Project No. 17 – Construction of a kindergarten with teacher´s room, kitchen and sanitary facilities with water tank in Na Can, Bat Dai Son commune, Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province in the north of Vietnam

Status May 12th, 2018: On May 12th, 2018 the LOAN Foundation team (LOAN Stiftung, Isabelle Müller and Corinna Buchholz) visited at one’s own expense and not at the expense of the foundation the village Na Can, Bat Dai Son commune, Quan Ba District, Ha Giang Province in the north of Vietnam.

The district of Quan Ba is very remote and because of its poverty one of the most difficult districts located at the north of Ha Giang province. It is about 46 kilometers far from Ha Giang city and one of the 7 poorest districts of the province.

The district has a total land area of 53433 ha and counts 11200 people coming from 16 different ethnic minorities (H´Mong (60%), Dao (14%), Tay (9%) and others). The rate of poverty is over 54% and the rate of under 5-year-old children suffering from malnutrition is about 34,34%.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Völker_Vietnams

Constant heavy rain triggered flash floods and landslides in Ha Giang province. On day one , according to the statistics of Ha Giang provincial Steering Board of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue, 5 people died (2 in Quan Ba district and 3 in Vi Xuyen district, under it 2 children aged 4 and 9). Many people were injured, aged people and young children that could not escape on time. Some are still missing. Everyone is aware: If it had not happened during school holiday, much more children would have died, due to the fact that most of the time these have to walk alone very long distances by foot to go to school!

The material balance in Quan Ba district is as follows: 17 houses completely collapsed, 22 houses have been swept away, 1400 houses have been submerged in floods. A big part of subsidiary crops (227 ha) have been destroyed and more than 140 ha rice.- and cornfields have been inundated.

The commune of Bat Dai Son is 28 kilometers far from the district center. It is one of the border and especially difficult communes of Quan Ba district. It is located next to: Na Khe in the north, Na Khe and Can Ty in the east, Can Ty and Thanh Van in the south, Nghia Thuan and China in the west. The commune has 9 hamlets (San Tro, Mo Lung, Lao Chai, Coc Meo, Na Quang, Na Can, Thao Chu Phin, Pai Chu Phin and Xa Phin). Three of them are located at high areas and very remote, 6 of them are located at low areas. The commune has a total land area of 4400 ha and counts 617 households (3269 people) from the ethnic minorities H´Mong (75%) and Dao. Among them, 446 households are poor (72,29%), 49 households are near-poor (7,94 %) and 112 households (approx.. 18,15%) live normally. The socio-economic situation is underdeveloped. The intellectual standard of the local people is low and limited.

The hamlet Na Can is 7 kilometers far from the communal center, located west. The hamlet counts 75 households (502 people) coming from 2 ethnic minorities: H´Mong (65%) and Dao (35%). 68 households are poor (348 people). The local people there mainly live from agriculture. They live scattered on the mountain side.

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The school of Na Can belongs to the Bat Dai Son school in Quan Ba district, about 28 kilometers far from it. Since a devastating natural disaster in 2015 (storm and flood), Na Can has no more kindergarten after it was completely destroyed. Since then, all 90 children (kindergarten and pre-school) study at the hamlet´s headquarter. When meetings have to take place there, the children cannot go to school. When the students have pre-school lessons, the youngest kindergarten children have to stay home and vice versa. Because of the lacking of suitable classrooms and the growing number of children, school lessons cannot be hold properly since 3 years.

In the next school year 2018-2019 over 100 students are expected. Five teachers are available. Together with the population of the hamlet, they are seeking for a “real” kindergarten for their children. The construction of this new school would be a great benefit for at least 100 children, 5 teachers and the 502 villagers from Na Can village.

Together with our Vietnamese partners, we used plans and cost estimates to determine what is needed. Looking towards the future, the village of Na Can is in need of the following:

4  classrooms, 1 teacher´s room, 1 kitchen and sanitary facilities with water tank

Overall funds needed: approx. 44.240,00 USD (or approx. 38.500.00 €)

As a turnover foundation, the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) can provide help directly. We would like to carry out this project, but are dependent on every financial donation. We remain optimistic that we will be able to collect the necessary funds.

In cooperation and in continuous contact with our Vietnamese partners, we will as always supervise and guide this project personally and on site. We will report on the progress regularly.

We would be delighted if you were to provide us with moral and financial support in this endeavor. Thank you very much!

Stand Mai 2018: On May 12th, 2018, we recognize the urgency of this project, though we are still dependent on financial support of donors. We clarify the situation on the spot. In order to make this project financeable, we propose to lower the construction costs as much as possible. It would be a step in the good direction if the population could for example contribute with labor and help to carry the big hill of earth away in order to prepare the construction site. On May 22nd, 2018 the commune mobilized consequently all the local people of the whole hamlet, young and old, men and women, to clear the ground and prepare the site. Even if they still don´thave any approval of the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung), they prove to all of us that they are ready to contribute and work, seeking for a “real” kindergarten, hoping immensely!
Status October, 2018: On October 7th, 2018 the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) team (Isabelle Müller, Corinna Buchholz) visits (at one’s own expenses and not at the expenses of the foundation) the village of Na Can, Bat Dai Son commune, Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province. The construction site is ready. For the joy of all, the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) will pre-finance this project and sign the according contract on 10.10.2018 in Ha Giang city.
Status December, 2018: On 04th Dezember, 2018 the groundbreaking ceremony took place in Na Can. With a small ritual “Mother Earth” was asked for blessing and permission to build a new building here.

On December 20th, 2018 we got the great new that NfH e.V. (Networker for Humanity e.V. in Heidelberg) will support this project with a donation amounting € 7.805,00!:) We as well as the children in Na Can say “Thank You!” to this new sponsor!:)

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Status March, 2019 until end of April, 2019: After Tet-holiday the construction works go on well in Na Can. The main building as well as the sanitary facilities are standing und have been plastered. The roof has been assembled. The doors and the windows will soon be built in. Together with the locals, the teachers mix cement in order to build the schoolyard in front of the main building. That way the new kindergarten will stay clean during the rainy season. The handover ceremony is planned on May 13th, 2019. We are happy and will report!:)
Status May,2019: On May 5th, 2019 we get some new pictures of Na Can. The locals and the teachers are in action. The school grounds are cleaned up. Some equipment for the playing field outside is assembled. The classrooms are getting equipped and decorated. Some greenery is planted along the fence.
On May 13th, 2019 the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) team (Isabelle Müller, Corinna Buchholz) visits (at one’s own expenses and not at the expenses of the foundation) the village of Na Can, Bat Dai Son commune, Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province. Today is the official handing over of the new school building. The inauguration takes place with a wonderful ceremony. The central kindergarten will house at least 90 children. The fully equipped classrooms are spacious, look friendly and bright. The kitchen works. The sanitary facilities are ready for use. The schoolyard is fixed. The green area is finished and a strong fence will provide security. We are all exuberantly happy about this great success and say thank you to all persons involved!:) We also wish the children, the teachers and the commune of Na Can all the best for the future, good luck and much success!:)

Status May, 2020: Great news dated 12th May, 2020 from Na Can. Finally, after a long quarantine time, the many children of the poor commune are allowed to come back to their new kindergarten. All are happy and their families so thankful, knowing that their children are kept safe at this place while they can go to work!:)

Status September, 2021: School in Na Can has started again. We have received new pictures of the daily life of the students. The new kindergarten is well used. We are happy! 🙂

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