After getting about 5 hours of sleep at best we woke up today and started our morning with a delicious breakfast of pho, the traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. Out first excursion this morning was to a Textile factory - Det Minh Kha. The manager Mr. Lin showed us around and we first saw gigantic spools of yarn. They
used to have silk worms in the factory but not any more. We then walked into another area where massive looms were weaving the thread into fabric. The factory used to have more than 2000 workers but now there are only 250 workers. Imported technology from Japan and Italy is more capital-intensive and fewer workers are needed. One person can run 6 machines.
This particular factory had big contracts with hotels and made towels.
They Imported intermediate products and put embossed brand names on them.
They Processed 1000 tons of towels a year contracting with 2000 hotels and paying $400-699 per month in wages.
An interesting aside was the Luxury apartments that had recently been built near the factory by a wealthy developer. It cost about $400,000 to buy 800 square feet apartment. Our guide told us that land in Hanoi is one of the most expensive in the world. He also told us that Factories have moved out of the city due to environmental regulations. Our guide seemed to think that he Foreign investment coming into the country was a good thing for Vietnam in that it provided a lot of jobs and much needed technology.
After we left the factory we spent most of the rest of the day visiting a slum swelling community on the Red River. We visited fruit orchards, a family of seven that lived in a one room boat house and had lunch with at the home if the community leader. The student also got to pick guavas from the orchards which proved to be quite thrilling for some of them. The lunch was another example of delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine and most of us were very adventurous in trying all sorts of new dishes.
Our last visit was to the Center for Women's development. This is a government funded organization that provides Vocational training and skills for women and children. Social work is really new in Vietnam and the concept of providing support and resources for women is somewhat new to the culture.
The CWD runs 2 shelters known as the Peace House. One is for women and children experiencing domestic abuse.
Another is for survivors of human trafficking. Initially to get then project started the Center did a lot of fund raising, both domestic and international.
They also run the Peace Shop from which all profits go to support the peace houses. All products sold are from the female entrepreneurs.
We then had the opportunity to visit both Peace Houses. We toured the facilities and the students got to ask lots of questions about different aspects of domestic abuse and human trafficking.
The director stressed again how this was a new concept and difficult for traditional Vietnamese culture. Women are expected to follow the father, husband and then son in that order. Domestic abuse issues were ignored. She also noted that sadly gender based inequality was causing an increase in domestic violence and human trafficking. There is
pressure to stay quiet about domestic violence and not a lot of education about it either.
China, Taiwan and South Korea are the main destinations for human trafficking because of a lack of women of marriageable age in those countries. They also contribute greatly to the sex trade. Victims are usually financially and emotionally vulnerable. Most are between Ages 13-25. The Center provided counseling and support for victims, policing, legislative and judicial intervention. But it's not very effective intervention right now because perpetrators repeat offenses. The Center is building community networks to help them with changing perceptions. Victims stay from 3-6 months at shelter. There is a Kindergarten at shelter and yoga classes for women. 774 women have been helped so far in both houses.
The shelters are now Government funded now 50% and have to perform fund raising for the rest so they recently had to move to smaller spaces.
We finally returned back to our host's home after a quick stop at a grocery store. After a snack of fresh fruit and a conversation with our host most of climbed thankfully into bed after a long, tiring day but one filled with so many new experiences.
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