Our new intern Rebecca

 Our office is glad to welcome the new intern from Germany to Soc Trang, Miss Rebecca!!!

Meeting of the interdisciplinary planning team for ICAM

Meeting of the interdisciplinary planning team for ICAM at our office, on March 28, 2012.

Bianca, Nhung and the interdisciplinary planning team

Clam spat areas survey

Wednesday, March 28, AD and me went to Vinh Hai commune again. This time we followed the vice chairman of the Vinh Hai clam cooperative for surveying clam spat areas.

On the way to the mudflat

A drink shop on the grey sand. The two men were making a kind of floating boat for going to the sea.

A floating boat

Peaceful sleep ;)

AD was on the motorbike with the vice-chairman of the clam cooperative.

Discussion at the site which supposed to have clam eggs emergence.

The clam site

Floating mud sledge

Discussion with the head of the guard group

Discussion with the head of the guard group

On the way back - it was too muddy to ride, thus we had to walk for a while.

We passed by Au Tho B village again, this time AD visited the bamboo walkway.

Mr. Thach Soal and AD at the end of the bamboo walkway.

Fieldtrip to Vinh Hai commune

Today, March 27, with Mrs. Mai Thi and her colleague, Mr. Giang, we had an interesting fieldtrip to Vinh Hai commune to collect some photos and information to prepare for our educational materials on water-waste and sanitation.

Reuse of old big water bottle for plant pots

Mai Thi and the waste bin made from old rubber tyres

Pile of straws

Peaceful sleep ;)

Local water container

White radishes

Chili plants

The child inside the small "altar"!

People working with onions

Polluted pond

Polluted pond

Waste bin made from old rubber tyres

The thatched tent was the old latrine. The new and proper one was built inside the house (we supported installation of proper sanitation latrines here).

Materials for building the sanitation latrine

Rainwater container

Cans of clean water, which people have to bring form far away. Clean water is a very precious resource here.

Talking with Mr. Thach Soal on organic fertilizers

The beginning of the bamboo walkway

At the end of the bamboo walkway.

The bamboo walkway

Mr. Thach Soal and Mai Thi collecting "rau đắng đất", a wild weed. Mai Thi said it is very good for health, especially for the liver when dried and then soaked for a month in alcohol. People drink that alcohol as medicine.

Co-management 3rd meeting in Võ Thành Văn village

This was the meeting right after the study tour in Au Tho B, and it was the first time when all participants from previous 4 locations joined together at the same place in the Community House of Vo Thanh Van village. Aim of this 3^rd meeting was reviewing on co-management concepts which had been explained before and moreover, getting people’s opinion on joining into the co-management group. 

The Community House of Võ Thành Văn village in An Thạnh Nam commune

Reviewing on the study tour to Au Tho B village, impressions, opinions, questions and answers

AD explaining the difference between sub-group division and the concept of zonation in co-management

AD explaining the difference between sub-group division and the concept of zonation in co-management

***

Consensus for Co-management

Finally, after making clear of all the issues, people were asked if they want to join the co-management group for Vo Thanh Van village. It was quite an excited and happy atmosphere there when all of the participants put their hands up to show their consensus. This was a very important moment, marking the conclusion of the first step so that we could move on to the next step with officially registered list of participants. 

 
 Agreement of local people on joining the co-management group...HAND UP!!!

 ... 100% of people in the meeting happily agreed to join the co-management group in Vo Thanh Van village, An Thanh Nam commune, Cu Lao Dung district

 Agreement also achieved from the local authorities, the technical team from DARD...

...as well as from other stakeholders.

Meeting for the Vinh Hai clam cooperative 2012 action plan

On Tuesday, March 21st, 2012, at the People's Committee of Vinh Chau town, a meeting was organized to discuss on the Vinh Hai clam cooperative's action plan for the new coming clam season in 2012. The meeting was attended by representatives from many different stakeholders such as the clam cooperative, the local authorities at district and commune levels, sub-division DARD in Vinh Chau district, Sub-DECAFIREF, rangers, military and the project coordinators and officers.

Mr. Hai Tình, chairman of the Vinh Hai clam cooperative

Mr. Lai Gùi Ngợi, vice chairman of the Vinh Hai clam cooperative






Mr. Nguyễn Chí Công, vice president of the Vinh Chau town's People Committee,
head of the district project team

The vice head of Vinh Hai commune




Comments from Mr. Trường, head of the Economic division of Vinh Chau district

Comments from Mr. Dũng, Sub-DECAFIREF and from the project coordinator (Mrs. Thảo) and the project officer (Mr. Anh Dũng)

Mr. Hưng, head of the Soc Trang Cooperative Alliance