Project Background:
The Thai Nguyen Disadvantaged Child Education Centre is located right in the centre of Thai Nguyen city. There are about 200 kids aged 6 to 18 studying here. Of these children, 120 stay at the Centre and 80 kids come for the day. Their disabilities include being blind, mute or deaf, however with some basic sign language, visitors can easily communicate with these smart and friendly children.
There are 16 classrooms divided by disabilities. However the Centre is severely lacking in amenities to care for the children, who must share beds (3 children to a bed) and only 5 squat toilets and one small water tank.
The hotel is basic and between the walking distance to the school. A guide will be with you for the first few days to assist with orientation, as very few tourists travel to this area one of the Vietnamese teacher who is English teacher at the centre can speak English.
Project work:
During the day, you will assist the staff with cleaning, food preparation, general maintenance such as painting windows and doors and teaching English for the blind kids. The children here do not receive many visitors from other sources. The centre receives a small amount of funding from the government, but this is not enough to look after the children properly.
The children are bright and eager to learn and fun, interactive activities are best for them. Volunteers who go to Thai Nguyen are able to return to Hanoi on the weekends by taking a local bus and can call the local co-ordinator at any time for support. Volunteers who request to work here should be able to use their initiative to create fun learning methods, or really want to challenge themselves and by doing so, will be rewarded with an experience of a life time and the gratitude of the children.
Location: THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE
Located 80 km from Hanoi, Thai Nguyen is on the national highway No. 3 (Hanoi – Cao Bang). Thai Nguyen is a scenic mountain and midland province with many rivers. The region has two seasons, one rainy (from May to October) and one dry (from October to May). Average temperature is 25 C degrees. Close to 25% of the province is made up of ethnic minority people, including Tay, Nung, San Diu, Dao, H’Mong, Cao Lan and Chinese.
One of the famous tourist sites in Thai Nguyen is the Ethnology Museum. Opened in 1959, the Ethnology Museum displays the cultures of Vietnam's ethnic minority groups. It contains important collections relating to the history and ethnology of the wider Việt Bắc region.
Transportation to the province will be by bus and take approx. 1.5 hours.
Required skills:
• An open mind, a readiness to accept challenges and educate the children in a fun and interactive way.
• Be able to work with disabled children.
Timing:
The children have a three month summer holiday starting from 1st June finished in end of August; therefore project is not suitable during these times.
Joining instructions
You will be collected from your hotel in Hanoi or airport and dropped back there at the end of the tour. Pick up time will be advised on confirmation of booking. Please contact us with your specific qualifications.
What to take
An open mind, a readiness to accept challenges and educate the children in a fun and interactive way. Educational materials.
Minimum length of volunteering
14 Days
Minimum group size: 4 pax
Trip price: please enquire for availability and cost
Tour includes:
· Arrival airport transfer with guide
· Tour guide assort for the first 2 days
· Accommodation during project on twin share basis
· Simple Vietnamese lunch at project (Please advise any special dietary requirements)
· All applicable Vietnamese taxes and services charges
· 24 hr backup and support by in-country co-ordinator during placement
· 2 day orientation of project and surrounding area with English speaking guide/in-country co-ordinator
· Pre-organisation of placement and accommodation
· Returned transfer to Hanoi from Thai Nguyen
Tour excludes:
· International air tickets
· Beverages during meals and meals not mentioned
· Visas and visa charges
· Personal Travel insurance (compulsory)
· Other expenses of a personal nature such as telephone, laundry etc
· Tips and gratuities
· Police Background Check from home country (Compulsory)
· Departure airport transfer
Optional Donations:
- Clothes
- Toothbrushes and toothpaste.
- Most of the other supplies can be bought here much cheaper than your home countries such as reading books in Vietnamese, craft supplies such as paper, paints, crayons, toys – balls…
- Medical supplies – such as bandages, band aids, creams – for skin irritations (non-cortisone)
Buffalo Tours has developed a specialized Volunteer & Educational Travel team of experienced teachers, community development specialists, travel experts and guides that allows you to
1) customize not only your volunteer educational travel arrangements but also integrate these into your group’s core learning objectives!
2) participate in community development projects and activities that have undergone a rigorous participatory needs analysis process
In this way your travel creates the most inspirational impact for all involved
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