Leticia |

Leticia

Name: Leticia

Purpose: Internship

Date: 9/2025

Nationality: Belgium

Topic: Local NGO

Blog

Daily Challenges in Rural Vietnam

26/09/2025

Leticia

Three families working in dragon fruit farming, each balancing day labor, loans, and school expenses. Their stories show how hard it is to make ends meet when prices and harvests are so uncertain.

Life Behind the Dragon Fruit Farms

25/09/2025

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Visiting three related families showed me how dragon fruit farming, paired with microloans, sustains households through hardship. With over 1,000 families in the program, Thien Chi’s local collaborators play a key role in ensuring stability and opportunity in rural communities.

Employement program

24/09/2025

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Thien Chi’s employment program creates stable jobs for local families through workshops like rattan stick production, where every piece is carefully handmade.

More about the dragon fruit

23/09/2025

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Everywhere I go in Bình Thuận, dragon fruit fields stretch across the horizon. This vibrant cactus fruit is more than a symbol, it is the backbone of local farming and family livelihoods.

Microloans in action

22/09/2025

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From poultry raising to small businesses, from bicyle making to dragon fruit, Thien Chi's microloans support families in building better livelihoods.

Call for proposal and Scholarships

19/09/2025

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Worked on a call for proposal, discovering the behind-the-scenes efforts that keep NGO projects running. In the afternoon, I joined a scholarship ceremony where 59 students received support to continue their education.

Supporting Families and Futures with Thien Chi

18/09/2025

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Family visits showed how Thien Chi supports livelihoods and education, giving disadvantaged families tools to work toward stability and hope.

Meeting People, Even Without English

17/09/2025

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English has been both a bridge and a challenge during my internship in Phan Thiết. From family visits and coworker exchanges to teaching kids at the English Center, every conversation has been an opportunity to connect and learn.

How to Create and Publish a Blog Post

16/09/2025

Leticia

To make it easier for future interns and volunteers, here’s a simple step-by-step guide to creating and publishing your post on the website.

Food and Things to Do in Phan Thiết

15/09/2025

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Phan Thiết is a lively coastal city where food and culture meet. From phở and bánh mì to fresh dragon fruit, every meal is an experience. Between bustling markets, oceanfront cafés, Cham towers, and a quick trip to Mũi Né’s sand dunes, there’s always something new to discover.

Stories from Families in Ham My

15/09/2025

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Today I visited three families with Nguyen Thuan. The first faced severe health problems and heavy medical costs but now benefit from NGO support through microcredit and crowdfunding. The second, a single mother with two daughters, struggles to cover university fees and relies on small trade and NGO assistance. The third, a couple with two young daughters (one with a heart condition), receive scholarships and economic support, which helped them build a safer home. In the afternoon, I worked on donor research, my blog, and social media.

Back to school ceremony and scholarships

15/09/2025

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Today I attended the opening ceremony of the school year at Ham Thuan Nam High School, a prestigious school with 1,500 students. The event was highly symbolic, with flag parades, patriotic songs, speeches, and the distribution of many scholarships, including twenty from Thien Chi. Scholarships are crucial at this stage, as education costs often push families to withdraw their children from school. What stood out most to me was the strong sense of pride and resilience among students and teachers, all focused on building a better future.

Microcredit in Vietnam: 3 Families, 3 Stories

15/09/2025

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On my second day, we visited three families supported by microcredits. One had fully repaid their loan and was now financially stable, another improved their income through dragon fruit farming, and the last struggled with health and financial issues but still benefited from support. I was impressed by the long-term follow-up that ensures families don’t feel left alone.

First day

15/09/2025

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My first day at the Thien Chi Center started with breakfast with colleagues before visiting several families supported by the NGO. Their stories were difficult but thanks to microcredits and scholarships, they are gradually improving their lives. I was impressed by the NGO’s close follow-up and the presence of community members working part-time to ensure support matches local needs. In the afternoon, I worked on social media posts, funding research, and my internship journal. The day ended with spring rolls and a small city tour with my supervisor. A very meaningful start to this internship!

Arriving in Vietnam

15/09/2025

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I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of August—hot and humid! After getting a SIM card and using Grab (a must-have app, like Uber), I stayed a few days for the national holiday before heading to Phan Thiet. To reach the Thien Chi Center, you can either take a bus for about €8 (cheaper but less predictable) or a taxi for around €100 (faster but costly). I chose the bus, and despite a bit of waiting, everything went smoothly. Once in Phan Thiet, the Thien Chi director welcomed me and brought me to my homestay.

Getting ready before coming

15/09/2025

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I chose this internship because of my strong interest in NGOs, which started during a short placement with Mekong Plus in Belgium. Later, while pursuing my Master’s in Population Sciences and Development, I decided to come to Vietnam, combining my thesis research with practical field experience. Mekong Plus connected me with its partner NGO, Thien Chi. To prepare, I handled visa applications, vaccinations, and flights, before settling into a homestay near the NGO’s office. Daily life here is simple and affordable, and I quickly adapted to the local rhythm.