Project Outline

1)    Background and Motivation
    a)    Purpose of site:
        i)    To provide a social networking site for support and  connectivity
        ii)    Allow individuals to connect with others who have undergone similar experiences                                                          b)    Need for site:
        i)    Due to widespread displacement the Vietnamese boat people, hundreds of thousands of refugees are living unconnected from the Vietnamese community/other boat people
        ii)    There is no central network or base for these refugees that allows them to interact/connect with their original heritage
    c)    Provide more in depth information/history for the descendents of the boat people
    d)    The Vietnamese boat people are a group of Vietnamese refugees displaced between 1975 and 1996
    e)    There are approximately 1.6 million boat people worldwide
    f)    Target audience:
    i)    Vietnamese boat people in English speaking areas and their descendents

2)    Content:
    a)    Island index
        i)    Includes background information on the culture and conditions of each island
            (1)    To include:
                    (a)    Palau Bidong, Malaysia
                    (b)    Galang, Indonesia
                    (c)    Kho Kra Island
                    (d)    Hong Kong
                    (e)    Thailand
                    (f)    Philippines
               (2)    Readers will be able to add/update island information and locations

    b)    Forum
        i)    Individuals can share their stories
        ii)    Readers can comment on stories
        iii)    Readers can upload photos to accompany their story or to the general gallery of a particular island
    c)    Video accounts
        i)    Video interviews describing experiences

3)    Competition and Uniqueness
    a)    Most of the sites concerning the Vietnamese boat people today are informational or philanthropic
    b)    Sites do not typically focus on helping/ empowering the Vietnamese boat people community through mutual and social support.
    c)    This site provides an interactive community to reestablish ties that were severed by the Vietnam War.

4)    Unresolved Issues:
    a)    Language preference of readers/contributors (English vs. Vietnamese)
    b)    Willingness of target audience to share experiences
    c)    Organizing/verifying contributed material
    d)    Reconciling networking/support aspect with educational aspect

5)    Further possibilities:
    a)    Chat forum for Vietnamese boat people to help/give tips for assimilation in respective countries
    b)    Scholarship/philanthropic program
    c)    Site used to plan large scale reunions (to increase social support system and to raise awareness in outside community)

Laura Chau

2008-04-18