rest!

Tuesday to Thursday: Full days building with your teammates

For the next few days you will see the new house take shape. You will be amazed at how much can be achieved in just one week. From laying bricks to mixing cement and rendering walls, there are plenty of ways to contribute. Each night we will take you to some local restaurants, where you can unwind with the team and get to know one another better.

Friday: The handover ceremony and farewell lunch

The final day of on the build site is emotional for everyone involved. You will add the finishing touches to the house and maybe even add some celebratory decorations too. You will welcome the partner family to their new home and reflect together on the contribution that you have all made. This is the time to celebrate all your hard work and imagine the new life that the partner family will have in the home that you have built. That afternoon, you will travel back to Hanoi for a celebratory meal and a final night’s stay in the hub city.

Saturday: Global Village concludes

Today you will depart for home or further adventures. You might like to combine your build with travel to other overseas destinations or indulge in some well-deserved R&R. Although your trip has come to a close, you will be left with amazing memories and long lasting friendships that will keep the experience alive.

Financial Contribution

Fundraising

Once you register to a Global Village build you commit to fundraising $1,800 for Habitat’s Programs. This program donation allows Habitat to fund our mission in countries where resources are very limited. Funding is used to support our operations so that we can reach out and serve more households.

All donations over $2 are tax deductible and goes towards families through a wider program in the Asia Pacific region.

Fundraising contribution deadline: One month before build start date

Costs

Registration fee: $200, which you pay when you select a build. This covers medical and evacuation insurance, your online fundraising page and a build pack to get you on your way.
In-country expenses: Estimated between $800 – $1000 (twin – single share accommodation)
These expenses can be fundraised separately from the fundraising above but these donations are not tax deductible. This amount will go towards the budget that your Team Leader and the Habitat host country will devise to cover your accommodation, meals, bottled water, ground transportation and local activities for the week.

What’s Included
- Habitat branded T-shirt and cap
- Accommodation
- All meals for the week
- Transportation to and from site
- Airport pick up and drop off (if arriving on the first and last days of the build week)
- Snacks and water
- All necessary building materials and safety equipment
- 24 hour support
- Insurance whilst on the build site

What’s Not Included

Volunteers are responsible for booking these on their own but the Habitat team is happy to assist you with your search

Flights to and from the country
Travel Insurance for before and after the build
Visa*
Vaccinations
Police Check (if not already current)

*The Visa required for Vietnam is the VR type, for which the application process begins at least 3 months before your arrival date in Vietnam. The VR type visa is applied to the whole team and is valid for one month from the date of arrival of the first team member. Volunteers are therefore encouraged to carry out any extended travel at the end of the build.

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