Today international volunteers from England organized a farewell party at the orphanage school which we work in cooperation with, to say goodbye to the children and celebrate the success of their 2 week placement. The volunteers involvement with the scheme has benefited the children not only in English skills through the teaching they provided, but also gave the children the opportunity to and experience of working, learning and forming friendships with people from foreign countries, introducing them to new ideas and offering them endless love, attention and affection, which has left them with brighter hopes for the future and happy memories. The party was held at the orphanage, with games, party music and gift donations. The children were very happy and excited, enjoying this immensely, as did the volunteers. The innocent and genuine faces of the children revealed their sadness at the departure of the volunteers and fond remembrance that they can keep of their teachers. Likewise, the lovely and kind hearted international volunteers couldn’t keep their reluctance to say goodbye hidden nor their pleasure at the children’s mutual feelings.

From Parris Sharika Smith, England, 19yrs old, Aug 2009

“I love Vietnam! I love the children! I love the volunteers that I have had the pleasure of working with and have formed strong friendships, which I do not doubt will be maintained for years to come. The schools and the scheme do incredible work and I am proud to have been involved and very lucky. I want to do this again and again and it has only made me more enthusiastic to try and work with similar schemes in England before I can return to Hanoi! I love my job, I get excited on my way to the schools and leave (a little sweaty…it’s very hot) but very, very, VERY happy. In my photo’s the faces of children and volunteers alike glow and I am deeply saddened to have to return home…I miss the children already! And the Vietnamese volunteers make me laugh every day. I hope I am missed as much as I shall miss my time and daily excitement, joy and the feeling of being blessed to be here (and the beer!! but maybe not the traffic) Thank you VFCD!!!”

From Suma Surendranath, England, 32 years old, August 2009

I chose to be involved in this project as I wanted to get to know a different culture ‘from the inside’ and I really feel I’ve achieved this.  The volunteers at VFCD have made all of us very welcome and have gone out of their way to take us to see the real Vietnam.  As for working with the children at the different schools, this has been an incredible experience.  Being with children, many of whom don’t have much in terms of material possessions, but who more than make up for that in smiles and warmth, has been a real pleasure.  They’ve really allowed us into their worlds and it has been a joy to get to know them and see them learn and develop, even during a short period.  I would fully recommend signing up for a project such as this – you will get so much more than you could ever imagine out of it!

Natalie Morales, London- England, 28 years old, August 2009

I am truly honored and privileged to work with the volunteer team at VFCD, the team are such kind genuine individuals and have made me feel so welcome in their home. Working with the children has been such an eye opener and I will remember each child and their individual story.  Tomorrow we have a farewell party with the street children and I’m looking forward to seeing them again even though it will be my last time before I leave for London- I know it will be extremely difficult to say goodbye as the children have such amazing, beautiful, individual personalities which I will dearly miss.

It has been such a pleasure and an amazing experience to work with the street children, the children at the orphanage, the volunteers at VFCD and to work in such a buzzing, amazing, wonderful city- Hanoi! I hope one day to return soon to see how the children have grown and developed. Thank you VFCD for this wonderful opportunity! Goodbye Hanoi!