Teaching English to disadvantaged, poor and street children in Hanoi

Volunteer project: The children who come to Youth House are from the Fisher village, which consists of more than 40 families living on temporary ragged boats by the Red River (a small part of the village is on an island). Their lives are extremely difficult: the surroundings are badly polluted, they don’t have tap water, electricity and they have to clean the water from the Red River by alum and use it. Thus the rate of diseases and drownings is very high. All families have more than 5 members while they don’t have jobs, so it is very hard to feed the whole family. Their children, all of whom are badly malnourished and illiterate, have to collect rubbish, sell collected fruits, vegetables, lottery results or catch shrimp overnight.

The children going to Youth House are disadvantaged, poor and street children from 8 to 16 years of age. They have low education level: nearly 90% don't know words, some of them haven't joined any official vocational training before. They come from very poor families or have no families at all. The children speak Vietnamese and very basic English, learnt from former international volunteers.

Youth House School is a small non-formal education center for disadvantaged, street and poor children. It is also a friendly place for local young people and international volunteers to come to explore their cultural diversity with lots of youth exchanges, music performances, photos exhibitions, classes for the children and fun leisure activities. Teachers and volunteers are needed to give classes to the children and cook meals for 20 children every day.

These activities are combined with projects intended to help disadvantaged people at Fisher village, who are very old and poor and live in slum-boats on Red river, by giving them free food, supporting medicines for their disease, providing water filters, toothpaste, second-hand warm clothes and free hot shower in winter, etc.

The volunteers will join a team of local young people to manage the projects and participate in the daily activities at the school. You need very high motivation, good communication skills and to be able to be independent in your work.

The children are encouraged to come to the Youth House regularly for free basic education and extra nutritious food. Their awareness of education has raised, which can help them get a simple job and a better future, and ensure their independent and self-sufficient living. The scheme will demonstrate the important role of volunteerism and public-private partnerships for social development.

General purposes of the Youth House:
- Giving free lunch to disadvantaged, poor and street children.
- Helping children to integrate into the community
- Giving them opportunities to take part in different activities, exchange ideas, deal with complexes, and improve their self-confidence.
- Improving their education level. At present, the main activity is teaching basic Vietnamese, English, math, drawing, etc.

Volunteer work:
• To manage the projects and participate in the daily activities at the school.
• To cook and give out free food, support medicines to the ill; provide water filters, toothpaste, second-hand warm clothes and free hot shower in winter, etc.
• To teach basic English, French and/or other languages to the children at Youth House. Volunteers also need to train and instruct Vietnamese volunteers to be English tutors for the children
• To create friendly communication environment
• The volunteers can also teach other basic subjects to the children (with the help of local volunteers)
• To help the local host in developing a plan for teaching essential IT to children and young Vietnamese volunteers in the Youth Houses
• Basic care for the IT equipment: computers, printers, network.
• To build up special English teaching manuals for children for long-term application (in the Youth House and in the Foreign language center of the Ministry for Education and training of Vietnam)
• To organize fun games in English or other understandable foreign languages (with the help of Vietnamese tutors) for the children

The working place is the Youth House in Hanoi. It is envisioned that the volunteers would devote at least 5-6 hours/day, 5 days/week. The volunteers will be strongly encouraged to join the other voluntary activities of the hosting organisation (workcamp management, project in the Fisher village, social activities, etc.). The local host will organize social activities for the volunteers in collaboration with Vietnamese volunteers.

Qualifications and experience:
- Fluent in English (French or Vietnamese is an asset).
- Previous English teaching experience is an asset.
- Strong inter-personal skills and experience in working with a wide variety of people; cultural sensitivity, and ability to work on sensitive topics.
- Commitment to volunteerism and considerable experience as a volunteer
- Ready to share the lifestyle of local people (simple accommodation, transport by bus or bicycle, local food).
- High motivation and to be ready to face language and cultural differences.

Language: English

Duration of the project: 3-12 months

Enrollment: Interested candidates should send detailed resume along with their enrollment form.

Accommodation: The volunteers will receive basic accommodation and food in the Youth House in Hanoi (dormitory room with other volunteers).

Location: Hanoi, Vietnam. Hanoi offers many historical and cultural places, events and possibilities for free time activities (e.g. visiting the old quarter, museums, cinemas, clubs, lakes, etc.).

Age range: 18 and over

Participation fee: $590 CAD (about $470 US)

Extra fee: 200 Euro per month
The extra fee is intended to support the hosting organization who does not have sufficient funds. It is due upon arrival on the project.
 

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