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Laos (Vietianne) or Vietnam (Hanoi) Orphanage

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Posted by dhessie on 28/11/2007 at 15:28

I'm looking at volunteering in an orphanage in either Vietianne or Hanoi for a week. Has anyone ever done this? Is it possible to just show up and ask to volunteer? If so, can you give me the name of the orphanage? What kind of things did you do? Thanks.

#1 dhessie has been a member since 18/10/2007. Posts: 1


Posted by Suturn on 22/6/2012 at 08:18

Orphanage volunteering (or Orphanage Tourism) is a filthy business. It's just terribly stressing for the children to have new people every week and being forced to show affection to them. Here some other tips:

http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/peopleandpower/2012/05/201252285116180430.html

#2 Suturn has been a member since 14/4/2012. Location: Italy. Posts: 28
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Posted by MADMAC on 22/6/2012 at 08:32

Here in Mukdahan we have a school for the deaf. It's a resident school. Most of the kids are not orphans, but they do live in dorms far from home, often from poor families and the school does not have a lot of money for even basics. For my wife's birthday we bought lunch last year for the kids and I must say it was heartbreaking. They all wanted attention (there were hundreds of them), a number of the kids were hugging me and didn't want to let go. I agree having part time visitors, well meaning though they may be, is not necessarily doing the kids a whole lot of good.

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Posted by neosho on 23/6/2012 at 06:13

Are there no orphans in your home country?

#4 neosho has been a member since 13/8/2008. Posts: 386

Posted by enday on 13/9/2012 at 08:44

I'm with the crowd here -- please don't do it. Perhaps look into sponsoring a local employees wages at an orphanage or something if your intention is to genuinely help orphans.

#5 enday has been a member since 12/9/2012. Posts: 30

Posted by Rufus on 13/9/2012 at 22:28

This is a very bad idea. Do you realise you need a work permit even to volunteer? Do you also realise that this is a very stressful experience for the kids; they meet someone and then after a week they leave. Please do not do this.

#6 Rufus has been a member since 22/4/2007. Location: Laos. Posts: 978
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