Volunteer with the Peaceful Bamboo Family
We accept volunteers with experience in special education, social therapy or biodynamic gardening, introduced to us by partners or friends. Applications from people outside of our network will be considered on an individual basis, depending on motivations. All volunteers for under 3 months are responsible for organizing their own visas.
Please find the application form at the bottom of this page.
The Peaceful Bamboo Family, Tinh Truc Gia (TTG) is a centre for adults and youngsters living with disabilities situated in the outskirts of Hue City, in central Vietnam.
TTG was created after the children of Eurasia special schools and classes had finished their school curriculum. It was difficult to find vocational training centres and a suitable work and life situation enabling them to integrate in society. TTG is a living and working therapeutic Camphill community completely embedded in the local culture. TTG was inaugurated in the beginning of 2009.
TTG is situated in a rural district, 10 minutes by motobike from Hue city centre. After turning off a very animated and busy street, Dien Bien Phu Street, you will drive through winding little roads and bamboo groves, that will bring you to Tinh Truc Gia, a beautiful « little village », with many buildings for boarding, workshops, classrooms, a big biodynamic garden etc. The landscape and the surrounding area is very harmonious and people there are living a traditional lifestyle. Our neighbours are essentially farmers and artisans. There are many pagodas in the neighbourhood and you might hear their temple bells calling for the early morning mediation at three in the morning.
Various vocational training workshops enable the youngsters to receive a professional training. The sale of the products produced in the workshops also enables the centre to cover part of their running costs. There is a food processing workshop making delicious jam, ice cream, fruit juices, dried fruits; an organic vegetable garden; a cooking workshop; housekeeping and maintenance; embroidery; lacquer ware painting and in the future we are hoping to have a pottery and wood workshops.
TTG is a very warm and vibrant community which aims to embody care for self, others and nature. The TTG youngsters and team really know how to make people feel welcome. School classes from the surrounding schools come to visit on a regular basis in order to learn about the way we work and live. This gives the youngsters a chance to share their skills, knowledge and way of being and living together. Training programs organized by Eurasia Learning Institute, are also hosted by the community.
Volunteers will receive a booklet with all the information concerning their stay upon arrival.
TTG currently accommodates 37 young adults, 10 teenagers in the class, and 16 children in the integrated kindergarten.
For any questions or contacts concerning volunteers please contact Eurasia Foundation Director Mrs Lisi Ha Vinh or Eurasia Association Secretary Ms Jana Castles.
mail: lisiha@hotmail.com or jana@elihw.org
Charter, rules and regulations
Application form
Capturing the spirit of TTG by Thao & Hà
History
Vietnam has a rich history and it is certainly important that you make some inquiry about its history and its cultural, political and economic situation. We suggest you watch the TV series « The Vietnam War », as it is a very good way to understand the history of Vietnam.
Climate
It is important to know that the climate in Hue can be a problem for foreigners. It is very hot in summer, from April until August and it rains a lot from November until February. It can be cold in winter and you need to bring warm clothes, especially as the houses are not heated in Vietnam. There are regular typhoons and floods in and around Hue area, but Tinh Truc Gia is situated in a high area so we do not suffer from floods here directly. Spring and autumn are lovely!
Visa
You need a visa for travelling to Vietnam. Eurasia will explain to you which formalities are necessary in your particular case. Please be aware that we do not apply for the visa, you will have to take care of this yourself.
Internet
We have WiFi connection, but you may not have WiFi in your room. Please bring your own laptop, there are no computers available for the use for volunteers.
Transport
The local means of transportation is by bicycle or by scooter. TTG volunteers are not permitted to ride a scooter, but may ride an electric bicycle if they wish to rent or buy one. We cannot provide volunteers with an electric bicycle. Please be aware that riding a scooter or electric bicycle in Vietnam is quite dangerous!
Health
It is important to be physically and mentally healthy if you are interested in coming to work in Vietnam. Bring any medicine you might need and a first aid kit. You have to have a health insurance, which will cover any health expenses you might have here. Please be careful that your insurance also covers your work as a volunteer. You should also take out a special insurance that would allow you to be repatriated in case of a severe situation.
Financial contribution
The volunteers have to be aware of the fact that the budget of the centre and the local economy does not allow to pay volunteers. The centre depends almost entirely on donations and local salaries are extremely low compared to western salaries. All volunteers coming to TTG have to pay their own airfare and have to bring money for all their personal expenses. We ask for a contribution of 250$ per month for room and boarding, as we have only few guest rooms.
The volunteers may have to look for a room outside the centre. If guest rooms in the centre are free, we can offer a simple double room with private bathroom for the volunteers. If we welcome two volunteers they have to share a room (in this case it has to be two men or two women).
Introduction & probation period
All volunteers receive an introduction to the work in TTG and to the field of special education and social therapy, depending on their previous experience and the duration of their stay. We will also give a course on intercultural-working together for all foreign newcomers. Please do not underestimate the “cultural shock” when working in a different cultural surrounding. A certain time to adapt and a certain tolerance and cultural openness is required in such culturally/historically/economically different contexts.
Depending on the length of your stay, an evaluation will be done after an initial introduction period. This gives both sides the possibility to confirm their further commitment to working together.
Please read the Charter and Rules and Regulations carefully before committing to working with us.
Volunteers will receive a booklet with all the information concerning their stay upon arrival.
What to bring ?
- Bring clothes for hot and cold weather. Please be aware that as we work with youngsters, it is important to wear clothing that covers your shoulders. Women are asked to avoid wearing low cut tops and short skirts or shorts. You can also find many lovely clothes in Vietnam, so don’t bring too much!
- If you play a musical instrument that you can bring with you, we would love you to bring it and share your talents with us.
- We try to live an ecological lifestyle so please choose hygiene products with a low impact on the environment.
Short-term
We accept volunteers with experience in special education, social therapy or biodynamic gardening, introduced to us by partners or friends. Applications from people outside of our network will be considered on an individual basis, depending on motivations. All volunteers for under 3 months are responsible for organizing their own visas.
Long-term
For 1 year volunteers the visa conditions are very difficult and strict. They must come through a partner organization, which gives them an introductory course, applies for their one-year visa and coaches them throughout their volunteering process! We do not accept untrained volunteers under a one-year period under any other circumstances and we do not apply for their visa.
