VNCAP
Viet Nam Children Assistance Programs
The Center for Vocational Training and Special Education
This Center is intended specifically for handicapped, homeless, and orphan children from age six (6) to eighteen (18). These children are residential semi-permanent or temporary students. This Center will have accommodations for three hundred (300) individuals (boys and girls) on a year round basis and house additional one hundred to two hundred (100-200) individuals on a temporary basis. The child/student may be a handicapped, homeless child, or handicapped, orphan child or only an orphan child or a homeless child with or without a physical or mental handicapping condition.
This is a year round Academic Vocational Training Special Education Center.
THIS CENTER IS NOT AN ORPHANAGE OR AN ADOPTION AGENCY
The function of this Center is to train children to reach their potential in life through education and vocational training. Each individual contributes at his or her ability level to help other students reach their desired goals. Each is unique, in this program; therefore, there is a range of activities to accommodate each student. The main goal of this facility is to help the individual become a self-sustaining, happy, and healthy human being and a productive citizen of Vietnamese society.
The Foundation believes that to give only charity does not help the individual become independent, but dependent upon the giver. Our goal is not to just give charity, but give support in the form of education and training, and financial assistance to reach this desired goal.
CENTER RATIONALE:
This Center design accommodates children with multiple handicapping conditions and children without any such condition, except that they are homeless and/or orphans (this would include any child who is abandoned by their parents or family). The goal of the Center is to keep children in their families as much as possible and to this end, a part of the curriculum plan is devoted to family education. The Center will accommodate both girls and boys without limit to the number of each sex (a balance would be preferred if at all possible).
The reason for a Center that has made accommodation for various childhood conditions is a very simple concept. They live in the real world. We cannot isolate or put only one group of individuals into an institution. We can expect that they will be cared for properly, but it is important to place the children into a functional program that is as close to real life conditions as possible. We want our children to experience the difficulties and talents of various age groups as they develop through the learning/work process of their early years, adolescence and teenage life.
Our philosophy is to have the child/student experience life as completely as is possible. Children that have learning difficulties in the same classroom with gifted and talented children improve in their mental abilities. The mentally gifted/talented child, who has no physical disability gains an appreciation for his/her fellow classmate and other human beings who have such a condition. Each individual learns to develop this/her special gifts/talents and becomes healthier human beings in society.
The business of this Center is education and training. This Center shall function and follow good business practices. Since the Center is not entirely dependent upon the state or The Foundation (after the first five years) for its support, it must therefor be able to be as self sufficient as practical. The various components of this unique Center program are part of this goal. The state, however, is the business partner in this venture. Since the care of the handicapped, the homeless, and the orphans is the responsibility of the Labor-War Invalid and Society Office, it is understood that the normal Center and care expenses would be the responsibility of this governmental agency. The foundation expected to supplement this responsibility during the first five years and thereafter to continue the business relationship with special programs for financial support.
MANAGEMENT:
This Center is planned to be a joint venture utilizing the expertise of local staff with support from overseas volunteers (teachers, professors, other professionals) and exchange students. The Foundation provides the site manager and financial support for the first five years.
The site manager is responsible as a liaison official between The Foundation, the Center and local officials. Monthly financial reports are required to satisfy The Foundation's responsibility to the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization.
STAFFING AND SALARIES:
The Center is jointly managed between a Business Manager and Projects Coordinator and the Headmaster of the students and Teachers.
The staff includes the following:
1 Business/Office Manager
1 Workshop/Projects Coordinator
1 Clerical Team Leader
4 Clerical Personnel (2 morning, 1 afternoon & 1 evening)
*1 Headmaster/Teacher (1 secondary)
*7 Teachers (2 primary, 3 secondary, 2 computer)
*3 Outreach Teachers
8 Classroom Aides (2 primary, 5 secondary, 1 computer)
*2 Doctors (Resident)
2 Registered Nurses (one resident day and one off-site evening)
*1 Occupational Therapist
3 PT Aides
*7 Workshop/Project instructors
5 Security Personnel (morning, afternoon, & evening)
12 Dormitory Evening Aides (6 men, 6 women)
2 Cooks (1 morning/afternoon and 1 afternoon/evening (noon meal overlaps))
6 Kitchen Personnel (3 morning/afternoon and 3 afternoon/evening (noon meal overlaps))
10 Maintenance/Technical Personnel/Drivers, Electrical, Mechanical, Gardening/Grounds)
10 Laundry Personnel (morning/afternoon & afternoon/evening)
87 Total