Help me Teach and Live in Southern Vietnam! Spring 2019

Charlotte Miller Start Date: Dec 5, 2018 - End Date: Jun 3, 2019
  • Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

My Travel Story

by: Charlotte Miller Start Date: Dec 5, 2018 - End Date: Jun 3, 2019
Welcome to my travel campaign page! 

As many of you know, I received my Secondary Education Teaching Credential in the Social Sciences in May of this year! Before committing to a full-time job, I decided to find a travel program where I could use my teaching skills and see parts of the world I haven't yet. I am happy to announce I have chosen to go through Kaya International Travel for a month long trip in Southern Vietnam! (Ho Chi Minh to be exact!) Before my five weeks in Vietnam, I will take the opportunity to explore Thailand with my sister! We will visit Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Krabi!

If you're curious to know what I'd be doing in those four weeks, check out the explanation below found on Kaya's website:
"Travel to Ho Chi Minh City to engage in teaching activities and make a direct and long-term contribution to the development of students for building their confidence, academic performance and future prospects. This project aims to enhance the range and quality of local education in subjects such as English, Maths, Computers/IT and creative subjects. Also, you may be involved with music lessons and practice, sports instructions and other sports-related activities, help with homework, leading extra classes to students requiring special attention, supporting teachers with lessons planning and preparation of teaching-learning materials. Volunteers work mostly in pairs as teachers or teaching assistants for one or more of the above kind of activities based on the curriculum and academic plans for the educational facility or project." 

Other things included with this program are: 
  • Accommodation: shared room in a volunteer house with common room, TV, dining area, fridge and mini library; on-site chef and housekeeper
  • Internet access
  • Meals: 3 meals per day, Monday – Friday (packed lunches at lunchtime)
  • Dinner with a local family
  • Airport pickup and drop off from Tan Son Nhat International Airport
  • Training: pre-departure packs, on-site orientation, including cultural awareness
  • Support: 24-hour support
  • Local cooking demonstration
  • One local dinner with a host family to experience everyday life of Regular Vietnamese People.
Doesn't this sound amazing?! I can't wait to share my stories with all of you once I return! Now, the next four months will be full of preparing and fundraising! :) Please feel free to share my site with anyone who would be interested! Don't feel obligated to donate either. If you can simply share my page on your social media or through email, I am just as happy with that! Thanks for supporting me, my travels and my dream of teaching abroad! Now, let's turn this dream into a reality! :D
  • Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Updates

4

  • Update On Volunteer Placement

    Update on Volunteer Placement
    Hello everyone!

    My trip to Asia is literally just days away and I can hardly contain my excitement! Thanks to everyone who has followed me along my journey to get to this day. Your support does not go unnoticed and I cannot wait to update you all on my travels once I'm there. Before I leave however, I want to update you on my volunteer placement information!

    School: Tam Ha School Thu Duc District , Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Description of the Community where the Project is located: This is a catholic establishment in the Tam Phu Ward, Thu Duc District. Kindergarten, primary and secondary school buildings are in the one place. The students come from all religions and most belong to poor families who are migrants from other parts of Vietnam. This center provides them with free education, so the students don’t have to pay any kind of fees here. In this center, there are more than 800 students coming to study in kindergarten, primary school and secondary school level.

    This center provides a safe environment to the student for their education and joyful development and effective education to poor and migrant children. Helping poor students to be confident, motivate and integrate them socially and advance them holistically.

    Facilities: There is an activities room, playground, nap room (for small kids), & food facility for the kindergarten. The volunteer will work in the childcare section as well as teaching the older kids, especially with English.

    Who does what in the project? The volunteer will prepare lessons for their daily classes with the help of the volunteer coordinator. They will deliver their lessons, which will differ between working with younger kids and older kids. The volunteer will also have help and support from the class teacher to prepare their lesson and deliver
    their classes.

    What is the need of the volunteer?
    • Students are interested in learning English in this centre
    • Some students need assistance with their homework
    • Help do other things like planting trees, cleaning, sports activities and social activities
    • Children really like to play games and volunteers can organize different games for them in order to learn English and relax
    • Volunteer works as a role model for the kids

    Activities performed everyday by volunteers:
    • Helping with homework
    • Teaching and assisting in English classes for the children
    • Helping in the kitchen (kindergarten center)
    • Computer lessons for primary and secondary students
    • Chitchat with the kids
    • Help in childcare section
    • Organize sports & social activities for the kids

    I hope this gives you a better idea of what I'll be doing in the classroom once I am there! :) Excited to post a new update once I complete my first days of teaching in Vietnam. Keep an eye out on this page for the announcement of my blog I'll be writing while abroad. Please let me know if you have any questions about my time in Southeast Asia!

    All the best,

    Charlotte

  • It's The Final Countdown!

    It's the Final Countdown!
    Hello everyone,
    My sister and I officially fly from San Francisco to Bangkok in 16 days! We have been planning and prepping like crazy for this trip so we cannot wait!
    As for my volunteer placement, I've virtually met my roommate of three weeks named Pamela who will be in the classroom with me. She is originally from Bravil but has lived in London for the past five yours working as a journalist that focuses on Social Justice! Sounds like we'll get along great.
    I had an appointment last week at the travel clinic in SF where I received some vaccines, information on healthy eating/clean water and other health concerns I should be aware of when traveling across the globe. Nothing major in the areas I am going to however, so I'm positive I'll be okay. I am most worried about the mosquitoes!
    Thanks to everyone who has visited this page, shared it with friends/family or donated to my experience abroad! It means so much to me knowing I have such a positive support system surrounding me!
    I am going to create a blog soon so I can document my 5 weeks in Ho Chi Minh. I will post that blog link on this site as well! Thanks for reading!

    Best,
    Charlotte

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