Volunteers for Peace Vietnam (VPV)
VPV South
WORKCAMP PROGRAM 2014 – 2015
2
INTRODUCTION
Volunteers For Peace Vietnam (VPV) is a non-profit, voluntary organization founded in 2005
with the aim to promote voluntary service as a mean of cultural and educational exchange among
people, for peace and friendship, and as an approach to address social problems.
VPV hosts international volunteers from different countries and places them in suitable projects
depending on the interest of the volunteers and the needs of local communities. VPV also brings
the opportunities for Vietnamese to join voluntary projects around the world. By joining our
programs, volunteers will experience inter-cultural living and working environment and have a
chance to help those in needs.
Over the past 8 years VPV has welcomed over 4,500 international volunteers from over 30
different countries. VPV is working in various locations in Vietnam, including Hanoi Capital and
Ho Chi Minh City. VPV offers programs for individual volunteers and group volunteers, for
duration from 1 week to 1 year. Our projects cover areas of education, social welfare,
environment and community development, public health and medical support, cultural heritage
preservation and youth action.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. Insurance
VPV does not provide any kind of insurance. It is volunteers’ responsibility to buy insurance
that covers the whole period of his/her stay in Vietnam.
2. Personal Transportation/Excursion
Each volunteer is responsible for arranging their transportation to/from the meeting point of the
camp at their expenses. VPV does not cover transport, leisure activities or food outside of the
project.
3. Application Requirements
VEF and copy of passport
4. Leader
VPV always has its own coordinator who acts as workcamp leader in each camp. Besides that
we also have 3-5 local volunteers who receive a half day orientation so that they understand the
role and responsibilities for the project. All work alongside with international volunteers to
make sure the group has good atmosphere and dynamic.
3
Volunteers for Peace, Vietnam (VPV)
VPV South
LIST OF PROJECTS (April, 2014 – March, 2015)
Camp Code
Placement
Duration
Theme
Age
No
of
vol
VPVS6-14
Environment Protection
31/03 - 12/04
ENV/EDU
18+
15
VPVS7-14
Rice Painting
14/04 - 26/04
KIDS/MAN/EDU/SOCI
18+
15
VPVS8-14
Leaf Pagoda
05/05 - 17/05
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS9-14
English creative camp
for children
19/05 - 31/05
KIDS/SOCI/EDU
18+
15
VPVS10-14
Environment Protection
02/06 - 14/06
ENV/EDU
18+
15
VPVS11-14
Rice Painting
16/06 - 28/06
KIDS/MAN/EDU/SOCI
18+
15
VPVS12-14
Vinh Son
30/06 – 12/07
KIDS/MAN/EDU/SOCI
18+
15
VPVS13-14
Ly Thuong Kiet
14/07 - 26/07
KIDS/MAN
18+
15
VPVS14-14
Peaceful World
28/07 - 09/08
KIDS/EDU
18+
15
VPVS15-14
Ky Quang Orphanage
11/08 - 23/08
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS16-14
Class of Love
25/08 - 06/09
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS17-14
Rice Painting
15/09 - 27/09
18+
15
VPVS18-14
Environment Protection
06/10 - 18/10
ENV/EDU
18+
15
VPVS19-14
Vinh Son
20/10 - 01/11
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS20-14
Rice Painting
03/11 - 15/11
KIDS/MAN/EDU/SOCI
18+
15
4
KIDS/MAN/EDU/SOCI
VPVS21-14
Peaceful World
17/11 - 29/11
KIDS/SOCI/EDU
18+
15
VPVS22-14
Environment Protection
01/12 - 13/12
ENV/EDU
18+
15
VPVS23-14
Warm X-mas & new
year for orphan children
15/12 - 27/12
KIDS/EDU
18+
15
VPVS1-15
Ky Quang Orphanage
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS2-15
Vinh Son school
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS3-15
Traditional Lunar New
Year(TET) for
disadvantaged children
02/02 13/02/2015
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS4-15
Ky Quang Orphanage
23/02 07/03/2015
KIDS/MAN/EDU
18+
15
VPVS5-15
English creative camp
for children
09/03-21/03/2015
KIDS/SOCI/EDU
18+
15
VPVS6-15
Class of Love
16/03-28/03/2015
18+
15
05/01 17/01/2015
19/01 31/01/2015
KIDS/SOCI/EDU/MAN
5
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION
The earth is getting warmer and warmer, climate has been changing rapidly, our eco-system has
been destroyed severely, and garbage has been overfilled, etc these real risky situations come to
our mind everyday but the question is what we should do to save ourselves and our planet.
The facts show that Viet Nam, a small country with a big population, along with some countries
in Asia will be affected most severely. Streets are full with transports and rubbish, people going
out with masks due to air pollution; beaches are nice but people may be afraid of swimming with
garbage and plastic bottles; parks are green with many trees but walking in the parks also means
you should have been an expert in walking along with junk and sewage. Being aware of the
effects of climate change, we- volunteers should raise our voices and give our hands to make a
better environment.
What can we do?
W: First and most important thing that volunteers should do is to organize several workshops to
raise people’s awareness in protecting our environment. Volunteers can connect local volunteers
and local people to hold “Environment Week”, “Green Day”, collecting and recycling garbage,
planting trees, etc should be main tasks.
6
7
S: Viet Nam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers and toilets are
available. WIFI free at volunteer house.
Meals will be prepared by volunteers.
L: No. 63, Street 23, Tan Quy Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh city
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
RICE PAINTING
Life is better for the 26 million Vietnamese children today than it was just two decades ago. But
it cannot deny the fact that the disparities and widening between the rich and the poor, between
the normal children and the disadvantaged ones, etc. Child poverty in Vietnam today is more
prevalent than traditional poverty statistics reveal. They cannot tell us whether children’s basic
needs are being satisfied, as distinct from those of the adults they may live with. With support
from UNICEF, Viet Nam recently developed its own child-specific approach to poverty, based
on basic needs like education, health, shelter, social inclusion and protection. Yet we could not
do all that we do in Vietnam without the help of you- volunteers, who are a vital and integral
part of our Big Family. Want to use your skills, drive and passion to help make life better for
Vietnam’s children?
As a social organization, SDRC has been in operation since 2010, with the aim to provide a new
project and a new chance for disadvantaged people by employing these people and providing
them a job in making art handicraft – rice painting. This job gives the young people with
disabilities some professional skills and a purpose in life.
The project was founded during a two year community project in the same city and build on the
8
results and knowledge that this project generated. We have a clear social goal – Training and
employing disabled people to improve their quality of life. With a job these young people get
independent lives and a possibility to support their family. Furthermore they achieve an
unknown self-confidence and learn social skills
W: These disabled people now stand before the problem of selling the art products. We
therefore seek new ways of promoting and selling the products. Volunteers are welcomed to
organize workshops to
call for supports from
organizations
individuals;
and
volunteers
are also trained how to
make these products and
help the disadvantaged
people promote and sell them. Project location is too far from the city centre, not many people
know their products, so volunteers are also welcomed to write proposals and help these people
find some places that they can introduce their rice paintings to more people.
9
S: Disadvantaged children in VietNam
A: Volunteers will spend 1 week at project site, your accommodation will be arranged by VPV
and
the rest of your time will be at VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at
bund-bed. Showers and toilets are available. WIFI free at volunteer house.
Meals will be prepared by volunteers.
L: Street no.13, Ho Nai, Bien Hoa city
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
LEAF PAGODA
In 1996 Head Monk, Thich Truyen Tu, returned to the countryside and sold his parent’s land, in
order to purchase 2 hectares of muddy land to build a pagoda in Nha Be town. At first the
pagoda was named Huyen Trang, but due to the roofs linking together with coconut leaves, it
got the name Chua La, meaning Leaf Pagoda. Today, in this peaceful and quiet space in the
outskirts of HCM city, the Leaf Pagoda brings up orphan children, helps old people in need &
Orange Agent victims. There are 40 children from 20 months old to 18 years old living here.
Some of them were abandoned by their family, who was too poor to take care of the children. In
very few occasions, their parents come back and visit them. However, according to the head
monk, some parents have such bad awareness that they sent their children to the pagoda to be
free from education & upbringing cost. When their children grow up to be a skilled labor, they
come and take them back to earn money to support the family. There are some disabled live
10
here as well.
In the daytime, they can go to school thanks to the financial support from the pagoda. In the
night time, they can attend extra tutorials, mainly English subject, organized by the pagoda with
free of charge. When they finish high school, they can choose to stay in the pagoda to be a
monk, find a job to manage their lives themselves or study further in universities, of which the
cost is supported by monks. Surprisingly, this is the place to have nurtured 2 Doctorates. As the
children live in pagoda and learn about Buddhism, they are Buddhist monks. Besides, learning
daily about Buddhism, they also do some other work such as: Preparing meals, cleaning up
areas around the pagoda, going to school outside of the pagoda at weekends, or studying foreign
languages.
In addition, there are 20 old people in the pagoda, most of them come from the surrounding
countryside in the South and have had a hard life. They are currently taken good care by the
monks & neighbours who live around. As many of them don’t have any relatives, they feel
really happy to have old friends here.
W: Here are some activates that volunteers can participate and carry out:
 Educational Session: volunteers are divided to discuss in groups then organize activities
about: health, sport, and environment. Moreover, being aware of the necessity of learning
English, so volunteers can help the children practise some English.
11
 Manual Work: There are two kinds of farming that can be carried out here: organic
vegetables & herbals. There is still so much of land that can be used for farming now in
the pagoda.
 Caring: There are currently about 10 kids who are not old enough to go to primary
school, live in the pagoda. They are all well educated in behaviours, so volunteers are
welcomed to spend time playing with the kids ( making handmade products from
recycled stuff or games
12
S: Disadvantaged children in VietNam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers and
toilets are available. WIFI free at volunteer house.
Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by volunteers.
Lunch is provided by the project.
L: 456/35 Huynh Tan Phat, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh city
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excurtions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
13
English Creative Camp for street children
‘District 8 Shelter’ was founded on 16.10.1993 with the support of the ‘Terre des
Homes Foundation’ - Lausanne (Switzerland) and is managed by the Department of Labour, War
Invalids and Social Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City. District 8 Shelter is a boys’ orphanage in one of
the poorest districts in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally, they all lived on the streets before being
collected randomly all over the country. There are many reasons their family cannot look after
them. The most common reasons are that their parents have passed away or got divorced, none of
their relatives can take care of them, they get abandoned and have to live on the streets. The
shelter takes care of them, provides them with shelter, food and education in local schools. They
have a few staff members who take turns staying at night to look after the children there. This is a
project devoted to care, education, protection and support for homeless boys. The people carrying
out the project have been trying to build a healthy life and safe environment for children,
to create an open and friendly atmosphere, like a family. Every day the children receive love and
respect while building trust in people and life. As a result, children have the opportunity to
easily integrate with their families and communities and hopefully feel more comfortable for
14
later independent life. While providing a stable environment for children, one main aim of the
shelter is to try and reunite children with their family if possible. The children living here also go
to school or follow certain vocational trainings. Besides that, there are many other fun activities
for the boys to take part in such as swimming, playing football, camping, hip-hop dancing,
drawing, singing which are organized and supported by donors. There are 25 boys living at the
shelter while the staff in charge consists of 1 project leader, 2 educators and 1 cook.
W: Volunteers will help teach English, and
organize
a
meaningful
and
cheerful
Children’s Day for them by preparing
presents, doing some fun activities.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: Peace House-VPV’s Dormitory in
Saigon.
Shared
rooms.
Sleeping
at
bunk-bed. Showers and toilets available.
WI-FI free at volunteer house. Breakfast
and dinner will be prepared by volunteers.
Lunch is provided by project.
L: Peace House, District 7, HCMC
T: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
Q: Interest and motivation working with
children in difficult situation
LA: International Children’s Day, self-organized city tour and excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (170 EURO)
15
Vinh Sơn school
Vinh Son institution was first established on March 3rd, 1991 from a “piggery” in Binh Thanh
District with an aim to take good care of 10 ten local children in the district. In 1998 this center
was expanded thanks to fund donated from Daughter of Humanity of St. Vincent and some
individual donors. Together with the expansion, it also expanded its mission to take care of
disadvantaged destinies in Ho Chi Minh City.
This institution is a free-of-charge primary school for children who cannot attend public schools
for many reasons. At the time of writing (2012), there are more than 120 children aged from 6
to 16 joining 6 classes. Actually they live with their families who are too poor to send them to
public schools as normal children. Most of them usually do not receive good care due to
poverty or parental divorce. Some of them even have their parents passed away.
This school provides children not only with primary education with the focus on literacy and
numeracy but also with meals at lunch. After classes, many children have to help their parents
earn money by selling lottery tickets, collecting scrap (plastic bags, glass…) or babysitting.
16
W: Volunteers are divided into smaller groups to discuss and then organize fun activities about
health, sport, environment, education, etc. This is to create an active environment for the
children to practice English. Although they study English at school, their English skills are very
basic and can hardly communicate with foreigners. Moreover, because of limited facilities and
skilled staff, they have little access to recreational activities. In the afternoon, volunteers can
help renovate the classrooms or repaint the fences and walls.
17
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: Peace House-VPV’s Dormitory in Saigon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bunk-bed. Showers
and toilets available. WI-FI free at volunteer house. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by
volunteers. Lunch is provided by project.
L: Peace House, District 7, HCMC
T: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
Q: Interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: self-organized city tour and excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (170 EURO)
HO CHI MINH center for disabled children
Although the official name is Centre of Orthopedic & Rehabilitation for Disabled Children
(CORDC), the center is more commonly known as Lý Thường Kiệt Hospital or A1 Hospital
which offers treatment to both adults and children. The center was started as a physio project
which was a joint humane project between ‘Terre des Hommes’ (Germany) and the Ministry of
Labour, Invalids & Social Affairs of Vietnam, with the aim of providing rehabilitation for all
paralysed children in South Vietnam. The centre was then established in 1983, and in conjunction
with many humane societies across the world has provided free health care to thousands of
Vietnamese children. It provides rehabilitation treatment to adults & children who are usually
referred here by their doctor or other hospitals.
18
The hospital mainly focuses on orthopedics, with various rooms for different treatments
including a daycare room for disabled children where they can receive physiotherapy,
occupational therapy and speech therapy.
W: Volunteers will spend most of their time in the day-care room working with disabled
children. After around 2.30 p.m. when the parents come to pick them up, volunteers can then
19
start cleaning and painting the walls.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: Peace House-VPV’s Dormitory in Saigon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bunk-bed. Showers
and toilets available. WI-FI free at volunteer house. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by
volunteers. Lunch is provided by project.
L: Peace House, District 7, HCMC
T: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
Q: Interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: self-organized city tour and excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (170 EURO)
Peaceful World
Tan Binh Shelter is an orphanage for boys providing care & education for around 30 young
boys. The shelter was established in 1994 by the Women's Charity Association of HCMC
(WOCA) with the support of Jean Houlmann, a Swiss man who visited Vietnam in the early 90s
and decided he wanted to try and make a difference to disadvantaged families affected by the
war, in particular, the children. Mr Houlmann contacted WOCA, who at this time were already
planning to open an orphanage in the Tan Binh area and together they opened a shelter for poor
and under-privileged boys. While living at the shelter they are also placed into a local school, a
20
chance to develop themselves and have a better chance for the future through education. There
are currently 26 boys living in the Tan Binh shelter, though not all of them study English. The
age range is from 7 to 20 years old and the boys who grew up there stay on to work at the
shelter or visit very often.
‘District 8 Shelter’ was founded on 16.10.1993
with
the
support
of
the
‘Terre
des
Homes Foundation’ - Lausanne (Switzerland) and is managed by the Department of Labour, War
Invalids and Social Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City. District 8 Shelter is a boys’ orphanage in one of
the poorest districts in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally, they all lived on the streets before being
collected randomly all over the country. There are many reasons their family cannot look after
them. The most common reasons are that their parents have passed away or got divorced, none of
their relatives can take care of them, they get abandoned and have to live on the streets. The
shelter takes care of them, provides them with shelter, food and education in local schools. They
have a few staff members who take turns staying at night to look after the children there. This is a
project devoted to care, education, protection and support for homeless boys. The people carrying
out the project have been trying to build a healthy life and safe environment for children,
to create an open and friendly atmosphere, like a family. Every day the children receive love and
respect while building trust in people and life. As a result, children have the opportunity to
easily integrate with their families and communities and hopefully feel more comfortable for
later independent life. While providing a stable environment for children, one main aim of the
shelter is to try and reunite children with their family if possible. The children living here also go
to school or follow certain vocational trainings. Besides that, there are many other fun activities
for the boys to take part in such as swimming, playing football, camping, hip-hop dancing,
21
drawing, singing which are organized and supported by donors. There are 25 boys living at the
shelter while the staff in charge consists of 1 project leader, 2 educators and 1 cook.
W: Volunteers will spend their mornings working with children at Tan Binh Shelter and Shelter
8 by teaching English and organizing fun activities. In the afternoons, volunteers will prepare
their lesson plans and 04 peace workshops for children (2 workshops a week). It is believed that
peace and self-esteem comes from within each person. Every human being plays a crucial role
in creating a peaceful world starting with himself or herself. Volunteers will help raise their
awareness of their own character, and a peaceful community by meaningful games, interactive
conversations, and storytelling. The workshops are to promote peace and harmony in our daily
life and relationships.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: Peace House-VPV’s Dormitory in Saigon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bunk-bed. Showers
and toilets available. WI-FI free at volunteer house. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by
volunteers. Lunch is provided by project.
L: Peace House, District 7, HCMC
T: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN)
Q: Interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: self-organized city tour and excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (170 EURO)
Ky Quang Orphanage
Ky Quang Orphanage Pagoda was built in the
early part of the 20th Century in 1924 and is
quite famous in Ho Chi Minh City. The pagoda
is now a place of charity for unlucky children
and also helps treat diseases. Now, the pagoda
22
is taking care and bringing up more than 200 children in the South of Vietnam.The children here
have unfortunate backgrounds as many have been abandoned by their parents and
relatives.Every few months, the monks find a new baby left in front of the pagoda gate. The
head monk sometimes receives phone calls from hospitals requesting him to take in abandoned
babies. At the moment, about 200 children are living in the Pagoda, their ages ranging from 5
days old to 40 years old. 90 of these are orphans that are suffering from cerebral-palsy,
blindness or Down's syndrome.At present, about 30-40 local children have a chance to study for
free at Ky Quang as some local teachers teach Vietnamese for them in the morning.
W: volunteers will spend time with the children and help to improve their English, organize
games and other activities for them. Volunteers will also do some manual work such as doing
book blinding for blind people. Volunteers will get closer to the children’s life and try to build
up a wider horizon for the children and encourage them to learn better for the brighter future.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms.
Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers and toilets are
available. WIFI free at volunteer house. Breakfast
and dinner will be prepared by volunteers. Lunch
is provided by the project.
L: Go Vap district, Ho Chi Minh city ( or Sai
Gon- Southern part of Vietnam).
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by
taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
23
Class of Love
The Class of Love LASAN based
in Tan Hung ward, District 7, was
established in May 2000. With a
strong
desire
education
of
for
offering
free
disadvantaged
children, the class was set up with
the hope of providing a bright
future for them. All of the students
are
immigrated
from
other
provinces throughout Vietnam. Their parents have unstable incomes, frequently move
between different job and often move house amongst other reasons. This instability means
the children are unable to attend public school due to fees and commitments required.
There are currently 6 classes at the school from Grade 1 – 5. Each class has around 20
students, with around 120 attending the school in total. Students study for 10 months per
year and examinations are held with support from local schools. At the end of the year,
each child receives and evaluation of their studies. Through the class, children understand
that education is a good way to develop themselves and have a better life in the future.
After leaving school, they are encouraged to continue their study at a higher level at other
normal public schools. There’s 10 to 15 children studying from 6th to 12th grade at public
secondary schools, and about 10 of them can attend College. After 10 years, the
management board happily realized some achievements in that children should feel the
care and love from the teachers, which leads them to more positive thinking. Also, thanks
to the school, students’ parents know how to care more for their children and they don’t
feel inferior to other families who have better living-conditions.
24
W: volunteers will help to teach English and
organize educational activities for the children
in the school. Moreover, the volunteers also do
some manual works such as painting the walls,
building a new bookshelf. Some books are
donated and supported by some sponsors or
individuals but there is no bookshelf in the
school at the moment.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers and toilers are
available. WIFI free at volunteer house.
Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by volunteers.
Lunch is provided by the project.
L: Tan Quy Ward, District 7, Ho Chi Minh city
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
Warm X-mas for orphan children
District 8 Shelter was founded on16.10.1993
25
with the support of the‘Terredes HomesFoundation’-Lausanne(Switzerland) andis managed by
the Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs in Ho Chi Minh City. District 8
Shelter is a boy’s orphanage in one of the poorest districts in Ho Chi Minh City. Originally, they
all lived on the streets before being collected randomly all over the country. There are many
reasons, complicated and varied for the final result that their family can’t look after them.
Among those, the more common reasons being that their parents may have passed away and
none of their relatives can take care of them or their parents divorced and left them on the
streets. The shelter takes care of them, provides them with shelter, food and education in local
schools. They have a few staff who take turns to stay at night and look after the children
there. This is a project devotedto care, education, protection and support for homeless boys. The
people carrying out the project have been trying to build a healthy life and safe environment for
children, to create an open and friendly atmosphere, like a family. While providing a stable
environment for children, one main aim of the shelter is to try and reunite children with their
family if possible. Living at the shelter, children must agree to go to school or follow certain
vocational trainings. The shelter also organizes many activities 'in-house' for the boys to take
part in such as swimming trips, playing football matches, special guests, picnics, student
exchange with other schools and some courses to develop their extra-skills such as hip-hop
dancing, drawing, singing which are given free by donors. There are 21 boys living at the
shelter while the staff in charge consists of 1 project leader, 2 educators and 1 cook.
Tan Binh Shelter is an orphanage for boys
providing care & education for around 30 young
boys. The shelter was established in 1994 by the
Women's
Charity
Association
of
HCMC
(WOCA) with the support of Jean Houlmann, a
Swiss man who visited Vietnam in the early 90s
and decided he wanted to try and make a
26
difference to disadvantaged families affected by the war, in particular, the children. Mr
Houlmann contacted WOCA, who at this time
were already planning to open an orphanage in
the Tan Binh area and together they opened a
shelter for poor and underprivelidged boys.
Usually, the boys come to the shelter when their
family is too poor to look after them or there
may be no one to look after them at all, their
parents may have passed away or can sometimes be in prison amongst other reasons. While
living at the shelter they are also placed into a local school, a chance to develop themselves and
have a better chance for the future through education. The shelter also organizes many activities
'in-house' for the boys to take part in such as swimming trips, special guests, picnics, student
exchange with other schools and of course the English classes we provide as well as other
activities. There are currently 26 boys living in the Tan Binh shelter, though not all of them
study English. The age range is from 7 to 20 years old and often boys who grew up there stay
on to work at the shelter or visit very often
W: volunteers will help to teach English and organize fun activities for the children at Shelter 8
and Tan Binh Boy Shelter. Moreover, the volunteers will prepare and wrap up presents for the
children to have a warm and meaningful Christmas.
S: Disadvantaged children in Vietnam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared rooms. Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers and toilers are
available. WIFI free at volunteer house. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by volunteers.
Lunch is provided by the project.
L: District 8 and Tan Binh district, Ho Chi Minh city
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
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LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excurtions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
Traditional New Year ( TET) for Ho Chi Minh orphan children
Tet festival is Vietnamese traditional New Year
holiday (following lunar calendar) which usually falls
to mid January-mid February. This is the time for
family reunion and visit to friends and relatives. Like
the Christmas and New Year in Western countries,
people here prepare a lot for this holiday, from
renovating their houses, making cakes and a lot of food and drink. However, in the orphanages
children do not have enough to prepare for their holiday. Most of them stay on the orphanage or
the centers over the Tet, only some of them go back to their home villages. Thus, there is a need
to prepare something for those children so they still have good time and enjoy such big
holidays.
In Ho Chi Minh City area, an international workcamp will be set up to prepare Tet holidays in
Ky Quang Orphange or Chua La Orphanage.
W: volunteers will help to renovating the
houses, cleaning the site and making
Chung cake ( traditional cake for
children in Tet).
S: Disadvantaged children in VietNam
A: VPV’ Dormitory in Sai Gon. Shared
rooms. Sleeping at bund-bed. Showers
and toilets are available. WIFI free at
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volunteer house. Breakfast and dinner will be prepared by volunteers. Lunch is provided by the
project.
L: Peace House, District 7, HCMC.
T: Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN), 45 minutes by taxi to volunteer house
Q: interest and motivation working with children in difficult situation
LA: Vietnamese day, International day, self-organized city tour or excursions, etc.
PF: 5,000,000 VND (about 170 Euro to be paid in local currency)
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