Hosting NGO
VPV (Volunteers for Peace)
Contact person
Don Tuan Phuong, Founding President phuongdon@vpv.vn Tel: 84-987666878
Project Place
Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, Vietnam
Remark for Period
Minimum of 3 months (07/01-09/30 or 10/01-12/31)
Background
Local/ social situation/ needs for the project
There are a huge number of children with disabilities in Vietnam due to the consequences of the war in the past and various factors in today’s life. Therefore, there are quite a few centers and shelters in Vietnam generally and in Hanoi particularly, to help take care of those unlucky children. Hope Center is one of those centers.
Name and description of the local host
The Hope Center is a non-profit, non-government day care organization based in Hanoi for the care of mentally impaired children. This center was founded in 1997 by Vietnamese enthusiastic teachers, and then in 2002, it was expanded with the support from an American NGO. The center’s mission is to provide opportunities for children with mental impairment to receive an education, and to feel included with their local community. In particular, the center provides assistance for those children suffering from developmental disabilities including Down’s Syndrome, Autism and Cerebral Palsy. As well as early grade academic learning, the education programs include physical education and therapy, yoga, painting and poetry.
Aims and expected impact of the project
Jointly bring care, love and happiness to the children through volunteers’ activities.
Main voluntary work
What volunteers can do here depends very much on their willingness as well as their
qualifications, skills and experiences. Possible tasks include:
- Caring for disabled children
- Improving speaking skill for children who are not able to speak yet
- Assisting teachers (joining the class for Math, English, Drawing, Singing and Handwork)
- Feeding the children during lunch time
- Playing games with children
- Calling for charity or Subscription (depends on volunteers)
- Charity campaign for books, old clothes, old shoes for the children here (depends on vols.)
- Especially, vols. are encouraged to organize their own activities such as playing music, teaching dancing, etc., because music and dancing are very good for the kids.
Accommodation
Type of building: Volunteer house (youth center)
- Sleeping: Sharing with other vols.
- Meals: Cooked by locals
- How and how long to go to work: about 30 minutes by local buses.
- Smoking: Only outside building
- Internet access: wifi and internet connection is available at the accommodation.
Location
Hope Center is located in Ba Dinh district, Hanoi, which is a tradition and modern city with many beauty spots and cultural relics. It is also the reason why tourism is very developed in Hanoi. There are 4 seasons in a year. Jul.-Sep. is summer time, it is hot and humid.
Terminal
- Nearest international airport: Noi Bai international airport
- Transportation from the capital or other major city: A pick up will be arranged for the volunteers from Noi Bai international airport to the volunteer house.
Other activities
- Cultural exchange with other international and national volunteers.
- Debrief: regular meetings to share volunteers’ experiences and learn from each other.
- Personal travels
Qualification for volunteers
- Required: Volunteers should be very patient and in the mean time, creative and active in that working environment, open-minded and sociable, willing to learn about different culture and adapt to different working style.
- Preferable: Volunteers with background or experience in medical work or special education.
Attraction for volunteers
- Learn more about the life of disabled children and their ability.
- Be more patient and tolerant.
- Good experience for those who want to become a social worker.
Financial condition
- Fee to be paid for the full period: 2,028 Euro (2,735 US$ as of 2014 Feb. 02. For 6 months =26 weeks. For 3 months = 13 weeks, it will be 1,066 Euro = 1,438 US$. Calculated by 400 Euro for the first 4 weeks and 74 Euro for each week after)
- Pocket money to be paid for the full period: None
- Other points: Special fee for AVS for those from less expensive countries is 1,500 Euro for 6 months and 750 Euro for 3 months.
Meetings
- On arrival training: At VPV office for 2 full days
- Special care during Project: Daily checks, weekly reflection meeting, monthly staff visit at work, regular support from local volunteers.
- Evaluation meeting: At VPV office for half a day.
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