Description

When it comes to volunteering in Vietnam, it doesn't get much better than this. Our Buddhist Temple Orphanage Project places volunteers in a beautiful pagoda where they are truly immersed in daily Vietnam life, interact with Buddhist monks and help the children who need it most.

Our Hanoi orphanage volunteers take on a number of roles, not least interacting and playing with the children. Education plays an important role in this project and all volunteers are involved in developing a teaching program that helps improve the kids' English skills in fun and innovative ways. Volunteers in this project even get to feed and pamper the babies. What more can we say!

Volunteering in Vietnam - A Day in the Life

The typical day involves helping out at the orphanage for five or six hours. Mornings, from around 8-11am, are spent helping out in the kindergarten room. The main tasks here are to educate and entertain. Volunteers teach kids about hygiene and help the kids' early English and alphabet skills with games and songs. Afternoons are more varied. Some time is usually spent helping the monks feed the younger ones but new tasks arise every day so it's good to keep an open mind. Volunteers have two days off a week where they are free to explore the wonders of Hanoi and its surroundings.

Volunteer Tasks and Skills

Energy and enthusiasm go a long way towards making an impact in this project. Duties are many and varied, ranging from teaching and playing with the children to helping the nannies feed the babies. That said, our temple orphanage project isn't just about caring for and educating the kids. This is one of our newer initiatives and offers volunteers an exciting opportunity to develop and improve the project. Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own personality and ideas into the mix at every opportunity.

Volunteering in Vietnam - Making a Difference

It is impossible to overstate the impact our volunteers make on the lives of the orphans at the pagoda. By offering their time, energy and attention the volunteers bring a whole new element to daily life at the orphanage. Even though this project is still young, the impact it has made on the children is easy to see. Learning English and interacting regularly with Westerners vastly increases the children's chances of entering decent employment or education when they go out on their own.

Highlights

If ever a country deserved a helping hand it is Vietnam. Blighted by a turbulent and tragic past, this Southeast Asian gem is fast on the road to recovery and our Vietnam volunteers are doing their best. Every year hundreds of volunteers join our projects in schools, hospitals, monasteries and orphanages across Hanoi, Vietnam, making a real and lasting difference to the lives of the country's most disadvantaged people.

Vietnam's breathtaking scenery, rich culture, incredible food and welcoming people are no secret. Millions of tourists flock here each year. However, volunteering in Vietnam provides a completely different take on how life here really works. Volunteers eat, sleep and work amongst Vietnamese nationals, in local projects designed help the most under-privileged in society. And while some of our projects can be challenging, the positive impact our volunteers make is something that stays with them for the rest of their lives. Many return year after year.

Our Vietnam volunteer projects offer a variety of options to the conscientious traveller who wants to take their Vietnam experience to the next level. All the projects have been in operation for years, and have enjoyed the benefit of hundreds of Vietnamese and foreign volunteers from around the world.

All of our Vietnam volunteer projects are focused on working for and with children. Projects range from working with sick kids in hospitals, looking after children in Buddhist temples, to providing much needed non-formal education to Hanoi's disadvantaged youth. Volunteers will be provided with full orientation and assistance throughout the project.

Vietnam is fast emerging from a turbulent past and there is a very real sense that now is the time there is now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a better future its people. Participating in one of our Vietnam volunteer projects is the perfect way to play your part.

Qualifications

Participants in our Buddhist Temple Orphanage Project must be 18 or over. Volunteers don't need any specific education or employment to take part in this initiative, all we ask is that they come with bags of enthusiasm and an open mind.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

starts at a minimum of USD 350 for one week

Cost Includes:

• Excursions
• Food
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Registration fees
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Participation in the Temple Orphanage Project starts at a minimum of USD 350 for one week. Additional weeks in the project are USD 120 per week.

Volunteer Project Fee Includes
Airport pick up, shared accommodation during orientation and entire project time, all meals, 1 day orientation, onsite coordinator, cultural exchange activities with many international and Vietnamese volunteers, 24 hour emergency assistance and written record of service completion.

Volunteer Fee Does Not Include
Plane tickets, travel insurance, cost of criminal police background check required for this project, cost of transportation to and from the hospital and accommodation (roughly USD 5 per day), ride to the airport after service, e-mail and telephone calls

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

An individual who loves to travel, wants to learn more about Vietnam and assist Asia in it's development.

Age Range

18 and up

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Independent living

Participants Travel

in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 days

Post Services Include

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Friends For Asia's Mission Statement

The mission of Friends For Asia is twofold. We offer an opportunity for people to contribute, in a meaningful way, to the improvement of standards of living by building capacity in our host agencies and we provide committed volunteers to work on projects developed with host agencies that benefit the people of Thailand.

Year Founded

2008