Devil does finance?

Scrolling down the list of working groups in the NGO Resource Centre Vietnam’s website, the Microfinance Working Group (MFWG) drew my attention at first sight. With the goal of enhancing the impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation by promoting the quality and sustainability of microfinance in Vietnam, MFWG is obviously the NGO I’m looking for. My friend who follows humanism views business and finance as a devil to social equity and I totally object to that. Positive changes made by institutions such as MFWG are undeniable evidences.

Microfinance has so far been a strongly effective tool to attain sustainable poverty reduction in developing countries like Vietnam thus narrows the gap between the rich and the poor and reduces the negative impact of economic integration. Beginning at the early 80’s, microfinancing in Vietnam actually contributes a lot to Vietnam’s economic development, especially in the rural areas. Through loans for income-generation or microenterprises, microfinance enables the poor to increase, or at least stabilise, household income. Furthermore, mmicrofinance practioners can approach people living in remote regions, where banks have not made their appearance, provide funding and technical instruction to individuals and households, ensure that the marketing channels work well for agrarian products, improve gender equity through capital lending to women workers, assist related associations in implementing microfinance projects.

Despite the fact that many improvements have been made, microfinance funding does not meet the demand yet. In the future, more microfinance practices should be implemented simultaneously with propagandization of efficient economic models of utilizing capital. In the past decade, the government has allocated significant funds for the rural banking system. Nonetheless, it cannot make microfinance services available to all citizens. Therefore, the role of NGOs like MFWG is increasingly essential in funding for the poor. Additionally, the donor community in general has relatively neglected microfinance but thanks to NGOs’ participation, the multi-lateral and some bilateral donors are showing renewed interest in recent years; and farmers are now more actively seeking for working capital support. We hope that more and more microfinance groups will be established and pro-active microfinance solutions will be made for the sake of social development.

The Manor

Even the name of this place gives me an uncomfortable feeling - the Manor. Located in Tu Liem District, Hanoi, it is said to be among new sets of luxurious and scandalous apartment buildings in Vietnam, outcomes of the swift, unstoppable process of the urban development. Had finished my volunteer shift at the National Convention Center, I rushed to the place under the scorching sun. Fortunately, it took me only 3’ riding motorbike from the NCC. Arrived at the site, I was a little bit disappointed as it wasn’t as glorious as I thought it would be. Not a magnificent contemporary castle but a closed and deserted residency for high-end community with several skyscrapers for offices and residential use, basement carparks, ground-floor retail shops, a swimming pool, and surprisingly, no tennis court (according to the one and the only friendly security guard I met, the owner could not acquire more land to build one).

Now let me share with you some of my views on the Manor:

1. About the extremely guarding: It’s pretty normal in Vietnam, you know. Vietnam is now one of the most safety places in the world, does anyone object? No doubt there are privacy and security regulations. Frankly, no one will let you in if you resemble a snooping reporter with pen, note and camera. Especially when there used to be a heated dispute between residents and service providers at the Manor, raising a lot of criticism. Basically, the residents didn’t agree with the fee for car parking (approximately $60/month), which is about 10 times more expensive than other places. In response, Bitexco didn’t allow residents to park their cars inside the complex until they agreed to pay the fee. At present, the car parking fee is included in the total service fee of 4-5 mil VND per month. Wealthy people living here must have been forced to pay more and received little. Services within the Manor are monopoly in nature. Bitexco already sold apartments with fewer features than they had advertised, and then exploited its prosperous customers once more by putting monopolist services provision. Is this the real cost of desire to live in a utopian separated society?

2. Some of you questioned about its medium scale. Nahhh, of course, the Manor is nothing compared to other projects in Hanoi, and all over Vietnam in general. I came to Ciputra once and it was much bigger than the Manor, with more villas, tennis courts, green areas, outdoor decors, statues, and so on.
3. The Garden, a shopping mall next to the Manor was like a supermarket which sells unmarketable goods. I agree. Not many customers, just us wandering kids who want to avoid the summer heat.

4. Other surrounding shops, restaurants, clinics… must be very expensive. We stopped for a while to have a “tea break” at Le Café De Paris – a newly opened coffee shop in the area. The owner hadn’t decided on the menu yet so the waitresses ebulliently discussed the prices for our drinks and came up with VND 30,000 for my orange juice. Twice the normal price, not to mention that was on sale! Bravo :))
Saying goodbye to the Manor, I headed home. My house is located in a small alley in South Hanoi, with green and countrified outlook: 2 ponds back and front, bamboo clumps, lots of banana plants… I have been living in this neighborhood for nearly 15 years, and it’s not fully urbanized yet. However, it’s no longer the same as before: ponds are being filled up with bricks, gravel, rubbish… as people long for some new pieces of land, several misfitted structures have been built, and many bank branches have opened within some blocks… I’m not sure what my neighborhood will be like in the near future. Is this, again, an example of urban development?

In conclusion, Vietnam is at the early stages of a historic transition and urban development is by all means essential, regardless of its direction good or bad. Seems like we need more effective urban-planning policies and take consideration to all related aspects such as investment, executing and operation management synchronously.

Friendship Village

Yesterday was a quite meaningful day when my classmates and I went to Friendship Village in Van Canh Commune, Ha Tay Province, approximately 11 km west of Hanoi. It is a second home to children and veterans suffered from serious health problems attributed to the lingering effects of Agent Orange, the defoliant sprayed extensively by US forces in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Residents are rotated through the village to receive treatment and then returned to their families as their condition permits.

At exactly 1PM, we all gathered and waited for the minivan to pick us up. While I was chatting with my friends under the shades of green in the Guest House’s yard, I noticed a little boy with backpack was coming along with Gerard, our professor. I made a slip of my tongue: “What a cute kid, is he someone’s little brother?” Damn my shortsighted eyes. When we departed, I found myself in an extremely embarrassed moment as Long, the one I believed to be a cute kid appeared older than me. He is a victim of Agent Orange who was coming to guide us through the village.

Every kid here shows vibrant visage and happy smile. But watching them, a subtle melancholy touched me. Previously, all I knew about Agent Orange is from the media, so seeing dioxin infected kids in person truly hit me. We were guided on a tour round the classroom area with 3 rooms for special training and 4 for vocational training. There are also other buildings for residence. Afterwards, we were divided into group to play with the children here. I had a talk with some kids in the embroider class. Most of them are a little shy, however, very very cute. Plus, they are so talented. Ly and I were completely wrapped up in embroidering some patterns and ended up with little achievement whist Thang, our reluctant instructor almost finished his work. Thang is three years old younger than me. He is affected by Agent Orange, as other kids, but at a less severe level. A totally likeable boy and dexterous craftsman, he just made me realize how clumsy I am. Our conversation went well (although I almost destroyed his artistic work :”>). But when I asked him about his health condition, he just responded with a bashful smile.


Before we came home, I bought a bookmark with fine flower embroidery designs made by Friendship Village’s students. It will be my precious treasure that I will always bring along to remind me of those admirable kids who are struggling to fight their own fate, and tell myself to study harder as well as not to waste any moment of my life.

Benson

“In her glory days she reminded some of Marilyn Monroe, others of Raquel Welch…Her lips were full, sultry or sulking, her expression unblinking; she seldom smiled.”

(Benson, Aug 13th 2009. From The Economist print edition)

What do you think about this description? Surprisingly, it was not a human celebrity, but a UK superstar carp which passed away at the age of 25 in the beginning of this month. Benson the giant carp was at 64lb 2oz (29kg), the biggest common carp in Britain, although mirror carp do come larger. She was also very popular: in 2005 readers of Angler’s Mail voted her Britain’s Favourite Carp.

Benson was well known for she was the UK's most famous fish. But what made her so special, so adorable, was her generosity. Anglers would come from all over the country to her home lake, Kingfisher Lake in Cambridgeshire to catch her, weigh her, take her photograph and put her back again. And, she would show her hospitality by uncomplainingly submitting to the scales and then posing for the photographer, holding her breath and staying unmoved although her whole body’s weight tears her tongue like a razor blade when people hooks her to the limelight. It's estimated her graced the landing nets of more than 60 anglers, dusting them all with immortality. But no more. She was said to have taken a bait of uncooked tiger nuts and now, the angling world is in mourning.
There’s not much to explain why I choose this obituary. It's exceptional, that’s it. Maybe one of the most unusual, beautifully written, sensible and humorous articles I've ever read. And I love the bighearted carp Benson (though I have never seen her). As Benson was so famous that many people wanted to take picture with her, she must have been suffered from being caught so often. However, as Mr. Bridgefoot, the owner, she seemed happy on having her picture taken.

One more intriguing point about this obituary is the sense of a mysterious death. Carps can live to 60 or 70 while Benson was cut down in her prime. In fact, raw tiger nuts have been found on the banks. Unless these nuts are cooked and expertly prepared they can prove toxic to carp and the fear is that Benson could have been poisoned by one of her pursuers, accidentally or some anglers might have gone too far.

Apparently, Benson the carp could be a model for me in some way: her kindness and her ability of adapt to changes in life. And definitely not a model of greed to be poisoned by harmful nuts. I’m kidding. LOL

The presence of some irresponsible anglers who might have caused the death of Benson reminds me of Vietnam’s pollution destroying the natural world and threatening health, most of which caused by people’s irresponsibility such as the incident of Thi Vai river. Seeing a whole nation show their civility by how they treat their animals makes me wonder what people would do if there were such a big carp in Vietnam. They would make carp gruel before the fat carp is widely known, for sure =)).

The article reveals that Benson’s owner will keep her in deep freeze and open guided tours for people to come and pay respect to her. I would come there when I get to the UK, hopefully.

“Benson, carp, born 1984, died 2009. Leaves behind numerous widows, thousands of offspring and 60-odd lovelorn captors.” (John Bailey, The Guardian)

R.I.P, Benson.

My very first post

Lazy Sunday Morning - 클래지콰이

I am at home now with my family, enjoying a lazy Sunday. Recently, I was told to write my own autobiography as weekly assignment, and there have to be a total of 35 pages of text by the end of the semester. Oh.

I used to keep a diary, long time ago, not very well-written I’m afraid :)). I don’t write much so it’d be good practice to write autobiography. Moreover, as I grow older, I find that I lose memories of special events, objects, people, etc. and I want this to not only help me with my identity, but also with my memories. Thank you Professor :D. Still, the hardest part is definitely starting.

Lately I was in such a bustle, birthday parties, highschool reunion, etc. =)). Meeting with the UC team was great, everybody is nice. Some speaks Vietnamese surprisingly very well, I was so impressed. I wish I have a photo of UC & HANU to post but I don’t. I love to tell a story with photos so I will talk about my latest trip. Last Sunday I went to Thien Son - Suoi Nga, a famous tourist site just 2 hours traveling by bus far from the centre of Hanoi. Located on the eastern side of the Ba Vi mountain range in Ha Tay Province, this ecotourism site replaces the noisy and dusty atmosphere of the city with the cool and fresh air of undulating mountains and forests. Thien Son - Suoi Nga is also surrounded by the historical legend of the competition between Son Tinh (Mountain Genie) and Thuy Tinh (Water Genie) to become the King Hung's son-in-law.

Thien Son is divided into three parts including Ha Son (lower), Trung Son (middle), and Ngoan Son (upper) mountains. However, since I was in a training tour, I was not allowed to go far from Ha Son. Still, the trip was great as Ha Son has the most poetic landscape with Tam Cap waterfall and many beautiful streams.



Along with the fascinating landscape, the diversified ecosystem of Thien Son and Suoi Nga amused me. Here, one can learn about the rare and valuable plants of the Ba Vi National Park thanks to name-tags on the tree-trunks.

What is distinctive about the trip is that I was with my volunteer team (we are working on food safety in HANU’s area, you can check this link www.hangquansach.org for further details and vote for your favorite restaurant in HANU). During the day, we had two training sections with Tam Viet Group, the leading organization in educating leadership skills, team work and organization skills in Vietnam. I did learn a lot, thank you so much Tam Viet, and Action for the City as well.

It was also quite coincident about the funny girl I met on the trip, who turned out to be my classmate in UC program. Does any one recognize her? (note: she was borrowing my Chinese fan :D)

This is my volunteer team on the trip, about 30 people, and teachers from Tam Viet. Our uniform is designed by me ;))

A super cute Chinese dog I saw on the way.

Starting from tomorrow, we will send you, HANUers and UCers in HANU ;)) , some cards to cast your vote. Be sure to involve :X

Cheers.

P/S: As I have mentioned above, I'm practicing. So I would be very pleased to have you corrected my grammar, word choice, etc. Thanks a bunch!