The PATA Foundation and Capilano University have partnered for a second time in an effort to deliver tourism training to two villages - Ta Phin and Lao Chai- in the Sapa region of Northern Vietnam. A new two-year project starting August 2012 builds off a two-year project, starting in 2010 that saw Capilano University volunteer faculty, students, and alumni working with Hanoi Open University faculty and students on programs that built and strengthened the capacity of the local ethnic minorities, small business owners, village government, and communities as a whole.
The new project plans to enhance training in the Hmong community of Lao Chai. As well, in with the Red Dao communities in Ta Phin, a program that will foster networks between private sector and the village has been developed. The goal in Ta Phin is to also make Capilano University support redundant.
Both projects focus on working with village youth, women and community leaders to find proactive solutions to mitigating the harmful impacts tourism sometimes brings.
Update: NEW VIDEO produced by Kyle Sandilands just released. Hope you enjoy it!
This site also provides travelers and tourists to Sapa with relevant travel information on possible options for trekking tours as well as a Sapa travel forum monitored weekly by student volunteers. Also, for all travelers we have created a Tourist Code of Ethics.
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