Vietnam Team 86

VIETNAM TEAM 86

Global

Volunteers

November 9 - 23, 2019

WWW.GLOBALVOLUNTEERS.ORG

To learn about and

experience

Vietnamese culture

& food

To gain new

skills and

perspectives

To make a

meaningful

contribution

To better

understand

Vietnamese

history & economy

Listening

Collaboration

Resources Effective

Use

Common Good

Taking Initiative

Flexibility

Participating

To make

new friends

From the fringes of the Red River Delta - where the ancient

origin of Vietnamese language, art, and culture was

nourished 5,000 years ago - to metropolitan hubs like Hanoi

where the results of a series of freemarket reforms are

evident, Vietnam is transforming rapidly and embracing its

heritage and future with many challenges.

With great enthusiasm, Global Volunteers welcomedTeam

86 to the vibrant city of Hanoi - to build mutual

understanding with the Vietnamese people and assist the

government with its ambitious educational and economic

goals to enable students to use English confidently in

academic and professional settings.

The lack of teaching staff and resources are two main

obstacles nationwide. Poverty is still evident, even in urban

cities, despite rapid modernizing. People with disabilities

are left with few opportunities for education and

employment, despite their efforts.Global Volunteers

directly addresses needs in those two high-priority areas.

Our time-tested and proven philosophy of service ensures

volunteers’ efforts help advance our Vietnamese partners’

development vision and goals. Team 86 applied their

combined energy and unique, individual skills to

contribute in a variety of ways to these sustained, long-

term projects:

As volunteersinstead oftourists, Team 86 got to know

and learn from the Vietnamese people - leaving behind

the gifts of hope, service and friendship.

Using Global Volunteer’s Conversational English

Teaching Guide and their personal creativity,

volunteers offer classes to primary and secondary

school students.

Sharing their knowledge in profession of business,

finance, law, and technology with university students.

Helping young adults with impaired visionlearn

practical conversational English to improvetheir

employability astrained massage therapists.

"Evening brought the new team together over dinner at the

hotel; getting acquainted; hearing travel and service stories.

This is an enthusiastic and well-traveled group. We bonded

well for a great experience together as we serve in Hanoi."

~ Barbara

"I’m going to be wondering how the couches get into

some of the apartments for the rest of my life. The

buildings are so skinny!"

~ Caitlin

"Woken up by our rooster pal early in the morning. Snoozed

off just in time to hear the alarm go off. Breakfast was

delicious: a blend of Vietnamese vegetables, salads and

other food along with western food to satisfy all palates.

Joined everyone for orientation in the "Penthouse Suite."

Introduced ourselves, set our team goals, and did our group

activity of flag identification."

~ Cathie

"Global Volunteers activities seem to be integrated well into

the Omamori Spa and BlindLink programming, with clear

objectives for our English work, and working with students

with a variety of English skills, vision and some with additional

disabilities. Ms. Huong has a clear vision for the organization

and I feel like we are making a real and significant

contribution."

~ Susan

"After spending a week at BlindLink, Susan and I have been

impressed by the power of other senses and the ability of our

students to “see” the world differently."

~ Phil

"Margy and I believe we have been quite successful with

the kids from NBK and are enjoying the experience

immensely. We make everything a game, and are very

patient. But most importantly, we genuinely like the kids,

and they seem to like us."

~ Michael

"It was a very touching and heartwarming daywith hugs

all around by everyone and for everyone. I have never

seen such a mass outpouring of affection at any school In

my life. The memories will last forever!"

~ Michael

"I feel fortunate to have spent the full two weeks working with

mostly the same staff at Omamori - seeing definite progress in

English pronunciation and vocabulary, learning the

personalities of many individuals and feeling a part of the

rhythm and daily routine of Blind-Link and Omamori life. I am

convinced that this is a real and effective, sustainable example

of social entrepreneurship, providing a great service that

clients happily pay for, and creating meaningful jobs and

incomes for a disadvantaged demographic."

~ Susan

"We continue to try and find learning experiences for these

bright but rambunctious and occasionally inattentive students."

~ Margy

V I E T N A M T E A M 8 6

375 East Little Canada Road

St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA

(800) 487-1074 | toll-free

(651) 482-0915 | fax

globalvolunteers.org

email@globalvolunteers.org

GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS

GlobalVolunteers

globalvolunteers