Cat Ba is the largest of the 366 islands spanning 260km2 that comprise the Cat Ba Archipelago, which makes up the southeastern edge of Ha Long Bay in Northern Vietnam.
Cat Ba is the largest island in the Bay and approximately half of its area is covered by a National Park, which is home to the highly endangered Cat Ba Langur. The island has a wide variety of natural ecosystems, both marine and terrestrial, leading to incredibly high rates of biodiversity. Types of natural habitats found on Cat Ba Archipelago include limestone karsts, tropical limestone forests, coral reefs, mangrove and sea grass beds, lagoons, beaches, caves, and willow swamp forests.
For all of its natural beauty, Cat Ba Island faces numerous environmental problems. Increases in tourism and recent developments threaten the ecological integrity and biodiversity of the island, reducing and fragmenting the natural habitat for Cat Ba's numerous species. Illegal hunting and poaching, overfishing, and water pollution in Ha Long Bay continue to threaten the ecological health of the island. The island is a national park of Vietnam and was recognized by UNESCO in December 2004 as a Biosphere reserve of the world.
Work:
Organize activities for the children, small renovation at school, activities to raise awareness of youth and local people about environment, climate change, protect white-headed langur at Cat Ba National park...etc
Location:
Cat Ba island, Hai Phong city.
Terminal:
Noi Bai International Airport (HAN)
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay with the host families. Meals are self-prepared.
Remarks:
Flash light, sleeping bag, prove-water clothes, raincoat, gift from your country for host-family, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.
The Thang Long Imperial Citadel has become the 900th site to be inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The Citadel was built in the 11th century by the Ly Viet Dynasty, marking the independence of the Dai Viet. It was constructed on the remains of a Chinese fortress dating from the 7th century, on drained land reclaimed from the Red River Delta in Hanoi. It was the centre of regional political power for almost 13 centuries without interruption. The Imperial Citadel buildings and the remains in the 18 Hoang Dieu Archaeological Site reflect a unique South-East Asian culture specific to the lower Red River Valley, at the crossroads between influences coming from China in the north and the ancient Kingdom of Champa in the south.
Work:
Lesson of basic principles and techniques of archaeological excavation for children at world heritage site. Workshops, discussion and other creative activities should be added to share learning experience of volunteers with the local youth or student at university.
Location:
The Imperial citadel of Thang Long, Ha Noi city
Terminal:
Noi Bai international airport (HAN).
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay at the volunteer’s house with basic accommodation. Meals are at the local restaurant.
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, toiletries. Toys for kids are appreciated as well.
A part of South-Western Region of Vietnam, Dong Thap is a province with highly developed agriculture industry. It adjoins Cambodia to the North and 3 other local provinces to the West, East and South. A typical province in Mekong Delta, Dong Thap has a complex system of rivers, channels as well as big lakes and ponds. Taking advantages of its large water body, Dong Thap has developed a very convenient transportation system. And as it is a very agriculture-focused province, Dong Thap produces many valuable types of rice, poultry and seafood. Nowadays, the most popular sceneries are borderless rice fields and peaceful boats floating on the channels. Enjoying a temperate climate, wide irrigation system, permanent fresh-water source supplied by Tien River and Hau River, and rich river deposit, the agriculture of Dong Thap keeps growing well. At present, Dong Thap is the 3rd largest rice paddy in Vietnam with a planted area of 462,042ha and paddy output of more than 2.8 million tons. Dong Thap is also well known for fruits, specifically as Cao Lanh mango, Lai Vung mandarin, Chau Thanh long an and Phong Hoa grapefruit (fruit-able during the year), etc. which bring about high economic values for gardeners. Within the province, there are various typical orchards having been specialized to produce consistent quality fruits, which aim at building up brand-name and meeting export requirements.In Cao Lanh, almost local people doing farming in the rice fields and gardening.
Work:
Organize activities for students in universities, primary school nearby and do small construction at school.
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay at the guesthouse with basic conditions. Meals can be provided in the canteen or at local restaurant.
Location:
Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap province
Terminal:
Tan Son Nhat International Airport (SGN)
Transportation:
Public bus
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, raincoat, info materials and pictures of your country, presents, toys and activities materials for the children if you have.
Ky Quang Pagoda is a charity organization where more than 200 children including newborns spend their lives. The children are not only orphaned but also disabled, having-AIDS or suffering from fatal diseases. With their golden hearts and nonstop contribution, 17 mothers and monks have been devoting their time and effort to the care of the children. They not only take care of and guide the disabled children to practice their body to be rehabilitated physically, but also give lessons including Braille for the blind children to help them know to read and write in order to integrate into the community normally. Ky Quang Pagoda has gradually turned into a full house where the disabled children, poor orphans or beggars to ask for joining.
Work:
Organize activities for the orphans who live in a pagoda, support the monks in feeding and taking care of the kids, especially disabled children. Sometimes we will help with small constructions at the pagoda.
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay in basic accommodation at the guesthouse. Western style bathrooms, wifi are available. Meals are provided at a local restaurant nearby the site.
Location:
Ky Quang pagoda, Ho Chi Minh city.
Terminal:
Tan Son Nhat international airport (SGN)
Transportation:
Public bus
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, info materials and pictures of your country, presents, toys and activities materials for the children if you have prepared any.
Since the Youth Centre project was launched 9 years ago SJ Vietnam has succeeded in meeting their first target goals due to the support of our local and international partners and endless hard work of our coordinators and volunteers.
SJ Vietnam had sent most of the disadvantaged, poor and street children to public school and vocational school where they can acquire a proper education and get integrated into the society. Nevertheless the school fees, provided entirely by SJ Vietnam, are rather expensive and need to be covered. SJ Vietnam will therefore continue to provide education to the children staying at the Youth Center but will also participate to activities to raise funds to cover the children school fees. The Centre demonstrates the important role of volunteerism and public-private partnerships in social development.
Our general aspirations:
gathering together to establish this center for disadvantaged, poor and street children; create a space for people to exchange ideas, have a chance to study vocational skills and to be integrated in the community. We also want this center to be a place for Vietnamese youth to exchange their knowledge, experience and culture with international volunteers via workshops and everyday exchange. The Youth House school has now become a Youth center.
Work:
Organize activities for disadvantaged children who live illegally in the Red river and at the school nearby Youth center.
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will sleep in volunteer’s house at SJ Vietnams office. Meals are at local restaurant. Volunteers will have lunch at the Youth center with children and the other volunteers.
Location:
Hanoi
Terminal:
Noi Bai Airport (HAN)
Remarks:
Sleeping bag; sleeping mat. Toys for kids are appreciated as well.
Phu Yen is one of the CEC is an environment for children aged from 6-15 years old and an English supportive center for adults who take part in in-service training and associate training courses with universities and colleges throughout the country. In Phu Yen, volunteers will teach English to children and support the teachers to improve the english teaching methods.
Work:
Organize a play scheme for the children during summer. Different workshops such as painting, sport, art, dancing will be held by volunteers. Teaching some basic English to the children through games, songs, activities. Small renovation for classroom at the kindergarten.
Location:
C&C center, Tuy Hoa, Phu Yen province.
Terminal:
Nearest International airport: Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN).
Nearest domestic airport:
Tuy Hoa airport
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay at the center with basic conditions. Volunteers will share a toilet in the room. Meals are cooked by volunteers.
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, sleeping mat, raincoat, swimming suites, info materials and pictures of your country, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.
Vinh Son orphanage is an organization held by a group of catholic people who have a warm heart to help poor children improve their life by attending schools. There are more than 100 children from 3 to 12 year-old from poor families where parents don’t have any condition to take care of their children. As a result, they don’t go to school although studying is a right of children. Thanks to volunteers of Vinh Son orphanage, the unlucky children are found and summoned to join the class held by them with hope for a better life. The local volunteering teachers teach them reading, writing and calculating while preparing documents for them to apply to public school at the same time. The teachers also give them moral lessons so they can stay away from social evils.
Work:
Organize activities and teach English; conduct small workshops about child’s right for the kids here, get adult, young parents who live nearby involved.
Location:
Vinh Son school for poor children/ orphans
Terminal:
Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN)
Transportation:
Public bus
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay at the guest house nearby school. Meals are at local restaurant.
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, toiletries, info materials and pictures of your country, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.
Vinh Son orphanage is an organization held by a group of catholic people who have a warm heart to help poor children improve their life by attending schools. There are more than 100 children from 3 to 12 year-old from poor families where parents don’t have any condition to take care of their children. As a result, they don’t go to school although studying is a right of children. Thanks to volunteers of Vinh Son orphanage, the unlucky children are found and summoned to join the class held by them with hope for a better life. The local volunteering teachers teach them reading, writing and calculating while preparing documents for them to apply to public school at the same time. The teachers also give them moral lessons so they can stay away from social evils.
Work:
Organize activities and teach English; conduct small workshops about child’s right for the kids here, get adult, young parents who live nearby involved.
Location:
Vinh Son school for poor children/ orphans
Terminal:
Tan Son Nhat airport (SGN)
Transportation:
Public bus
Accommodation and food:
Volunteers will stay at the guest house nearby school. Meals are at local restaurant.
Remarks:
Sleeping bag, toiletries, info materials and pictures of your country, toys and learning materials for the children if you have.
« I would recommend participating in a workcamp, especially with VAP, who ensured that I found a project to suit me and provided essential training for me in preparation for my trip. Being part of a workcamp really is a life-changing experience, oh, and it looks great on your CV! »