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Service Learning Trip

Vietnam Service Learning Trip (Jan 2025)

Program Schedule
5 - 13 Jan 2025
Tra Vin & Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam
Application Closed
Enquiry

Abina Sze (saabina@ust.hk)

UN Sustainable Development Goals
HKUST CONNECT SDG GOALS
HKUST CONNECT SDG GOALS
HKUST CONNECT SDG GOALS
Volunteers were teaching the local children

Children and youth in rural areas in Vietnam mostly live a simple lifestyle. They have limited access to knowledge of the outside world, and that limited them from discovering and developing their true potentials. Partnering with ECO Vietnam Group (EVG), HKUST Connect is launching the first Service Learning Trip to Vietnam in Jan 2025 to support education and youth development in Tra Vinh province of Mekong Delta. 

EVG is a non-governmental and non-profitable organization based in Vietnam. It was established in 2009 which dedicates to bringing genuine benefits to their local communities. Acting as a bridge of trust between volunteers, sponsors, and disadvantaged communities, including ethnic minorities in remote areas, EVG works to better the quality of life for locals through authentic community projects.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in various activities such as teaching local primary and secondary school students, exchanging cultural insights with community members, participating in traditional cultural activities, and immersing themselves in the vibrant local customs.  Get ready to be a part of this transformative journey and make a lasting impact with us!

You will be able to:

  • Empower Vietnamese children and youth through various teaching activities and workshops
  • Engage in cultural exchange and explore different aspects of the Vietnamese community
  • Accelerate personal growth through self-reflection
  • Share your experiences during and after the service trip to spread a caring message within the HKUST campus
Empowering local children and youth
Empowering local children and youth
Interacting with the local kids
Interacting with the local kids
Experiencing Vietnamese customs
Experiencing Vietnamese customs
Fishing with the locals
Fishing with the locals
Having campfire with the local youth
Having campfire with the local youth
Program Highlights
  • Teach and support in different educational programs to support the local community
  • Engage in cultural exchange with the locals by organizing activities in the school and community center
  • Visit a local Startup at the village to learn about their innovation and business model to support the livelihood of people
  • Experience the everyday life of locals by participating in their daily routine, such as fishing
  • Explore the rich culture of Vietnam
Program Schedule
Activity
Date
Time
Workshop 1
30 Oct 2024 (Wed)
6:30 - 8:30pm
Workshop 2
13 Nov 2024 (Wed)
6:30 - 8:30pm
Workshop 3
27 Nov 2024 (Wed)
6:30 - 8:30pm
Workshop 4
2 Jan 2025 (Thu)
2- 5pm
Sub-team Preparation Meetings & Tasks
Oct 2024 - Jan 2025
Suggest each sub-team meeting weekly or biweekly, based on progress and availability
Sub-team Consultation Meeting (in person)
14 - 22 Nov 2024
Approx. 1 hour for each session, actual date & time is subject to the availability of each sub-team
Sub-team Consultation Meeting (in person/ zoom)
16 - 27 Dec 2024
Approx. 1 hour for each session, actual date & time is subject to the availability of each sub-team
Vietnam Service Learning Trip
5 - 13 Jan 2025
Program Fee

Regular: HK$7,200 (Actual cost is $9,600. 25% subsidy is provided by DSTO)

  • Participants will be eligible for reimbursement of up to HK$2,000 subsidy upon satisfactory completion of the entire service program.

  • There are also other subsidies available for application.  Please refer to the "Subsidies" section for more details.


Includes:

  • Round-trip flights to Ho Chi Minh city 
  • Local transportation
  • Accommodation
  • Meals during program activities 
  • Entry fees for visits included in the official program
  • Travel insurance

Does NOT include:

  • Personal expenses and expenses outside the official program
  • Travel document/visa application
  • Additional travel and medical insurance
Subsidies

1. All participants
 

1A. Subsidy for trip participants (No application needed)

Participants will be eligible to reimburse up to HK$2,000 subsidy upon satisfactory completion of the entire service program (#1).

1B. Connect Overseas Learning Experience Sponsorship Scheme (OLESS) (Details)

Students with financial need may apply for the Scheme to receive a subsidy to cover part of the program fee on a reimbursement basis. Apply for OLESS here.

2) Recipients of Tertiary Student Finance Scheme (TSFS) government grant & loan


2A) Pre-approval of Connect OLESS (Present “Notification of Result” of TSFS during interview)

To alleviate the financial burden on government grant and loan recipients who are required to pay the full program fee upfront, TSFS Grant recipients can obtain pre-approval for the Scheme and only need to pay the remaining portion of the program fee:

TSFS grant awarded Fee payable
>75% of grant HK$1,440
50-75% of grant HK$3,600
<50% of grant HK$5,400
  • Eligible students are expected to apply for the Scheme for Subsidy on Exchange to "Belt and Road" Regions for Post-secondary Students (SSEBR) from the government (Details) being part of the OLESS subsidy. Students should submit an online application on the HKUST My StudyAbroad system after receiving the trip offer. Successful applicants will receive a subsidy equal to "$6,500 x % of TSFS grant received".
  • Upon receiving the SSEBR subsidy, students receiving pre-approved Connect OLESS subsidy shall return the lower amount of subsidy between OLESS and SSEBR to HKUST Connect.
Example: If you receive a 50% government grant and apply after the early bird deadline, you will pay HK$5,100 upon accepting a trip offer i.e. HK$5,100 subsidy under OLESS. You then apply for SSEBR and shall be granted a HK$3,250 subsidy. Upon successful completion of the trip and receiving the SSEBR subsidy, you should return the HK$3,250 subsidy to HKUST Connect.

(#1) Satisfactory completion of the entire service program includes attendance, high level of engagement in group preparation tasks, workshops and during the trip, and submission of a reflection report. Connect OLESS / SSEBR / Non-means-tested SSEBR recipients may receive the difference between HK$2,000 and the Scheme subsidy being granted.

Application & Deadline

Application

  • Please complete the online registration form.
  • Interviews will be held on 15 - 17 October 2024. Shortlisted applicants will be notified via email.

Deadline:

  • Application closing date: 13 October 2024 (Sun)
Important Notes
  • To ensure the quality of service activities and to foster a positive team experience, students are expected to attend ALL pre-trip activities, including workshops and consultation meetings. Priority will be given to those who can commit to full attendance. Requests for absence due to academic course-related examinations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The organizer reserves the right to terminate the participation of any student who fails to meet the above requirements, and the program fee will not be refunded.
  • Participants are required to travel to and from Vietnam with the group. Separate travel arrangements will not be accommodated.
Additional Information on Collaborator in Vietnam

ECO Vietnam Group (https://ecovietnamgroup.com/)

ECO Vietnam Group is non-profit organization that strongly focuses on education and community development. They apply and develop Service-Learning educational model in their projects and promote Service-Learning to different educational institutes in Vietnam since 2009. For more information about EVG, please check the slide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/107uYeyjHdj4eWAQBx6k69vxtNG9hfSMS/view?usp=sharing

In addition, they develop and run EVG Community Library to provide free educational programs for the local children and local villagers. Please check the short video clip to know more about EVG Community Library model. 

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