I wanted to get involved in an international voluntary project because I’d like to do an MBA in NGOs Communication and Management in Germany.
I’d also like to learn new things and it’s the best way to gain experience by working as a volunteer and I’ve always been attracted to work for Ngos (particularly in the social and education field with women and children).
I once had an experience in my town (i come from Lyon, in France).
When I was in high school, I offered my services as a volunteer in the association of the Resto du cœur (which provides meals for people in need and the homeless).
I helped them about two months during the winter.
I worked in a kind of center which was like a supermarket and helped people to do their shopping and also spent a lot of time with them around a coffee.
The main goal was to help them to do daily tasks, listen to them and that they feel well-integrated in the society.
I wanted to get involved in that specific project in Vietnam because it matches with personality and expectations about working as a volunteer.
I read about the organisation and it advocates principles which are important to me (like solidarity or tolerance).
I also like the fact that’s its a non-religious organisation because I’m atheist and i would have felt myself uncomfortable if I had to put a religion foreground.
I think its a very open-minded organisation.
I mainly wanted to work with children and when I read the mission I thought it could suit perfect to me because I like to organize activities and play with them.
I’ve also read that the volunteers could have the opportunity to help in the orphanage near the hospital (and that’s exactly what I’d love to do).
I was really enthusiastic about living in a host family because that’s the best way to be fully integrate, to share and to learn about the country, the habits and the culture.
I’ve never been in southwest Asia but I’ve often thought to go there and it could be a very good opportunity as a volunteer because you’re in the country.
I mean I waited for an opportunity like this because if I had to go there as a tourist I think I wouldn’t have discovered the « real Vietnam ».
To go with an association, it’s also a chance to stay for a long time and to discover non touristic place, to live in a family and see every day the Vietnamese way of life and take fully part of.
I saw some documentaries and it seems to be a very beautiful country with its bay and its landscape.
I also imagine that the locals are very “warm”, kind, open-minded and helpful.
I also suppose it’s a country with many beautiful traditions and I’d like to discover them.
I think they respect their traditions, can live in harmony with nature, help each other’s, are generous and like to share.
I’d like to go there because honestly I’m a food-lover and I’d love to taste the Vietnamese specialities.
First of all, I hope I could learn a lot about working in a NGO and that I could take responsibilities, work in a very dynamic team.
I hope I really could do some projects for the children and spend a lot of time with them.
Secondly I also hope I could improve my skills in educational and health methods.
My main fear would be if the association isn’t satisfied about my work because it would mean for me that work for an NGO isn’t for me and I would be very disappointed but otherwise I don’t have any other fears.