Vietnam Youth Tour

GVN has the pleasure of announcing our new Youth Tour program. Designed with 15-17 year olds in mind, this program has been created to allow teens the chance to take part in one of our rewarding volunteer programs. This gives them the opportunity to immerse themselves in a developing country, experience another culture, and foster their personal growth, whilst helping communities in need.

The first GVN Youth Tour will be held in Vietnam. Essentially the Youth Tour is a shorter more intense version of our standard program with the benefits of additional safety measures such as 24 hour supervision, GVN staff guidance, a local translator, as well as village and cultural tours.

As well as taking part in the volunteer program participants will be involved in a small amount of community fundraising prior to their trip, so that they can contribute to one of the current projects of our partner in Vietnam.

Location

Volunteers in our two week Youth Tour will be placed in Tam Ky, Vietnam. Based in the central region of Vietnam, volunteers will be surrounded by lush green rice paddies, rich traditional culture, beautiful beaches, and delicious Vietnamese food. Volunteers are greatly needed to care for, teach and playing with the gorgeous children in the orphanages our partner works in. They are also involved in helping to teach English to adults as well as children.

The Program

As well as orphanages, volunteers will share their time between a variety of placements including working with babies and children, and working with disabled children, as well as teaching English to community groups.

The Youth program will also incorporate the following educative components:

• Training and Orientation including Vietnamese language, culture and history
• GVN-Vietnam (our local partner) history and success stories, which will help the participants gain knowledge about international volunteering and how it benefits the local communities in the developing world

Volunteers will have the chance to offer their services to disadvantaged people. Typical activities include:

• Teaching English
• Teaching basic life skills
• Teaching sport, art and craft skills
• Cleaning and painting facilities
• Baby sitting
• Helping with physiotherapy
• Providing cross cultural friendship

Volunteers will also participate in the following visiting tours:

• Weekend trip to the small port city of Hoi An to check out the Old Town and do some shopping!
• Day trip to a remote village, so the students can experience the traditional rural culture of Vietnam

Fundraising Donation

Another focus of this program is to get the participants involved in fundraising for the Vietnam Orphanage project. We encourage our volunteers to get their family, friends and community involved in fundraising so that they too can learn about and contribute to the work we are doing in Vietnam.

By requiring a fundraising portion for this trip we hope to give our Youth volunteers a taste for fundraising (and volunteering) so that they can continue to take part in these types of programs in the future. These volunteers will benefit from seeing first hand how their funds are helping communities in need.

Click here for examples of projects supported by GVN Foundation fundraising.

Volunteers will be required to raise a US $150 program donation which will be included in their program fees. Of course if you are able to raise more than US $150 a larger donation will be more than welcome.

Food and Accommodation

Volunteers will be placed in a guesthouse sharing their room with at least 1 other volunteer of the same gender. A GVN Staff member will also be staying at the guesthouse providing 24 hour supervision.

Despite being housed in a relatively safe and quiet neighbourhood, a night watchman will guard the guesthouse overnight to ensure the safety of our young volunteers. The guesthouse is located within walking distance of the main volunteer house where our volunteers will meet for meals.

The guesthouse is basic and in keeping with the Vietnamese style, however volunteers will enjoy the comforts of Western amenities such as hot showers and flush toilets.

A local Vietnamese staff member will serve lunch and dinner each day and our past volunteers agree that the food is plentiful and delicious! A cold breakfast, typically consisting of bread, spreads and fresh fruit is provided daily.

Program Dates: November 29th- December 12th

The program will start with training and orientation on Sunday November 29th 2009 and volunteers will be required to arrive in Da Nang the day before. The last day of volunteering will be on December 11th and volunteers will fly home (departing Da Nang) either on the evening of December 11th or on December 12th.

Program Requirements

As a volunteer in our Vietnam Youth Tour you must:

• Be 15-17 years old at the time of travel
• Have no health problems
• Be enthusiastic and a team player
• Be a native speaker of English
• Have a mature approach

Please note that this program is subject to minimum volunteer numbers.

Program Cost

A US$350 application fee (fully refundable if you decide not to go) will secure your place on the program, with your program fee due for payment eight weeks before you begin your placement. Your application fee is valid for a 5 year period which allows you access to subsequent GVN Youth Tours or once 18 years of age to all GVN's volunteer programs.

Your application fee includes the following benefits:

• Personal Staff Support
• Your Youth Tour Program Guide
• Your Fundraising Guide and Software
• Access to Your Own Online Journal
• Online Video - Preparing For Your Trip
• Opportunities for Discounts on Airfares

Once your application fee is paid the remainder of the cost for your time in the Youth Tour program is:

• US$997 (including US$150 fundraising portion)

The in-country fee covers administrative charge, placement arrangement, accommodation, food, transportation for volunteers, supervision, visiting tours, and a project donation.

The other costs you will need to meet are your flights (international and a domestic flight to Da Nang), visa, shots, travel insurance, and corresponding airport departure taxes. There may also be minor travel and accommodation expenses at the beginning and end of your program.

Your program fee includes the following benefits:

• Your In-Country Fee
• In-Country Support
• 24hr Emergency Line
• Membership To The Change Makers Club
• International Travel Advice
• Letter Of Completion

Apply for the Youth Tour Program

Your application process is free and seamless and if you are successful we will provide you with a choice of application fee payment options that include a secure online service. We also are one of the few organizations that offer a full money back guarantee on your application fee if you decide not to go.
Click here to apply for the Youth Tour program.

Frequently Asked Questions

We have put together the following page, which answers the majority of questions people have.
Click here

Volunteer Journals

If you would like to read about the experiences of some of our volunteers who are currently volunteering, you can do so here. This journal service is provided free to all our volunteers.
Click here

Application Process

All applicants will be notified by email as to whether their application has been successful.

(1) Complete the Application Form: Fill out the application form below. Upon receipt of the form we will assess your suitability for the program within two working days.

(2) Contact You: If you are successful we will then email you a letter of acceptance.

(3) Decision Point: Once you have read through the letter of acceptance and we have answered any questions or concerns that you might have, it is time to pay your US $350 application fee to secure your place on the program. Please note that we will fully refund your application fee if you decide not to go.

(4) Confirmation: Once the application fee is paid, we will contact you to ensure everything is organized. We will also send you the link to our program guide which covers topics such as country information, travel links, visa application process, fundraising ideas and much more!

(5) Communication & Support: Throughout the application process, we are committed to working with you to answer any of your questions or concerns. During your placement we are also available as a form of support to you as a volunteer and will email you while in country to discuss how the program is going.

To apply for this program, click here