Selecting Partner Orphanages

Each of the orphanages we approach seems to readily agree to receive the proposed donation of a computer lab for their children. But many of these same orphanages are not prepared to provide the disciplined program necessary to help increase the likelihood that a genuine impact will be made in the lives of the orphan children using these computers.

We are very aware that not all the children will sit down, learn to use a computer, and then go on to attend university and enter the professional work force. But we have tried to be strategic in the way we are approaching this program in a bold attempt to completely change the way orphanages approach their notion of orphan education. We want to see 10%, then 20%, and 50%, and all the way up to 90% and 100% of Vietnamese orphan children attending university. The key to this project's success is in the orphanage and the ownership they are taking in the program.

Is the computer learning center primed to become an educational priority of the orphanage? Does the orphanage leadership believe in the program and want to see their children succeed? Has the orphanage staff been adequately trained to run the daily program and run it well? Is Orphan Impact prepared to offer the individual orphanages the support they require to achieve success?

The answers to these questions are of high consideration for each new project partner. Some other key points of the process are listed in the following:

• All orphanages must submit an application to Orphan Impact requesting to become a project partner and outlining their plan for project implementation
  
• All orphanages must go through a 3-interview application process.
  
• All orphanages must sign a contract clearly defining the cooperative relationship.
  
• All computer donations are initially structured as a temporary usage loan, subject to orphanage performance benchmarks for a period of 6 months. If the orphanage meets the terms, the computers are fully donated to the orphanage.
  
• All orphanages are required to submit usage reports on a weekly basis.
  
• All computers come loaded with Parent's Carefree usage monitoring and website blocking software. All activity on each computer is carefully monitored by the Orphan Impact staff.
  
• All orphanages check-in with the Orphan Impact support team on a weekly basis via Skype video calls.
  
• All orphanages host the Orphan Impact support team on a quarterly basis for a site visit and evaluation.
  
• The Orphan Impact project represents a 5-way collaboration between the Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of Social Affairs, Ministry of Education, the orphanage, and Orphan Impact. The 3 Ministry government involvement provides a high level of accountability for each participating orphanage.

After-School Program

We are teaching orphan children how to learn, rather than what to learn.

The Orphan Impact education program is designed to help children develop the skills necessary to excel in the university environment.

Creative Thinking. Problem Solving. Time Management. Team Collaboration.

Because the children are already attending school through the Vietnamese public school system, the Orphan Impact program needs to complement the education they are receiving, not replace it. We have created an environment within the orphanage where we are inspiring an interest in learning and motivating the children to take proactive steps in preparing for their futures.

• All projects are centered around computer and web-based learning. The children are learning to type and create charts and graphs and formulas. The children are using Flip Camcorders to create documentaries and learn how to edit and upload video clips, while also learning how narration or "on-camera" presentation skills. The children are using Skype to connect with other children. The children are using ePals to blog, and upload their research results, and embed pictures and video, and safely send/receive email with their project partners in the USA and Australia and Afghanistan and Russia. The children are using Google News to follow current events and compare the different points of view that are available from different sources. We believe it is crucial for the children to develop 21st century skills as they prepare for their lives outside the orphanage.
  
  
• All projects are focused on creating connections. Connections with children in similar environments. Connections with children in different environments. Connections with children in other parts of Vietnam. Connections with children on other parts of the world. Institutionalized orphans live out their childhood in an isolated environment. We believe that by using the web to create connections, we can diminish that sense of isolation and instead help the children to imagine a future that is exciting.
  
  
• All projects are team-based and set-up to give each child a key role within the group. Whether the children are researching countries in Africa, cities in Vietnam, or determining point-by-point directions for the nearest pizza place in Ho Chi Minh City, each child must play a role. Institutional living almost results in groupings of children where only a handful of children have a voice. The other children are left to follow and take orders. We believe that by encouraging positive group dynamics we can teach a sense of unity and help the children to develop healthy self-esteem.
  
  
• All projects are set-up to encourage student inquiry based learning. Children naturally have questions about the world around them. But children who have been orphaned may have never had an adult in their lives to whom they can ask their questions. By the time they reach 12 or 13 years of age, they may have stopped inquiring altogether. Why inquire when there is never an answer? But we know how important it is to teach kids how to think through issues, engage in discussions, and find solutions. We believe that by encouraging children to ask questions and learn how to seek solutions we are equipping children to be much more prepared for their futures outside the orphanage. We want these kids to become life long learners!
  
  
• All projects are geared towards encouraging children to consider career opportunities and what they might be interested in after leaving the orphanage. Every research project includes at least a few questions that are "career-focused" in nature. For example, if we are reading a news story in the Vietnam News we might ask the children to consider the process that occurred to bring this news story to us. The photograph. The writing. The editing. The printing. Who was responsible for creating each of these items and how do we think they earned these jobs? We believe that by creating an increased curiosity about careers, as well as greater understanding about how possible career opportunities, we can help motivate children to set career goals and begin taking steps toward achieving these goals.
  
  

  Example daily/weekly program for participating orphanages 1 Teacher 1 local teacher is always trained by Orphan Impact to run the program 2 Volunteers Short-term volunteers offer additional support and project monitoring 60 Children Children are divided into 4 groups of 15 children 5 Computers 15 children per session divided into 5 groups of 3 children each 6 Days Monday-Saturday schedule allows each group to have 3 weekly sessions 3 hours each day 2 sessions each day: 1) 3:00-4:30 2) 4:30-6:00

Inspiring Change

A key goal of this project has always been systemic change in orphan education policies throughout all of Vietnam. The project opened with a focus on developing relationships with orphanage directors to ensure that participating orphanages take an ownership in the success of their children. While that focus continues, the 2010 project year will also begin to emphasize greater government participation at the policy-making levels of orphan care, education initiatives, and technology.

With the opening of the Orphan Impact Computer Training Center in Hanoi, government officials can visit the Model Computer Lab and see the project in action. Officials can Skype with orphan children from Quang Tri, view the Flip Camcorder documentaries made by the children in Lai Chau, or read recent blog posts from Thao who is attending university in Ho Chi Minh City.

As the program continues to grow, so will the statistics and results. 340 participating children. 1,000 participating children. 1,500 participating children. And on and on.

As long as the project continues, so will our efforts to influence policy change - in both the education practices of individual orphanages and within the policy initiatives of the national government.