Food Shop Project

This project addresses poverty in Ho Chi Minh City by aiding those unable to support themselves. The food shop, a collaboration between an NGO and local people, has provided affordable lunches for over three years. Self-funded through donations and local efforts, it serves meals to over 500 people, including students, children, older people, workers, and disabled people. Your involvement enables you to contribute to this cause, ensuring high-quality and hygienic meals are accessible to everyone in need.

The daily schedule on the project starts with breakfast and continues at the food shop, where you will assist in the preparation of the food, including cooking, cleaning and serving. 

Tonight, you'll enjoy a favorite Vietnamese pastime: a lively karaoke night followed by a delicious dinner.

Overnight: Ho Chi Minh City

Special Needs Daycare Volunteer

In this project, volunteers will aid local staff in providing care, feeding, comforting, playing games and promoting social interactions with children that have special needs. You will be looking after 20-25 Vietnamese children with a mixture of disabilities. Your main role will be playing, feeding and caring for the children. This will involve comforting them, playing games and socialising with them. Previous experience in this field is helpful but not essential.

The key area for improving the quality of the children’s lives is enhancing their speech and muscular capacity. Daily regimes are carried out for the children, in which you, too, can play a part.

Other activities encouraged and greatly enjoyed by the children include playing games, dancing and singing. Painting, art and other means of creativity are encouraged by the hospital for the children. Therefore, your main duties will be:

• Support the children so they can have a better/happier life

• Get insights into the local way of working and assisting the hospital staff

• Gain some teaching practice and learn a few basics on how to take care of children with special needs

On the first day, you will be introduced to the project and the staff, discuss your upcoming role at the project, get introduced to the children and have the chance to discuss with the manager about any specific requirements/interests you may have.

For the rest of the week, you will begin your placement. Your exact role will depend upon the individual child's needs, but it will involve playing games, helping with their speech and posture, amongst many other activities.