Over the past 5 years, through its bilateral cooperation with the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations, the Netherlands-based Activity International organisation has sent a total of more than 300 international volunteers to Da Nang for their active involvement in support activities at social support centres, children homes, and underprivileged schools.

International volunteers on duty at a social support facility

As a retired nurse, Ms Margaret Wilson, an Australian national, started joining AI-launched volunteer activities in 2014. During her visit to Da Nang, Wilson realised the desperate demand for healthcare services amongst the disadvantaged, including abandoned children, disabled people and homeless senior citizens, at the city’s Social Sponsor Centre. This, indeed, inspired her to come to Da Nang twice every year for voluntary programmes.

Besides, the kind-hearted woman has also called on her family members and friends to give material assistances to less fortunate fates.

Also desiring to care for and educate abandoned and disabled children, retired teacher Leslie Palmer from Canada started joining the AI organisation in 2015, and then decided to go to Da Nang as a volunteer once a year.

Over recent years, the Canadian volunteer has been actively involved in teaching English at an orphanage centre under the municipal Red Cross Society, and at a number of needy pre-schools in Lien Chieu District.

Making a difference for the underprivileged brings the true happiness to such these volunteers makes their lives more meaningful as “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”.

Mr Dang Van Quoc Viet, the Director of AI in Viet Nam, said, AI has been in charge of offering humanitarian and development assistances so as to improve the living standards of those living in special circumstances.

AI places volunteers to assist at social support centers, children homes and underprivileged schools. This organisation offers 2 volunteer programmes: Social Support Center Assistant and Care and Teach Underprivileged Children. Volunteers will work with the AI staff team to carry out many charity projects in health care, education, social welfare for the disadvantages.

Over recent years, the AI volunteers have been actively involved in giving support in terms of physical and mental healthcare services for those being cared for at social support facilities, helping children get acquainted with English, and appealing for more investment in healthcare, therapy, and extracurricular education activities at social support facilities. 

The AI-assigned enthusiastic international volunteers have offered physical therapy, rehabilitation and care to the disabled, the sick and the elderly at the municipal Social Sponsor Centre.

In addition, AI has raised money to buy necessary items, physiotherapy and rehabilitation equipment, and upgrade some sanitary facilities at this venue at an estimate of about 15,000 US$ per year.

In a similar vein, the organisation has also  3,000 raised about US$ to buy such necessary items as diapers, milk and fruit, and organise field trips for a total of 25 children aged 0-5 at the Orphan Nurturing Centre under the municipal Red Cross Society, some of whom are disabled from birth.

Also, the AI volunteers have enthusiastically helped enhance the physical development and basic life skills for the children.

Mr Pham Huu Hoa, Vice Chairman of the municipal Union of Friendship Organisations said that Da Nang is still in need of international volunteers boasting a high sense of responsibility and willingness to support the disadvantaged in society like those from AI.

It is known that the Union and AI have already entered into an agreement on the implementation of an international volunteer programme in Da Nang for the whole 2017 - 2020 period.