🇻🇳 ESC Volunteering in Vietnam 🧸 Therapeutic Play and Social Inclusion for Youth With Disabilities 💛

Description

The volunteer will work at the Vietnam Friendship Village, a sanctuary for youth and veterans affected by Agent Orange. The role balances therapeutic play with community integration. Activities include: · Deliver structured play, occupational, and physiotherapy sessions for youth with disabilities.

• Adapt physical exercises, games, and outdoor activities to individual abilities.

• Provide one-on-one support to foster motor, sensory, and social skills.

• Lead group workshops, creative events, and design simple visual/play materials.

• Engage residents in gardening and farming within the village once or twice a week. ·

• Document session notes and track progress where required.

Additionally, you can participate in non-formal education programs for local youth empowerment alongside other volunteers. We seek empathetic volunteers ready to bring joy and care to an exceptional community.

Accommodation, food and transport arrangements

The volunteer will live in Hanoi in a shared twin room (same gender) at the volunteer house, equipped with free Wi-Fi, hot water, and AC/fans. A cook/cleaner prepares all meals from Monday to Sunday (except Saturday). A kitchen is available for personal use. The house is located in a lively neighborhood near shops, local markets, and cafes. To ensure smooth and free travel around the city and to the project site, the volunteer will be provided with a monthly Hanoi bus pass. You will be fully immersed in local life while enjoying a supportive environment.

Training during the activity

Volunteers receive a 5-day On-Arrival Training covering Vietnamese culture, language, and lifestyle, alongside tours. Continuous support is provided through language lessons and a dynamic team of local mentors. You will also visit local NGOs focused on social inclusion to share best practices. This opportunity is part of the RISE project, aiming to strengthen capacity and advocacy in vulnerable communities while developing your own intercultural skills. Workshop and trainings will be organize within the project to further develop the cooperation in between volunteers in the network.

Participant profile

Candidates must be 18 to 35 years old and reside in an eligible country (EU Member State, North Macedonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Turkey). Applicants must have completed the compulsory Humanitarian Aid Volunteering training and cannot have participated in an individual Humanitarian Aid Volunteering mission before; the total duration of all combined EU volunteering programs cannot exceed 12 months.

The ideal volunteer should have

- An educational or professional background in special education, psychology, social work, therapy, or healthcare

- Practical experience working with children or young adults with disabilities

- Strong interpersonal skills who can connect across language barriers using patience, empathy, and creative talents like music, arts, or sports

- Knowledge of sign language is a significant asset.

On a personal level, this role requires high emotional resilience to remain positive in challenging environments, and exceptional flexibility to adapt to dynamic situations, including participating in outdoor gardening work. Ultimately, you must possess strong intercultural sensitivity, a collaborative mindset for community living, and a deep respect for the dignity of vulnerable populations.

Activity details

Activity type

Individual volunteering

Activity dates

A total of 52 week(s) during the period 08/10/2026 to 30/11/2027

Location

No.72, Pham Than Duat Street, Mai Dich Commune, Cau Giay District, Hanoi, HANOI, Viet Nam

Deadline

No application deadline

Project code

2025-1-EACEA-VOLUN-101251290

Topics

Looking for participants from

31 countries can apply. The activity takes place in 🇻🇳 Vietnam.