- Written by: Nguyen Xuan Dzung - Project Officer

Associate Professor Nguyen Van Thanh is a lecturer in the Veterinary Department of the Hanoi Agriculture University. He has been cooperating with YWAM as a technical consultant in the field of livestock raising since 2000. Being born in a poor rural commune of Hai Duong province, he really enjoys this experience and hopes to contribute his talent for the  development of rural poor areas in Vietnam. Hence, even though he has a very dense working schedule as Dean and senior lecturer in the University, Mr. Thanh still wants to partner with YWAM to promote community development. He expressed his eagerness to help the poor in a introduction to a training course for the poor recently: “I am very admiring of YWAM’s work for  poor communities, especially the foreign director of YWAM, who devotes her time and her effort to help bring a brighter future for  the poor in Vietnam, even though it has meant leaving her own country and family. It made me aware of my responsibility with my fellow-citizens. I hope all of you will take this opportunity to use  YWAM’s support wisely for your own benefit and for the development of your community”.

In this integrated rural development project, YWAM’s first project in Kham Lang commune, Luc Nam district, Bac Giang province, Mr. Thanh will help poor farmers apply updated knowledge and skills in livestock production, with  a focus on raising pigs, chickens and cows. In this commune, poor people have a low education level and do not have opportunity to access updated technology on agriculture production. They previously thought it was due to bad luck that they often suffered losses in their crops and livestock. In addition is their limited capacity for learning new things, thus Mr. Thanh has worked hard to apply appropriate teaching approaches to transfer his knowledge and skills to the people. He uses a combination of pictures, and visual aids including live chickens, pigs, and visits to animal pens... to teach the people. Every participant must practice in front of the class the skills of selecting a good breed, giving a vaccination, and identifying common diseases of pigs, chickens or cows.