Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese students have always worked at part-time jobs after class for extra cash but increasing numbers now choose to volunteer in their free time.
Certain streets are full of blue-shirted youths volunteering during exam season, guiding candidates and helping the police keep the peace.
While other students spend their holidays traveling and relaxing, Duong Anh, a senior in the English and Modern Languages Faculty of Hanoi Open University, volunteers for various charitable activities during her summer holidays. Anh now works as deputy chairwoman for the faculty’s Student Association. She has joined various charitable activities over the past three years and holds many unforgettable memories.
“I and other members of the association choose to be volunteers because we want to be of use to society,” Anh says.
One of her most memorable experiences was a visit to the Children’s SOS Village on Mai Dich street , Cau Giay district, Hanoi on June 1.
“We prepared elaborately for the visit,” says Anh, “one week before the trip, we stayed up till midnight wrapping presents for the orphans.”
“Everyone felt moved when the children greeted us warmly, they came to us, shook hands and hugged us tightly as if we were family.”
Over 15,000 students are taking part in the Exam Volunteers Programmes organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communists Youth Union and the Students Association.
They help the young candidates find places to stay, exam venues, and provide necessary information.
Administrator Dang Duc Thang of the Vietnam Volunteer Network says that the number of volunteers always changes.
“Our group gathers volunteers throughout the country, they may be students, high-schoolers or workers. They help raise funds for flood victims, visit orphans and all sorts of other activities.”
“Most Hanoian youths have volunteered work at least once,” says Thang, “they join with the youth unions at their schools and various clubs and organisations; even a group of friends can offer to help the poor whether they have sponsorship or not.”
Anh and others like her find simple happiness in making others happy.
“For me, a part-time job puts cash in my pocket; but volunteering brings me life experience, a chance to learn to lover others,” says Anh.-Enditem
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