As part of their Study Abroad experience a group of St. John’s University students visited Viet Nam. In their E-journals they share their experiences in a new culture including visits to a Nike factory and a firehouses in Hanoi and Saigon which one felt were much more advanced than many in the US.From their June 4 journal…
“The past two days have been days of breaking previous misconceptions.
First and foremost. we took a tour of a Nike factory in the Saigon area, then we met with the Global Alliance, an independent group charged with research, program formation and worker development, both directly and indirectly, of Nike contracted factories.”
Being a Nike sponsored school, St. John’s has taken great pains in working with Nike and other government and non-government organizations to promote fair and just factory conditions and worker development programs that are consistent with both Catholic and Vincentian teachings. I can state this, because I know a great deal of research has been done, in particular by Fr. Maher to ensure that it is such. Organizations, such as the Fair Labor Association (www.fairlabor.org), the Workers Rights Consortium (www.workersrights.org) and the Global Alliance for Workers and Communities (www.theglobalalliance .org) work toward maintaining quality work conditions and developing social programs for factory workers in countries such as Vietnam.
It does not however end there, as there have been multiple trips by University students and administrators to visit these factories to ensure that they are consistent with the positive teachings and mission of St. John’s, as well as the church. Being a student-athlete who has seen the working conditions first hand, I can report that I was pleasantly surprised….”
….For me this was a definite highlight to my trip here in Vietnam, and one that I will never forget. It truly changed my impression of what I believed a Nike factory to be. However, not every factory here in Vietnam has the same regulations as Nike, and much more work still needs to be done. Nike is a leader in the industry, and has the corporate responsibility to lead as such.
Today I had another opportunity to visit a fire department; this time in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). I was impressed with the one in Hanoi, but this particular one blew me away.
For such a developing country, they truly have an amazing fire system. In their arsenal of fire fighting apparatus I discovered the second tallest tower ladder in the world of some 250 feet. With the average American tower ladder reaching 100 feet, this was truly an amazing piece of equipment, one I never expected to find in Vietnam.
Not only was I impressed with their apparatus, but also by their training methods. I witnessed them time and time again ditch and don their gear, as they were being timed. This isn’t a simple putting on or a coat and boots, but instead includes a very complicated repelling harness, air supply, light supply, and tool kit. It was fascinating to watch the amount of skill and precision it took to put on this equipment. Which I can say from personal experience is no easy task.
One of the moments that truly touched me on my trip to Vietnam was when I was leaving the firehouse. My interpreter (another SJU student) asked the commanding firefighter why he agreed to see me and show me around. The thing is in Vietnam it is incredibly difficult to gain access to any government run institution. Usually letters of reference are required, and much planning needed.
But once we explained that I was a student and volunteer firefighter in New York they simply waved me in. The commander explained to Hanh (the Vietnamese student) that the bond between firefighters (as he called it a brotherhood) is far stronger then politics. It was such a great over all feeling….
Tags: Vietnam
