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Becoming a Hope for Wounded Children: Volunteering with Disabled Children in Vietnam

#I learned how to love myself #Gratitude for small things; clarity about my career direction #It made me want to become a better person.

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    "Through this volunteer work I realized how many things in my daily life I had not recognized as making me happy. Above all, I learned that the very small and trivial everyday things can be a great happiness for someone."

     

    Volunteer work with Vietnamese children with disabilities that brings hope to wounded children

    Participant Jeong Hye-mi (25) / 4-week gap year

     

     

     

     

     

     

    # I decided to participate hoping to become even a little better than I am now!

     

     

     

     

     

    I really wanted to try volunteering abroad at least once. So I found GapYear through an internet search, and I liked that there were various projects and, above all, that I could choose the period I wanted, so I decided to join a GapYear project.

     

    And Through GapYear I hoped to become at least a little better than I am now.

     

     

     

    Before starting the volunteer work I had a lot of worries. I was concerned about many things—whether I could adapt well there, whether I could get along with others... Still, I followed what GapYear instructed and went, so it seems I returned without any major problems.The place I originally wanted to volunteer at was full, so I ended up volunteering somewhere else. It was a bit disappointing, but it wasn''t bad.

     

     

     

     

     

    # I felt a lot through the children and by watching the teachers working at the center


     


     

    Most of the routine was playing ball with the children, feeding them, and giving massages. I majored in physical therapy and wanted to help in that area even a little, but unfortunately I couldn''t, and I felt sorry and personally frustrated. As time went on I increasingly thought that if I had clinical experience I could have been more helpful to the children.

     

     

     

    Although I couldn''t help much, I learned a lot through the children and by observing the teachers who work at the center.It''s wrong to look for my happiness by comparing myself to others, but through this volunteer work I realized how many things in my everyday life I had not recognized as making me happy. Above all, I learned that the very small, trivial everyday things can be a huge happiness to someone.

     

    Before, I thought the image I presented to others was important and tried to look good to them. But living abroad made me feel more at ease, and when I did what I wanted and acted as I thought, it was much more comfortable and better than I expected.

     

     

    People like me who worry a lot about others'' opinions should go and try doing what they want.After spending a month like that, I returned and started thinking and acting with myself at the center even in Korea. This doesn''t mean I''m being inconsiderate or selfish; rather, my preoccupation with how others see me has greatly decreased.

     

     

     

     

     

     

    # After participating in the volunteer work at a time when I was worrying about my career path, I came back to Korea and decided which way to go!


     


     

     

    AndI was at a time when I was deeply pondering what I wanted to do, and as I kept seeing children with disabilities,I kept thinking about how I could help those children through treatment.So even after returning to Korea, I plan to look into work in that area.

     

    Living with children with disabilities there greatly reduced my prejudice and aversion toward disability. Disability used to seem huge and like those people were different from me, but now I think they are just people whose bodies are a bit uncomfortable or ill—people just like us.

     

     

     

    And I met new people there and still keep in touch; I think forming such unexpected connections is very exciting. It was also nice that during my time there three Koreans'' activity periods overlapped with mine, so we became close and had fun together.






    # A time that made me grateful for small things and changed me to live working hard


    Through GapYear I had valued the version of myself that I showed to others, but I came to feel that it wasn''t that important; I learned how to love myself and that happiness isn''t something grand.

    I became thankful for small things, and it seems to have changed my lazy ways into living with effort and diligence.



    If there are people planning to participate in this project in the future,I hope they go with a relaxed mind rather than with lofty expectations of coming back with something.

    There are many projects in GapYear, so keep communicating with them and seriously consider which project you truly want to try. I hope others, like me, make even a small change in their lives to move toward a better life and a better self.

    If I get another chance, I''d like to join other projects to gain new experiences.





    # My Gap Year Tip



    (Pickup)
    They came to pick me up at the airport despite the late hour, so I was able to get to the accommodation safely without any issues. They were holding a sign at the airport, so I could easily find the person in charge.


    (Language)
    When I joined, my English was only good enough for greetings, but my listening was decent so I could manage to communicate. It would be better to be fluent, but it''s advisable to study listening a bit beforehand.


    (Meals)
    The accommodation provided three meals a day, so I didn''t have to worry about food. If you want to try new dishes sometimes, you can just eat out.


    (What to bring)
    Be sure to bring disposable masks. There are many motorbikes and the air in Hanoi is very bad, so they''re essential. If you forget masks, I recommend buying at least a cloth mask locally.

    Also, although there is a washing machine at the accommodation, it didn''t wash clothes very cleanly, so I used a laundromat. Because you can''t use it often, bring plenty of towels.


    (Travel)
    I visited Da Nang and Sapa over the weekend and highly recommend both. Da Nang was nice because the weather was warm, and Sapa is highly recommended if you like trekking.






    My gap year was


    Experience★★★★☆
    Spending a month abroad volunteering is not a common experience.


    Learning★★★★☆
    It made me realize a lot about the way I had been living and helped change it.


    Environment★★☆☆☆
    The air was really bad and hygiene standards were somewhat low.


    Safety★★☆☆☆
    There are so many motorbikes that I''m worried about traffic accidents.


    Leisure★★★☆☆
    I recommend taking weekend trips to other regions rather than staying in Hanoi.




Why This Project

What makes this project special

#Inner Peace & Fulfillment#Rekindling Motivation#Career & Direction#On-site practical experience#Self-awakening#Finding direction in life#Noble work#A new beginning#Volunteering with children with disabilities#Making genuine global friends#Expressing more#Improving expressiveness#Broadening life perspective#Discovering a new me#Life transformation#Facing my inner self#Regaining inner peace#Flexible mindset#Building adaptability to unfamiliar environments

Take just one brave step.
GapYear will take care of the rest.