Reforestation Project

Chontachaca Ecological Reserve has 200 hectares of forest on the campus of Palmaceda, Chontachaca (Qosñipata Valley, Manu Biosphere Reserve) which is currently being reforested and contains an animal rescue center on the land. Our goal is to promote the ecological restoration of the flora of private property "Palmaceda" and adjacent areas, through the reintroduction of natural habitat to strengthen and gain recognition as a private conservation area. Since 2006 we have planted 3000 trees of native species and we would like to encourage several communities as well as individuals in the area to join our efforts. To do our job we have the support of students in biology from the University San Antonio Abad of Cusco and volunteers who for short periods of time remain in Palmaceda. Also students from the Pont de Suert Institute and the University of Girona carry out environmental projects and environmental volunteering

Activities related to reforestation include:
- impact studies.
- inventory of flora and fauna.
- transportation and planting of seedlings.
- monitoring of plants.
- studying the impact on wildlife from the process of ecological restoration work.
- Monitoring of flora and fauna.
- Help creating an inventory of flora and fauna.
- Photos of flora and fauna for a database of the area.

Animal rescue center
We have implemented a rescue center for wild animals. Eco-volunteers help with activities concerning the management of the center including feeding, behavioral observations, maintenance, care and animal health, as well as activities relating to the possible reintroduction of these animals.

Social service in the community of Chontachaca
- Environmental education workshops for children and adults
- Workshops and educational activities (teaching English, theater, etc.) at the school in Chontachaca.

* Other
- The study, monitoring and conservation of medicinal plants, organic gardens, orchid gardens and courses and workshops on certain dates.

CURRENT SITUATION
We currently have 200 hectares of forest being replanted to promote ecological restoration of flora and fauna. Since 2006 we have planted 3000 trees of native species. We expect to implement an environmental project based on agro forestry systems which involve the local people and thus expand our work to benefit the entire population. There have been studies of flora and fauna of the area to seek a greater understanding of the impact of our work. The animal rescue center is open to receive different animals found in captivity and we are in contact with veterinary centers in Cusco, the INRENA (National Institute of Natural Resources), to monitor the experience. More than 500 volunteers from around the world have participated and helped make this work possible. Also students from the Pont de Suert Institute and the University of Girona carry out environmental projects and environmental volunteering. Students from UNSACCC in the faculty of biology have participated in studies conducted in our reserve. Our projection for the future is to involve the community, district authorities and the villagers themselves in a process of ecological restoration that benefits us all.

The Red River is the biggest river in Vietnam. The delta is located in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The city continues to expand with many people coming from the countryside into the urban area. This however, is an expensive endeavor with the government imposing a tax on people coming from the rural area to prevent a massive influx of people. Some people decide, however, to come despite this financial situation and thus must live in house boats on the river to escape from having to pay. Since they do not technically live in Hanoi they must pay for school which is usually free until the age of 12. The entire family must work hours that most people would consider inhumane. The children wander the streets begging and collecting rubbish. An entire family barely makes 2$ a day."

The people who live in boats on Hanoi's Red River come from many poor rural areas of Viet Nam. All of them are very poor and have been unable to find a job in their hometown. They come to the city hoping to get a job and earn more money to improve the lives of their children and family, however in the city everything is expensive and it is not easy to find work. The people do everything they can to support their families, getting money each day by collecting rubbish on the street and dumping ground, being carriers in Long Bien market, etc.

They do not have enough money to rent a flat or house on the land in city so they have to built boats out of rubbish and live in these on the Red River. Their boats are short-lived and unreliable, but when there is not enough money for food how can there be enough money to repair your boat? For this reason, SJ Vietnam have organized a special work camp to help these people repair their "houses".

The Youth House School is one of the biggest and oldest project of SJ Vietnam. It 's a small education center for disadvantaged street children managed with the financial support of the French Student organization "Un ETAI pour le Vietnam". The volunteers who work here teach around 10 children every day. They also have to cook lunch for the children and clean the Youth House together. Remember, the children are not used to rules and structure in their households, so volunteers must try to implement this by setting an example. The Youth House is also a place where young local people and international volunteers come to explore each other's cultures, by teaching the children together or organizing leisure activities, such as taking the children to the swimming pool.

We combine these activities with projects to help disadvantaged people at Fisher Village who are very poor and live in slum-boats on the Red river. We do this by giving the children and their families food, medicine, water filters (for clean drinking water), toothpaste, second-hand warm clothes and free showers in winter, etc. Information about Youth House project.

Current information on the Youth House Project
- Total number: 22 children.
- 16 children are sent to public schools with supported tuition fee by SJ Vietnam.
- 6 children are being taught at the Youth House.
- Of the 22 children supported by the youth house project, only 5 children’s birth dates are known. The exact birth dates of the remaining 17 children are unknown.
- All children live in the Fisher Village on the floating houses with their parents. Some are in single parent families. 1 child is orphaned and is hosted by a man also living in the Fisher Village.
- The parents of the children generate a livelihood by picking up rubbish, selling beverage on Long Bien bridge, selling newspaper, cleaning and serving in the restaurant or driving taxi’s or motorbike taxi. Most have no sustainable job.
- Each month, SJ Vietnam spends around 1500 USD to maintain the Youth House project out of their own budget with no sponsor. As NGO managed by volunteers, this is large amount of money and takes a lot of time and effort to generate.

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