Childcare Program in Vietnam with IVHQ

Hello, my name is Perla, and I am 20 years old. Volunteering in another country has been a long-standing goal of mine. I love traveling and discovering new cultures, but I wanted to add a deeper purpose to my travels. That’s why I decided to join a childcare program in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam with IVHQ. As a first-time volunteer abroad, I think this program was the perfect choice.

I remember arriving at the accommodation, feeling overwhelmed and questioning why I had decided to travel to the other side of the world. However, this feeling quickly faded as I began connecting with the people around me. The Local Team was incredibly welcoming, and helped me with everything I needed. They were genuinely caring and made sure we embraced this journey in the right way.

On the night of my arrival, some volunteers from other programs were sitting down on the patio of the accommodation. I joined them, and as I listened to their conversation, I wondered how long they had known each other? They seemed so close for a group that had just met a week ago. It amazed me how quickly you can connect with someone when you share the same goal.

Volunteering in a Kindergarten was an absolute joy. If you love kids, you will fall in love with this program. I felt like I relived a part of my childhood during my time in Ho Chi Minh.

Lastly, I was truly impressed by the Vietnamese culture -the people, the food, the traditions. I was amazed. Traveling so far away makes you realize how different and unique each environment is. When you’ve lived your whole life in one place, you might not fully appreciate the importance of traditions because they’re just the way things have always been. Vietnam is simply lovely and my time there went by so fast that I wished I could have stayed longer.