Colombia RPCV John Weldon Scott helps build school in Viet Nam
Read and comment on this exclusive story from PCOL from Colombia RPCV John Weldon Scott who recently returned from a trip to Viet Nam where he and his group of students put the finishing touches on the two new classrooms that were constructed with funds from the campus Ministry of Shippensburg University at:
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Colombia RPCV John Weldon Scott helps build school in Viet Nam
In 1963, I, John Weldon Scott (Colombia 1963) and my cousin Sandra Stevenson (Dominican Republic 1963) set off to serve in the Peace Corps. Because of the political uprising at that time, our original group was divided and some went to Colombia and others went on to the Dominican Republic. As I’m sure many returned volunteers can attest these memories and contacts exist even today.
I recently returned from a trip to Viet Nam where I accompanied 12 students, one professor, Dr.Diane Staniski-Martin and the Director of Shippensburg University Campus Ministry, of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, Reverend Jan Bye.
Shippensburg had been supplying funds for the construction of facilities for this small remote village on the Mekong River in Gia Thanh, Thanh Ngai, Mo Cay district an hour away from the city of Ben Tre in the Ben Tre Province in eastern Viet Nam. Upon arrival to the site I immediately was reminded of my Peace Corps days and after being there for a few days and working with the Students from the University of Ho Chi Minh, who were also students from the YMCA of Viet Nam, The Youth Movement for Community Action and the principal, teachers, students and people of the community I had dej`a vu. We were putting the finishing touches on the two new classrooms that were constructed with funds from the campus Ministry of Shippensburg University and we painted the doors and shutter, stained the desks, white washed the walls and even planted a flower garden around the flagpole.
The community was so appreciative of our participation that the Peoples’ Committee welcomed us, The Women’s Community Organization fed us, often giving thanks by kissing our hands and telling us how we have answered their dreams and prayers about a new building where their children could study; without having to fight the inclement situations the rains and floods often incurred upon them, and the representatives from the student’s Union all ate and worked with us until the completion of the two classrooms.
The closing event was heartwarming and entertaining as well as rewarding for the students and the community. Notebooks, pencils, erasers, and other school supplies were given the students and teachers, as well as some personal donations of uniforms, calendars and other school materials offered by some of the students from Shippensburg and the YMCA of Viet Nam.
Peacework Development Fund Inc., an International Volunteer Organization, Shippensburg University and HOP TAC TRE CO LTD are to be congratulated for such efforts and the continuation of such events makes one realize that there is still a lot to be done in this world, without war, to provide all people with the means and right to proper education and reasonable living conditions.
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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Service; COS - Colombia; COS - Dominican Republic; COS - Viet Nam
