Vietnam, July 2018

Partners Conference 2018

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Fast FactsTrip dates:14th – 20th July 2018

Minimum fundraising goal:$2,000

Registration deadline:10th March 2018

IntroductionThis year our Partners Conference will be held 14 July – 20 July in Hoi An, Vietnam.

We as one cohesive team will make a tangible difference to an extremely impoverished community by building disaster resilient homes. This is a life changing experience not only for those families we are working with but for ourselves as we collectively achieve something significant for others. We will be truly living our signature behaviours by working outside of our comfort zone being courageous, working collaboratively, and being authentic and entrepreneurial.

This is an opportunity to again do something great as part of Grant Thornton. We are excited and look forward to a great adventure.

Project informationHousing NeedsThe 2018 Grant Thornton Build will be helping families in need build disaster resilient homes in Duy Xuyên, a district of Quang Nam Province in the South Central Coast region of Vietnam. Quang Nam Province is located 50km from Da Nang Int’l Airport

In Quang Nam, central province of Vietnam, the percentage of poor and near poor households is 22.13% and 22.37%, respectively. The province is regularly affected by natural disasters including typhoons, floods, whirlwinds, lightning and landslides. However, most of the houses have not been built to sustain the impact of natural disasters, or are in poor condition, making them vulnerable to torrential rain or strong winds. HFHV address housing issues for low-income families in disaster prone areas by: providing permanent housing, renovated houses and houses with water and sanitation facilities after disasters through a housing micro-finance system; distributing Emergency Shelter Kits; providing technical assistance for disaster resilient house building; using participatory approaches; capacity building for community members and local authorities on Community Based- Disaster Risk Management (CB-DRM), WASH, construction skills & financial literacy.

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About Habitat for HumanityHabitat for Humanity Australia (HFHA) is a not-for-profit organisation that builds homes, communities and hope. Our vision is a world where everyone has a safe and decent place to live.

Our work extends beyond building and repairing houses – it also addresses land security, gives communities access to clean water and sanitation, provides education and training, and offers families in desperate need real hope for the future. To ensure lasting, sustainable change and to break the cycle of poverty for good, we take an approach that is holistic, community based and focuses on empowering families.

HFHA works to alleviate global poverty by developing long term, sustainable solutions that provide a ‘hand up, not a hand out’. Our partner families help with the building process, by joining the volunteers and tradespeople to build their own home. We call this ‘sweat equity’. They also repay a low interest loan and undertake financial literacy training.

Global Village (GV), our international volunteering program, offers an exciting opportunity for you to learn about another culture, travel to destinations that are off the tourist track and enhance the ongoing work of Habitat for Humanity. It also gives an insight into certain areas of international community development. The Global Village Program is a vital part of Habitat for Humanity’s work.

About the countryVietnam is a dynamic country that is developing at an astonishing pace.

In recent years Vietnam’s economic growth and reductions in poverty have impressed the international community, with the rate of poverty falling from 60 percent to around 20 percent in the last 20 years.

However, this decline in poverty has been disproportionate, with the need still great for vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities, women, children and people living with disabilities.

Vietnam is also highly vulnerable to natural disasters, with approximately 70% of the population at risk of typhoons, storms and flooding. Each year, between 1 and 1.2 million people are affected by natural disasters and require emergency assistance.

Natural disasters have a significant ongoing impact as they interrupt everyday life – children cannot go to school, parents cannot work, and often, time and money are needed to rebuild damaged or destroyed homes.

Although Vietnam is a country in great need, it is also a melting pot of cultural and historical references. There are plenty of unique places to explore. Have a croissant and a coffee in Hanoi’s Parisian-style Old Quarter. Visit Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum to understand the country’s deep respect for its liberator and Communist figurehead and explore the War Remnants Museum to learn about the American War and the impact it still has on Vietnam today.

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Building a legacyIn July 2015, 135 leaders from Grant Thornton Australia travelled to Phnom Penh, Cambodia to build homes for ten disadvantaged families.

For Grant Thornton’s new CEO, Greg Keith it was a team building experience in place of the firm’s annual partner’s conference.

“We wanted to push ourselves outside our comfort zone, to try new things, and to connect with people at a different level. And to do that we thought we would take our partners to Cambodia, to experience something completely different.”

Mr Keith says the importance of the opportunity lay in our Partners working together, to share the expreience and to bond.

And the results speak for themselves: “We all refer to things

as pre and post-Cambodia because after Cambodia our people saw us differently, our clients saw us differently. We see ourselves differently.”

“The experience itself was life changing for many people and I don’t say that lightly, for many of us (myself included), we were well outside of our comfort zones, we built relationships with people that we probably thought we would never engage with on such a personal level. And we left knowing we have changed their lives and it made us feel so much better about ourselves and better about our organisation.”

The 2018 Grant Thornton Build will continue to strengthen and engage the relationships and bonds between partners, building on the culture established in 2015.

“ I would highly recommend volunteering with Habitat. From a personal perspective it will stay with me forever. From a business perspective it brought 130 partners together to achieve a common goal and that relationship will last with me forever.”Angela Spowart, Partner Audit & Assurance

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Your itinerarySaturday 14th JulyArrive in Da Nang Our adventure begins today with your arrival in Da Nang. We will arrange your transfer from Da Nang International Airport to your hotel, where you can take some time to unpack and unwind. Take yourself on a walk to acquaint yourself with the city before heading back to your hotel for dinner at your leisure.

Sunday 15th JulyExploreToday, you’ll set off to explore central Vietnam and get a better understanding of the culture and people you’ll be working with over the next week. After some R&R, you’ll reconvene for a group dinner, where Habitat for Humanity staff will give you a thorough orientation for the week ahead, including construction safety and building tips. Make sure you have a good rest to prepare for your first day on site!

Monday 16th JulyBegin construction of the houseArriving on the build site for your first day of construction, you’ll meet the family whose home you will be helping to construct, and will have the opportunity to learn about their stories. The construction supervisor and local labourers will show you the ropes, and you can get started on the house construction. There will be rest breaks for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea, which will all be provided on site. You can stop for a drink of water and a break as often as you need. At the end of the day you will enjoy a debrief by the pool, dinner with your build team and a well earned rest.

Tuesday 17th - Wednesday 18th July Full days of building with your teammatesOn Tuesday, and Wednesday, you’ll see the new house take shape, and you’ll be amazed at how much can be achieved in just one week. From laying bricks to mixing cement and rendering walls, there are plenty of ways to contribute. Each night you will be able to explore local restaurants for dinner.

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Thursday 19th JulyHandover ceremony and farewell lunchThe final day of building is emotional for everyone involved. You’ll add the finishing touches to the house and maybe even add some decorations too. You will welcome the partner family to their new home, and reflect together on the contribution that you have all made. This is the time to celebrate all your hard work and imagine the new life that the partner family will have in the home that you have built. You’ll share a final meal as a group.

Friday 20th JulyConclusion of the buildToday you will depart for home or further adventures. Although your trip has come to a close, you will be left with amazing memories and long lasting friendships that will keep the experience alive.

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GeneralWeatherHoi An has a tropical climate, and July is dry season. Average temperature in July range from 26 to 34ºC. During the day there will be frequent breaks and rest periods to accommodate for the weather.

Vaccinations See https://www.travelvaccinationclinic.com.au/destinations-advice/vaccinations-for-vietnam for recommended vaccinations for Vietnam. While we will provide guidelines for vaccinations, please ensure you visit your GP or travel doctor and ensure proper vaccinations for the trip. GT will cover the cost of vaccinations that are not claimable through your private health insurance.

Passport As per our Travel Policy it is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is kept up to date. Your passport will need to be valid for a period of 6 months after expected departure date from Vietnam.

Tax deductionsThe conference 14 – 20 July is considered to be business related travel for tax purposes and usual tax deductions apply for costs incurred.

VISAWhat type of Visa do I need? To volunteer in Vietnam, you need a special type of volunteer visa that is known as a category NN3 visa. This is different to a tourist visa (category DL). Please do not apply for a tourist visa as you will not be allowed on the build site without an NN3 visa.

How is the Visa processed? The application process for the NN3 takes up to 10 weeks and occurs in two stages. The first stage is processed as a group application and submitted to Habitat Vietnam by Habitat Australia. Once Habitat Vietnam have received the group application (at least 10-12 weeks before build start date) they apply on your behalf with the local government to for approval to volunteer in the province. Once the team is approved they will receive ‘letters of invitation’ to build in Vietnam, this can happen 2-4 weeks before the build starts. The second stage happens after you receive the letter from Habitat Vietnam (via email) and requires you to apply for the NN3 visa at your local counsultate/embassy. You cannot apply for the NN3 without the letter of invitation.

What do I need to do? If you have registered for a build, you will need to summit a copy of your passport to the Grant Thornton coordinating staff. Your passport must have at least six months validity post build, your passport has to be valid until end January 2019. You will need to submit your valid passport copy by 29 March 2018 or you will not be able to go on the build.

FAQ’sHow we’ll help you fundraiseThe $2,000 donation per person is raised for the community we will be supporting. This contribution is for the supply of building materials, equipment and local ground support.

Reaching your $2,000 target may sound daunting, especially if you haven’t done much fundraising before. You needn’t worry though – you’ll be amazed at how generous people can be, and we’ll be there to help every step of the way. We’ll support your fundraising efforts by providing you with:

• A customisable online fundraising page to collect donations

• Fundraising posters and stickers you can put up in the office and hand out to family and friends

• Access to our fundraising toolkit, which includes our best tips and resources

• Regular updates and reminders to make sure you’re on track

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Step When Action

1 Secure your spot on the team As soon as possible 1a. Register for travel and accommodation at: https://goo.gl/forms/qCsQD6YxM31mrqIr2

1b. Register for the build and fundraising at https://habitat.org.au/volunteer/volunteer-overseas/grant-thornton/

Click on – ‘JOIN THIS TRIP’. On the next page click on ‘JOIN THE TEAM’ and follow the prompts Team Name – Grant Thornton Captain Name – Hilary Haynes

Please note there may be some duplication in responses across both registration forms.

2 Complete your paperwork and submit your passport copy

ASAP - last day to submit is 29 March 2018

Once registered, you’ll receive an email with a waiver and police check to complete. Please also include as a valid copy of your passport. These are required for your visa.

Once completed please send to: catherine.bourchier@au.gt.com

3 Start Fundraising Now! Log onto your online fundraising page and check out our toolkit for great fundraising ideas on how to maximise your contribution.

4 Head off and change lives! First day of the build Today is the day! You’ll leave for the adventure of a lifetime.

Next steps

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Who will be attending the conference?Organising for our entire Partner group to build in Vietnam requires significant preparation and organisation. To ensure program success, the safety of everyone involved and without compromising the experience we believe we should keep the conference within the range of our Partner group, Principals and Senior Support Leaders.

Can we bring our spouse or partner? 14 to 20 July 2018 are a business conference and you will be required to attend dinners and to be available for group discussions when not on the build. Your partner or spouse is welcome to travel with you before and after the conference.

What about newly promoted Partners? We have bought forward the promotion process so that newly promoted Partners and Principals effective 1 July 2018 can be invited to attend the conference.

Are retiring Partners invited? Partners retiring effective 1 July 2018 are invited to attend the conference.

Should we invite a client to raise awareness? Based on the survey feedback from Partners, we will not be inviting clients.

Should we invite some of our people such as those with a CSR interest as a reward? We have many people across the organisation committed to CSR and we will consider how to recognise their interest in the near future.

Local community and culture orientationEngagement with GT VietnamWe have made contact with Ken Atkinson, the Chairman and Nguyen Chi Trung, Managing Partner of the GT member firm in Vietnam and both are excited to welcome us. We will be extending an invite to Ken and Trung as well as the GT Vietnam Partners to join us for dinner during the conference.

In-country inductionAs part of the build program, we will be inducted into the local culture of Vietnam and provided with the opportunity to meet the local people, see some sights, learn about their history and experience the culture. In addition there will be free personal time in the afternoon to explore the area yourself.

What personal health and safety issues are involved?Airlines – Please note Qantas do not fly to Danang however we are looking at efficient and cost effective options including Vietnam and Singapore Airlines.

Accommodation – We will be staying across two hotels with good facilities to ensure that we have comfortable and clean accommodation. This will include a pool and gym (maybe not required!). Hotels will be allocated according to build teams. It is a 10 minute walk or 3 minute taxi ride between hotels. The two hotels are Palm Gardens and Victoria Hoi An.

On the ground support – There will be on the ground support from Habitat from the time we arrive until we leave.

The Build – The build is able to accommodate for all levels of fitness and there will be meaningful roles for everyone who participates. We will be building in teams, sharing and rotating activities amongst the group based on individual capacity. We will ensure that each team has a balanced combination of fitness levels to ensure physical activity is spread amongst the group. Collaboration and support for each other is one of our signature behaviours and we will play to each other’s strengths to achieve our objective. Your team will work on one of the houses we are building. The work will use local construction techniques. The team could be mixing concrete, laying bricks, hammering, rendering or painting we will play to your strengths and encourage everyone to manage their own individual capacity. No building experience is required. All you need is reasonable health, an open mind, and a willingness to get your hands dirty. You will be working alongside local construction workers who will teach you the ropes and supervise the build.

Your Health – Team members should be in reasonable health and we encourage you to consult your doctor or a specialised travel doctor about your personal health, any recommended vaccinations and/or medications you require. You may take this opportunity to take advantage of our Partner Health Check if you haven’t had one for a few years, and perhaps think about increasing your physical activity between now and when we leave.

Your safety – Even though you are travelling as part of a group you should still set up a Smart Traveller account and subcribe to updates and register your travel plans (including any additional travel you have booked around the Habitat for Humanity build). To do this log onto smartraveller.gov.au and check the travel information for Vietnam, particularly the safety, security and laws sections. Please also refer to the insurance page on GTAssist. Additionally, please add the below contact details and webpage to your mobile device prior to travel. These details are to be used for medical and personal safety claims:

Accident & Health International - https://www.acchealth.com.au or the 24/7 emergency line on +61 2 9978 6666

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How are we managing the risks for the firm?Insurance policiesAll Grant Thornton people participating in the build are covered for overseas travel under our Corporate Travel Insurance Summary.

In addition, Habitat for Humanity includes insurance cover for evacuation for medical; political; and weather emergencies.

Medical treatment and emergenciesThere will be trained First Aid people and medical kits available on site.

In the unlikely event further medical care is required, Hoi An has a limited number of internationally-run clinics and hospitals that can provide basic medical care and stabilization.

In the unlikely event medical evacuation is required this if fully covered by our travel insurance.

Business Continuity PlanWe are working closely with the Risk team to ensure risk and business continuity strategies are in place.

Engagement with our people, clients and broader communityConnection to the firm and our peopleWi-Fi access will be available at the hotel, so you can keep in contact with the office in the morning and afternoons.

In July, Vietnam will be 3 hours behind Sydney and 1 hour behind Perth.

Firm and people engagementBefore the conference we encourage you to engage and discuss your participation with your teams and what this means for you; and during the conference we encourage you to continue engaging your teams by sending them updates via email and yammer.

We will be capturing videos and photographs that we will collate post conference to share our experience.

Communication to our clients and the MarketIn the coming weeks you will receive communication key points that will be a united and shared message regarding our involvement in the build. You may want to consider using this message when engaging with your clients.

For more information visit Habitat for Humanity website

Grant Thornton Cambodia 2015

Boral USG, visit to Habitat projects in Quang Nam

Habitat Vietnam video created by a local university

ContactTravel and logistics:Sue Alcock E sue.alcock@au.gt.com

General conference information:Hilary Haynes E hilary.haynes@au.gt.com