The “Investing in younger generation” is an initiative developed by ActionAid International Vietnam’s governance team in partnership with Social and Labour University in Hanoi which began in 2008. The fellowship program exposes future development workers of the social work faculty of the university to face the challenges of rural development and addressing issues of local governance in disadvantaged localities. For months, the program enabled students to experience how to handle a process for change in a village and how to promote local self governance by ensuring equity, participation and transparency. The program is conceptualized to sensitize the university students and involve them in working with local authorities for rural development to facilitate the realization of rights. It allows committed and responsible youngsters to experience for a brief period how a process for change could be managed. The process also demonstrates a proper participatory planning and implementation process that could be further supported by local people and adopted by the local government.

As part of the processes facilitated by an internship program the students have reached out to three provinces of northern Vietnam. One of the groups reached Thanh Tan village, Thach Chau commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province, where three students made a successful project on improving electricity situation for more than 100 households. In this village, those families who lived at a distance from the power station never had the access to power supply. They have been told that the grid does not have sufficient capacity of power supply to cater to the need of all the households to use any modern equipment such as TV, water pump, etc. The issue was raised with local government several times in past years but never could find any proper solution.

Through discussions during the first meeting organised by the fellow students, the villagers shared their concerns and ranked need for power supply as their first priority. Further, three internship students facilitated a work plan to improve the situation. The problem emerged when estimated budget for the project for improvement was much higher than allocated budget from the program. In order to address the issu e the group held meetings and announcements through public loudspeakers under facilitation of the internship students to discuss on budget contribution. With a willingness and commitment to contribute partly in kind of labor, villagers decided to ask for additional resource from local communal authority. They came to commune leaders, and presented their work plan and budget and negotiated for approval on allocating budget from commune. After several rounds of deliberation and negotiation the community members could manage to get the approval and the commune agreed to allocate 6 million VND for the project. With orientation process given by governance team of AAV from the beginning and during the internship program, students ensured the participation of local people in every step as well as transparency of the project which leaded to success of the program.

Mrs. Pham Thi Huu, 62 years old, is living in the Thanh Tan village, Thach Chau commune, Loc Ha district, Ha Tinh province shared her impression “I was doubtful on the first day when I participated in the meeting guided by three young students. I was a bit convinced by the way and effort they made to gather people but still worried about the feasibility of the project. However, when budget and work plan are made transparent and publicly on the village’s hall and through public speakers, all people are excited and willing to participate and contribute. The doubts are gone and commitment came when expenditure is made publicly. I wish we could have such visibility in other programs”.

Finally, the work was accomplished on 19 May, 2008, marking a special day of Uncle Ho’s birthday (the nation’s father). It is really remarkable and a good memory for all of us. The light has brought new hopes about living conditions, about our common saying “People know, people discuss, people do and people monitor”.

“We do learn from students from their ways to engage people in the projects, from their sincerity and enthusiasm in helping build a community. We have realized that participation of the people in project is a must to ensure its success”, remarked Mr Hung, representative of Thach Chau commune at the sharing workshop.