Kimberlea Green (left), Amy Freeman and Brittany Rogers will be going overseas next month to volunteer in Vietnam. 85648 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
By VANESSA VALENZUELA
AMY Freeman is about to set off on a life-changing experience.
The 18-year-old from Tarneit will take part in an international volunteer program next month where she will spend two weeks teaching English to students in Vietnam.
After deferring her tertiary studies earlier this year, Amy said she decided to work part-time and earn enough money to travel abroad.
“I know somebody that went to Vietnam and did something similar over there so that’s why I decided to go,” Amy said.
Amy will be joined by former classmates Kimberlea Green and Brittany Rogers when she leaves for Vietnam in September.
“We will be teaching English in schools and orphanage in Vietnam. We thought learning English is something that would definitely be valued over there,” Amy said.
“It will be so different over there so I think it will take some time to getting used to.”
As a volunteer, Amy will work in a Vietnamese school or community centre, assisting primary and high school students with their education.
The International Volunteer HQ program teaches volunteers how to communicate and travel safely in Vietnam.
The organisation works in 18 countries across the world and sends over 4000 volunteers abroad each year.
Amy said volunteering overseas was a big commitment but would help her develop valuable life skills and allow her to contribute to the community.
“I also think we will gain a lot of appreciation for what we have here because they have so little over there,” she said.
For more information about volunteering abroad visit www.volunteerhq.org
