Project Summary

Volunteers to this center will be working with orphans with disabilities ranging in age from 14 months to teenagers. The children benefiting from the services of this center have no other options for having a well-rounded life and overcoming their challenges. The team of volunteers help them in their daily job of making simple hand-made products. The volunteers also organize leisurely social activities for them during their free time. The volunteers are expected to create a friendly environment for the orphans to come to and learn about new cultures. This project seeks volunteers who work well with children and those to special needs to provide patient and dedicated support.

The work of the project is important, but the placement is also an intercultural educational experience for volunteers involved and the local population. The collective living and working experience brings about an awareness of people of various backgrounds, contact with the local population, and a feeling of human solidarity.

At a Glance

Minimum Program Length:	2 weeks
Start Date:	Every Monday
Arrival Date:	1 day before the project start date
Dates:	July 2-14, July 29-August 12, August 12-25, August 26-September 5, September 17-29, October 1-13, October 29-November 10, November 12-24, December 6-20
Minimum Age:	18 years old
Volunteer Gender:	Male and Female
Accommodation:	Your accommodation is included in the program price. All volunteers will stay at a Youth House or a local partners' accommodation. This will include very simple and basic living conditions similar to that of most Vietnamese.
Food:	Three meals a day are included in the program price.
Pick-up Info:	A Volunteer Visions representative will be waiting for you at your arrival point and guide you to your accommodation and project location.
Project Schedule:	The working day can range from 4-8 hours per day.

Your role as a Volunteer

Your role as a volunteer is significant in the lives of the orphans. It is the aim of the center to make the children's lives more enjoyable. Volunteers are needed in order to help in creating handmade goods for the orphans to sell and to provide care and support for the children and the center staff. Volunteers are expected to bring the values of tolerance and respect for all human and be highly motivated and enthusiastic about their work.

Project Location

Located in the north of Vietnam, Hanoi has been the capitol of Vietnam for almost a thousand years and is therefore the political epicenter. With an estimated population of 3,145,300, Hanoi is also a major metropolitan area of Northern Vietnam and the largest educational center in Vietnam. In this metropolitan area one will experience typical Northern Vietnam weather. The summers (May-September) are hot and humid and winters (November-March) are relatively cool and dry. The summer months bring Hanoi's rainy season, averaging 1,682mm of rainfall per year. Vietnam is affected by the monsoons, which explains why the country remains slightly cooler than other countries in the area. However, temperatures can still soar to 38-40ºC (100-104ºF) in the summer months. During the winter months Hanoi can dip as low as 6-7ºC (48ºF). Hanoi is currently at the highest Human Development Index (standard of measuring well-being) for the country of Vietnam. Hanoi is experiencing great economic growth and infrastructure upgrades.

Suggested Skills and Interests

Most importantly the volunteers need to be open-minded, have tolerance, respect for others, initiative, creative, patient and enjoy working with children. Self-motivation is very important as well as being enthusiastic in their volunteer work. Volunteers should respect the culture, dress codes, and traditions very closely. They need to be flexible with local foods, accommodations and systems of living, as this is a cultural learning experience for the volunteers as well.

Suggested Donations

Donations of games, paints, art supplies, books, pens, notebooks, basic medical supplies, clothes, blankets, hygienic items, etc. are all welcomed.