Project No. 18 – Construction of a primary school with kindergarten, teacher´s room, kitchen and sanitary facilities with water tank in Cao Chu Phin, Sang Tung commune, Dong Van 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 Cao Chu Phin, Sang Tung commune, Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province in the north of Vietnam.

The mountainous district of Dong Van is about 150 kilometers far from Ha Giang city, located at the North Pole of Vietnam. This border district has 17 communes and two towns. It is next to the Chinese Yunnan province from the north to the west with a border line of more than 54,6 Km, Yen Minh district in the south and Meo Vac district in the east. The total land area of the district is 44497 ha, with 13165 ha agricultural area (29,58%), 30171 ha rock area (67,8%) and a remaining non-agricultural land area.

The district has 14857 households and counts over 70000 people coming from 17 ethnic minorities: H´Mong (88,4%), Tay, Giay, LoLo, Pu Peo, Hoa, etc…

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

The commune of Sang Tung is 30 kilometers far from the district center and one of the most remote and difficult communes of the Dong Van district. It was established 1961 and has 15 hamlets with 727 households or 3635 people, most of them from the ethnic minority ´Mong (98,7%). The commune has a total land area of 3022,76 ha, with 415,75 ha agricultural area and 1518,05 forest. The socio-economical situation is underdeveloped and the education level is extremely low.

The hamlet Cao Chu Phin is 5 kilometers far from the center of the commune, located at the west area. Its terrain is difficult and the population lives scattered in the mountains. The winters are very cold with temperatures under the freeze point. 47 households live here (267 people). The rate of poverty is high: 35 households are poor (184 people or 74,4%) and 5 households are near-poor (26 people or 10,64 %). Most of the people live from growing rice and corn on rock slots of the mountain sides.

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The school of Cao Chu Phin is 35 kilometers far from the district center, with 28 kilometers asphalt road and 5 kilometers rocky road where cars cannot drive. The Cao Chu Phin school is part of the Sang Tung secondary school in Dong Van district. In fact, the school of Cao Chu Phin is out of operation. The 48 students are divided into 3 classrooms. One class gets lessons in the headquarter of the hamlet and the two other classes get lessons in the old house of a local. Because there is no teacher´s room, the teachers stay at the hamlets headquarter or in the kitchen of the private house.

The commune is seeking for a new, “real” school for its children. The project would be sustainable because the number of children is constantly growing and the teachers are already available. Locals are also ready to donate their land and the whole population would tear down the old clay hut by their own, in order to save costs and prepare the construction site.

Together with our Vietnamese partners, we used plans and cost estimates to determine what is needed. Looking towards the future, the hamlet of Cao Chu Phin is in need of the following:

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

Overall funds needed: approx. 37.096,00 USD (or approx. 32.300.00 €)

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!

Status May, 2019: On May 9th, 2019 the LOAN Foundation team (LOAN Stiftung, Isabelle Müller and Corinna Buchholz) visits at one’s own expense and not at the expense of the foundation the village Cau Chu Phin, Sang Tung commune, Dong Van District, Ha Giang Province in the north of Vietnam. Because our architect, Mr. Nguyen Duc Binh, is busy with i.a. our big project No. 19 (Ban Dung), our additional architect, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Giang, will help out and supervise our projects in the commune of Sang Tung (Cau Chu Phin and Ly Chu Phin). On April 30th, 2019, we get the wonderful confirmation that the OLYMP-Bezner Stiftung will support this project with a donation amounting € 10.000,00!:). Our deepest thanks to this devoted sponsor!:) Now, according to its financial situation, the LOAN Foundation (LOAN Stiftung) is able to approve this project. The according contract was signed on May 13th, 2019 in Ha Giang city. The handing over is fixed on November 2019.
Status June, 2019: As scheduled, the old clay hut was destroyed by the arduous villagers of Cau Chu Phin. On June 20th, 2019 the construction site is ready.
Status August, 2019: We have a small delay. It was difficult to mobilize the locals. The corn had i.a. to be harvested, so we were missing some helpers for the transportation of construction material. Furthermore, due to heavy rains, some street sections were damaged. Nevertheless all persons involved are highly motivated. On August 30th, 2019 we receive new pictures and videos from Cau Chu Phin. Some construction material could be delivered. A heavy grinder was brought to the site – after having been carried over 5 kilometers by young, strong men. With this machine some gritting material can be at least produced for the construction. Women and men are working day and night in order to make better progresses.
Status October, 2019: On October 5th, 2019 we receive new pictures and videos from Cau Chu Phin. The self-made gritting material has been used. Women and men from the village have carried many stones to the construction site in order to fill the fundaments. The first walls of the new school building are now visible. The handover ceremony will take place as planned on October 31st, 2019. We will be on the site and report.

On October 31st, 2019 our team is on the site as planned. We have great weather on that day, but it wasn’t so in the last weeks. Heavy rainfalls deleted the construction works. Because of the bad roads, some construction materials could not reach the site (and only one man volunteered to drive the truck to the site, because of the dangerous roads). The workers could not do more, even though they had been working day and night. The walls could not be painted because of the humidity. Nevertheless, regarding the hard conditions of living and working of the locals, a small handover ceremony took place in Ly Chu Phin (village in the neighborhood) for the site in Cau Chu Phin. The locals sang old songs and danced.

Furthermore, we have some good news: Thanks to this project, the small path that we used to drive on with motorcycles to the site has been enlarged by the government, so that now the village of Cau Chu Phin is almost reachable by car. The villagers are very happy about the new road. Now they can reach better the other villages around and bring their goods there easier!:)

The project should be finished before the end of this year and the children are happily looking forward to going to “their” new school. Our Vietnamese team keeps us informed. We are optimistic and will report.

Status December, 2019: On December 6th, 2019 we receive new pictures of Cau Chu Phin. The windows and the doors of the main building are built in. The floors have been tiled. The walls could be plastered and painted. Now the kitchen and the sanitary facilities are being built and should be finished soon. On December 17th, 2019, we receive new pictures. All walls are plastered and painted. The kitchen and the sanitary facilities are finished. A strong balustrade has been installed. The plates of both sponsors (OLYMP-Bezner Stiftung and LOAN Stiftung) have been fixed on an external wall. After all new buildings are cleaned up, the children will be able to attend classes!:) We say “Thank You” to our main sponsor
OLYMP-Bezner Stiftung for the great financial support that fundamentally helped us realize successfully this important project!:) We wish to all children of Cau Chu Phin, their families and the teachers all the best and much success for the future!:)
Status October, 2020: On October, 14th, 2020 we receive a little Hello from “our” children in Cau Chu Phin. We are happy to see that they are doing well through corona times!:)