Project summary

Volunteers are needed to help at street children and orphan schools in Hanoi, working together with a team of Vietnamese volunteers. 

The orphan school currently looks after around 170 orphaned children; and the street children school is a centre for around 60 poor children who are forced at a young age to earn a living by begging and working on the streets.

As these are school based projects, the main role is teaching and you will interact with the children during school hours. 

A typical day

Each day will differ but volunteer tasks include: teaching English; organising educational games and activities; teaching and playing sports; helping with maintenance and enhancement of the schools e.g. painting, cleaning. As important as the lessons you will get involved in, is the interaction with the children and showing them love and care.

At the orphan school there is also a need for volunteers to help teach IT as this is a skill that can really help the children's opportunities.

You will be working with a group of Vietnamese volunteers on this project which means that it is possible to teach the children in both Vietnamese and English subjects, a real advantage. It also adds a fascinating dimension to your volunteering.

The Vietnamese volunteers are mostly university students wanting to contribute to something worthwhile, while developing their skills and experience. You will have great fun getting to know them and it's a brilliant way to learn about Vietnamese culture.

The location

You will be based in the city of Hanoi in Northern Vietnam, a fascinating traditional, safe and attractive city.  There is lots to do in Hanoi including seeing the lakes, museums, pagodas, temples and of course the great shopping!  There are many street cafes, bars and restaurants to enjoy, especially in the Old Quarter. Hanoi is also well positioned for seeing other parts of Vietnam including Halong Bay and Sapa.

How you can make a difference

By volunteering at either of the schools you will help children who have an incredibly tough life. It is hoped that through an education, these students can lead better lives and be integrated into the community.

Part of the fee you pay goes to the Vietnamese organisation you will work with and they in turn provide funding and resources to help the schools.

What's included

• A comprehensive information booklet and pre-departure support
• Travel advice and assistance
• Being met on arrival at Hanoi airport
• Accommodation (a basic shared room)
• All main meals
• Ongoing support, help and advice from our local team
• A donation to the Vietnamese organisation you will be working with

What else to budget for

The following items are not included and estimates are given as a guide for your budgeting: flights (£600), visa (£40), travel insurance, personal spending / living costs (£40 per week).

Other projects you might also be interested in....

* Orphanage in Cambodia

* Orphanage in Thailand

* Child care & teaching in Nepal

* Child care & teaching in Peru

* Teaching in Thailand

* Summer English Camps in Thailand

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More details

Background information about the project

Street children school

The school is a centre for poor children who are forced at a young age to earn a living by collecting rubbish, begging, polishing shoes and working in handicraft factories.

At the school, the children can study, play games, meet other children and be loved and respected. The main objective is to give them the opportunity for a better life and equip them with skills to be integrated into the community.

The school currently has approximately 60 students but only 2 teachers. As a result, the students are not receiving a full curriculum and the staff are over worked. Volunteers are desperately needed to help the teachers and the running of the school.

Orphan school

In 1969, the orphan school was founded to house orphaned military children. In 1993 its mission changed to take care of orphaned and disadvantaged children from the general population.

The school currently looks after around 170 orphaned children; from parents with HIV, parents who are in prison and children orphaned by conflict. 

Currently, the orphanage is facing serious problems. They only receive very limited funding for each child’s housing, welfare and education, not even covering each child’s nutritional needs. The school’s facilities have also suffered from the lack of funding. As a result the children have little chance to participate and integrate in social activities or improve their knowledge due to lack of reference books and resources.

About the Vietnamese organisation you will be working with

You will be working through our partner organisation in Vietnam, a non-government, non-profit organisation based in Hanoi. Its mission is to develop communities and promote conservation, through meaningful voluntary projects that have a real and sustainable impact.

The organisation supports a number of projects in Hanoi and Northern Vietnam, providing Vietnamese and International volunteers and, where possible, funding and resources. The organisation works in close partnership with UNESCO Vietnam.

There is a strong belief in the benefit of an exchange between Vietnamese Volunteers and International Volunteers, to explore cultures, broaden experiences and develop skills.

Volunteer accommodation and food

You will be accommodated in basic but clean and comfortable shared rooms in a private volunteer house in a suburb of the city of Hanoi.  All meals are provided.

Freetime and travel opportunities

When you are not working, you can explore the city by foot or bicycle, including the lakes, museums, pagodas, temples and of course the great shopping!  There are also many street cafes, bars and restaurants to enjoy, especially in the Old Quarter where most tourists stay.  

You will be well looked after and you will find the Vietnamese volunteers are very keen to get to know you and show you around.  It's a great way to experience Hanoi and Vietnamese life.

Hanoi is also well positioned for 1-2 day trips, such as visiting Vietnam's World Heritage site at Halong Bay - more than 3000 islands positioned in stunning emerald waters.

Challenges

As this is a short project it's important to be open minded and flexible. Like in many developing countries, plans can change regularly and it can seem disorganised at times! The day to day nature of the schools can also be a bit chaotic, so we encourage volunteers to just get stuck in and enjoy it!

It is not the type of environment where you will be given direction all the time so this placement suits volunteers who have lots of initiative, drive and creativity.

It's important to be realistic how much benefit you can bring in a short period, but recognise that you are part of a bigger picture of ongoing volunteer support and development.

Due to their background some of the children may have behavioural issues so it's important to be patient.

Finally, you may well find it emotional as you form friendships with the children and learn about their lives.  It is likely this will leave a lasting impression on you.

Where does your money go

PoD is run as a non-profit organisation and does not receive any external funding. We charge a fee for all our placements to cover the overseas costs of volunteering and the costs of running our organisation in the UK. 

For this project approximately 50% of the fee you pay is passed directly to the project and is an important source of funding for the work.

Volunteer reviews

Click here to read volunteer reviews for our Vietnam street children and orphan schools volunteer project.