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12 December, 2008
by Luu Thi Ngoc Anh & Pham Thi Thanh Van, UNV
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| Thanh Van in an English class for PLWH in Hai Phong (Photo by UNV) |
It was not by chance that Pham Thi Thanh Van became a UNV Volunteer. “When I was at university, I didn’t have any free time for volunteer activities as I still had to work, even though I had always been keen on taking part in some community activities,? says Van. With that wish in mind, Van often checked out the website of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in order to learn about development activities and programmes. One day, Van found out that the United Nations Volunteers Viet Nam (UNV) was looking for volunteers to “Teach English to People living with HIV (PLWH)? in Hai Phong city, her hometown.
With previous work experience and the knowledge of English from her degree in Hai Phong University, this volunteer job seemed like it had been made for her.
Looking back on that decision, Van can still remember her concerns and worries at that time: “When reading the information on this program, I was really hesitant. I could not imagine what the people I was going to meet would be like. In my mind, they were characterised by social evils; drugs and sex workers. I discussed it with my family for a whole week. They were really supportive. My dad told me to try to learn how to protect myself. And that’s it: I became a UNV volunteer on 4 July, 2005.”
Before teaching English to PLWH self-help groups , Van had a chance to meet Pham Thi Hue – the team leader of “Red Flamboyant”, a self-help group in Hai Phong. This first contact with PLWH erased any worries Van had about the work. On hearing about Van’s and her family’s hesitation, Hue stood up and told Van that she’s HIV positive. “Van then laughed with relief and gave me a big hug. She was happy because she realised that PLWH were not what she had imagined. They are as normal as any other people,” says Hue.
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| Thanh Van (front) and My Hanh (Photo by UNV) |
That’s how Van and the other two volunteers started giving their regular English lessons at the houses of group members in Hai Phong. Usually, there were 6-7 participants in each session. The most significant feature of these English lessons was the support and encouragement that PLWH received. This enabled them to feel more confident in their communication with communities and to participate more actively in HIV prevention programmes.
Hue recalls “Van was very meticulous, punctual and caring in her teaching. She was never discriminative and always very detailed in her instructions. Later on, when both Van and I worked as volunteers for the GIPA project in Quang Ninh and Hai Phong, we were able to help each other a lot. I could remember very well those early days when I hardly knew how to use the computer and Van taught me so many tricks over the phone. Van also showed me how to write documents and prepare reports.”
Van says, “I feel really happy to have joined this program where I have the chance to work with a team of dynamic and enthusiastic volunteers.” During the following 7 months, Van’s regular schedule was divided between work during the day and volunteer English teaching for PLWH at night.
Early in 2006, Van became volunteer for the project “Greater Involvement of People living with HIV” (GIPA), implemented by the Women’s Union with technical support from UNV and UNAIDS.
“The thing I’m proudest of, in my experience of UNV, is the friendships that I have developed with other volunteers in the GIPA project, some of whom are affected by HIV. I feel that I have been able to bring them a new source of encouragement so that they can believe that there are a lot of people in the community who still love and support them. Also they will realize that what we are doing together is essential for the community. The promotion of the volunteer program in civil societies and marginalized groups has given them the confidence and strength to overcome their own difficulties and live with, and help, others.”
Van and her friends who are affected by HIV in the GIPA project have assisted each other a lot in their work. Also through this volunteer assignment, Van has become a great friend and a source of spiritual support for her less fortunate friends. Bui My Hanh, who works as a project volunteer in Quang Ninh, and is HIV positive, shares: “Working with Van for more than 2 years, not only have I had a colleague, but also a sister. Van is very frank and sensible. I also learnt how to use a computer and work skills from Van. Van is the first person I would think of whenever I am in trouble, such as when my husband get sick, even at midnight. Every time that happened, Van’s compassion and support has always eased my pain a lot.
“When I finished my UNV assignment, I decided not to write a good-bye letter. I still want to be a part of UNV. I want to keep my pride in being UNV volunteer and what we have been able to achieve together. “Beauty in diversity”, “For love of life”, “Equality and Integration”… and many other events that I have attended will remain my fond memories. The fashion show on UN Day Anniversary, Learning Fair on HIV, Meetings with other volunteers during annual workshops… these were special occasions for volunteers like us to get together and share our feelings, our successes and failures during our assignments.” Van looks back on her most treasured memories with UNV.
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| Thanh Van and her volunteer friends in International Volunteer Day Celebration in 2005 (Photo by UNV) |
“Nam Anh, an ex-UNV volunteer, used to tell me that UNV volunteering is not a job or an occupation. If what you really want is a job, you should think twice about applying for a UNV assignment. This is an opportunity for you to devote yourself to the community but at the same time, you will be able to learn a lot. That’s true. I have learnt to grow up and to understand communities, development work, empowerment and women’s roles. This has enabled me to orient my career. In my current job, I realize that I have come to understand better the problems of the poor and the marginalized that I am working with. To a great extent, volunteerism remains deep inside me in the road ahead.”
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