CôViN

An Internship in Collaboration to Alleviate Poverty

July 2007

Da Nang, Vietnam

Application
Program Description
Highlights
Itinerary
Applicant Qualifications
Deadlines and Program Costs
Additional Information
Updates

Instructions and Deadlines

Please complete the application below and email it back to us on or before April 30, 2007. We will then contact you within a week to let you know whether you have been accepted or not. Accepted applicants will then mail us these additional pre-departure materials by May 15, 2007:

* Official current transcript to confirm GPA

* Photocopy of passport (make sure it is signed and valid for at least six months upon arrival in Vietnam)

* A completed visa application (can be found on http://www.travisa.com/Vietnam/vietnanvisaform-sf.htm, or ask us for a copy; also make sure that your photo is an original 2” x 2” color photo)

* A non-refundable deposit of $400 ($100 application fee plus $300 deposit; these are included in the overall $950 fee. Please mail a check or money order made out to COVN to the address below)

* Proof of travel health insurance

* Signed Waiver (form to be provided by CôVN)

Our mailing address is:
CôVN
1490 California Street
Mountain View, CA 94041

Email: info@covn.org

Please note that we have a rolling admissions policy and positions may fill up fast, so it is important to apply early!

Once you are committed to the program, you will want to book your flight ASAP. We recommend departing on June 29-June 30. We will pick you up from the Da Nang Airport (DAD), so please email us your flight itinerary. Also be sure to mail us remainder of the program fee ($550), postmarked by June 1, 2007.

We also recommend checking with your doctor for any necessary vaccinations and medications.

PLEASE COPY AND FILL OUT THE APPLICATION BELOW IN A WORD DOCUMENT THEN E-MAIL IT BACK TO US AT INFO@COVN.ORG BY APRIL 30^th, 2007.

Basic Information:

Name (first, middle, last):

Gender:

DOB (mm/dd/yyyy):

Current address:

Email:

Phone (home/work/mobile):

Emergency contacts:

Name and Relationship to you:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

Name and Relationship to you:

Address:

Phone:

Email:

University/College:

Major(s):

Current standing (JR, SR, Grad):

Cumulative GPA:

Clubs, extracurricular activities:

Awards, recognitions, honors:

Survey and Essay Questions:

1. How did you hear about us, and why are you interested in participating in this program? (5 – 7 sentences)

2. Have you ever visited any non-English-speaking or developing countries? If so, please describe your experience. If not, how do you think you will be able to adapt in Vietnam? (5 – 7 sentences)

3. Please describe your career goals. (3 – 5 sentences)

4. What do you expect to learn and achieve through this program? (5 -7 sentences)

5. What skills and talents would you contribute to the team? (5 – 7 sentences)

Program Description

CôViN is an internship program for third and fourth year college students. The students will, under the guidance of a U.S. college professor, spend four weeks in Vietnam and collaborate with English-speaking Vietnamese students to conceive, develop and implement practical solutions to alleviate poverty among Vietnamese women. This internship is sponsored by CôVN and Da Nang University, and is qualified for academic credits.

During the internship, each intern will spend significant time with his/her group to explore opportunities, research and analyze current business practices and put together business plans. The interns will conduct extensive research at the local level (including business, technical and legal), and follow through with the development of their own inspired innovations alongside Vietnamese students and women entrepreneurs.

The students’ work will be documented in reports which will be evaluated by the supervising professor. The advisory professor will meet with each group weekly in person or via teleconferences.

Highlights

Here is a chance for you to make a difference and apply your academic knowledge in a real world environment.

You will learn about Vietnam’s industries and business practices, microfinance operations, Vietnamese culture, and maybe even a little bit of Vietnamese.

You will collaborate with local entrepreneurs and students. The Vietnamese students will also help you learn about Vietnamese culture and help you communicate with the locals.

You will create business plans, marketing strategies, websites, etc., to increase the income of disadvantaged women and improve their quality of life.

Case studies include examining small scale operations in: agriculture (banana, cassava, rice, coffee, sugar cane); animal husbandry (cows, buffalos, pigs, chickens, ducks); tourism (guest houses, tour operations); handicraft-making (incense, jewelry, textiles); art (paintings, marble sculptures); retail (general stores, shops); food (street vending, restaurants).

Big real-world questions you may consider and address…

What if the women form a co-op? Can I convince a big company to buy exclusively from these co-ops? How can I help with the marketing and advertising of their products? Can their products be marketed world-wide as fair-trade? Can I build them a website to sell their products? How can they brand and package their products so that they stand out?

Itinerary

Prior to departure: Research re. companies that buy and market products from developing countries such as fair-trade products, handicrafts, organic products (Alter Eco, World of Good). Contact such companies to see what products they would buy from Vietnam to create a market for products made by poor women in Vietnam.

One day: Attend a one-day academy on poverty in Vietnam and doing business in Vietnam.

One day: Tour current microfinance operations in the city of Hue, north of Da Nang. Visit and interview borrowers of microloans.

Five days: Explore local industries and current business practices, identify potential opportunities. Interview and assess strengths and weaknesses of the businesses.

Seven days: Research logistics and feasibility of business ideas. Develop business plans at the family and village levels.

Two days: Validate business plans with local businesses (any factors overlooked? Can they be implemented? Why or why not?). Identify specific implementation plans.

Three days: Prepare report of results and conduct a presentation to local entrepreneurs and CôVN. Identify any specific opportunities that have not yet been explored, which can be pursued by the next batch of interns.

One day: Wrap-up, relax, and prepare to fly home.

Post-internship: After formulating the business and implementation plans, the participants may elect to further help with the actual implementation after the completion of the four-week program.

Applicant Qualifications

* Junior or Senior status at a 4-year university, or Graduate student. Mature freshman and sophomores are also encouraged to apply.
* Minimum 3.0 GPA preferred but not required
* Majoring in (preferred but not required):
Business/marketing/management
Economics/Finance
Agriculture
Engineering
Programming
Political Science
International Relations
Asian studies
* An interest in non-profit organizations, third-world countries, poverty, and/or business
* The ability to work in teams, and a respect for different cultures
* Entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, adaptability and flexibility
* Good communication skills (knowledge of the Vietnamese language is NOT required)

Deadlines and Program Costs

Initial applications are due April 30, 2007 and emailed to info@covn.org. You will be notified of your acceptance by the first week of May.

Academic credits: Please see your academic advisor about obtaining internship/independent study credits.

Fees: $950.00 will be due before the trip to cover accommodations and facilities, professors’ supervision and course materials, pre-internship academy and visas. This fee does not cover meals, insurance, airfare and corresponding departure taxes, or transportation (other than what is described below on the cost breakdown summary); these items will vary depending on each volunteer’s needs (meals: about $10/day for a feast—a bowl of noodle soup will cost about 10,000 dong, or about $0.63; transportation: about $5/day for taxis and motorbikes, for optional trips).

Cost Breakdown

Summary of Important Dates

Additional Information

The city of Da Nang, a major port city located in central Vietnam, is relatively safe and modern, with reliable electricity, running water, and medical facilities. However, be prepared for hot/humid weather, excursions to rural villages, traveler’s diarrhea, and mosquitoes. Sunscreen is required!

Da Nang, like most of Vietnam, has a tropical climate, with hot and humid weather and normal daytime temperatures of 70-95°F.

Having travelers insurance with medical coverage is highly recommended; it is easy to obtain and quite inexpensive (less than $100). The Travisa website (http://www.travisa.com/travelstore/travelinsurance.htm) contains quotes and information for affordable insurance. Accidents are rare but they do happen!

In 2006, Vietnam’s average annual income per person was the equivalent of $720. People living in villages earn even less than this. Microfinance programs such as CôVN’s, which provide microloans of about $100-200, help improve the businesses and lives of recipients. The repayment rate of CôVN’s loans have been 98%.

Some of Da Nang’s popular destinations include China Beach, the Marble Mountains, and the My Son Sanctuary.

For more information about the University of Da Nang, visit www.ud.edu.vn/en.

UPDATES

We are pleased to announce that a group of about five graduates from the Kellogg School of Management will be joining our program this summer to help us develop our program and lead our interns.
Kellogg is ranked as the number 1 business school in the U.S. and internationally, so having their graduates joining us this summer will make the program a success!
These graduates belong to Kellogg Corps, a student organization at Kellogg that sends Kellogg graduates to work on three-to-six week pro-bono consulting engagements with organizations in developing countries.