Description

Volunteer Abroad in Vietnam. HIV is a growing problem in Vietnam. Currently an estimated 300,000 Vietnamese are living with HIV. These people face many obstacles because of the stigma associated with being HIV positive. Many HIV positive people are abandoned by their families, refused care in hospitals and clinics, lose their jobs, as well as being generally ostracized by their communities. Thanks to recent legislation and a large influx of foreign aid, the old attitudes about HIV and AIDS are slowly starting to change.

We work with several centers providing care for patients with HIV/AIDS as well as educational outreach programs for the larger community. Many of the patients staying in the centers arrived homeless, hopeless, and barely surviving on the streets. The centers provide the patients with Anti Retroviral Therapy and Palliative care. Now that ART drugs are more readily available in Vietnam, some patients are recovering well enough to return home from the center. Several of the centers also provide care for HIV positive orphans whose parents have died from AIDS related illnesses. The children receive treatment and an education in a nurturing environment. Many neighborhood schools will not accept HIV positive students, so teachers must be brought into the centers for the children. Volunteers with this program will be able to get involved with a wide range of activities from teaching English to the patients, orphans and staff to assisting with the day to day care of the patients and helping with education programs. The most important role a volunteer will play is to empower the people in the center by demonstrating they are worthy of the kindness, respect and love that is accorded to any human and is often denied to the HIV positive in Vietnam.

Highlights

We partner with NGOs, community development organizations, and schools in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, creating volunteer opportunities that both benefit the community and provide a unique learning opportunity. Whether you work in a center for children affected by Agent Orange, teach in a primary school, or assist in a clinic for migrant workers, a special cultural opportunity is waiting for you.

Qualifications

None

Languages

• English
• Vietnamese

Cost in US$:

Varies by duration. Contact us for information.

Cost Includes:

• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

* Pre-departure information
* Pick up from the airport in Ho Chi Minh City
* Orientation and welcome pack
* Volunteer Position
* Four hours of instruction in survival Vietnamese
* 24/7 in-country support

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

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

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume
• Written Application

International Volunteers's Mission Statement

International Volunteers is the volunteer branch of ELI Abroad, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 2001, that partners with organizations from around the world making a difference in their communities. We work closely with these groups to ensure that our volunteers get meaningful experiences at reasonable prices. We have something for everyone: whether you want to teach in Ghana, work in an orphanage in Nepal, animal rescue in the rainforest of Ecuador, medical clinic in South India, or study in a university in Buenos Aires.

Year Founded

2001