HOW: Volunteering

HOW is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in the USA, whose staff consists of all volunteers. Its mission is to provide hope and care to neglected, abandoned, and orphaned children in deprived areas of the world with a specific focus on VietNam.

This blog was written by a wonderful Helping Orphans Worldwide, HOW/Free Hugs Vietnam volunteer interpreter. An Khang is a university student who volunteered his time to interpret for the VIP (Volunteer Immersion Program) June 2012. HOW asks all of our volunteers to share their experience so more people can see the joy of volunteering.  Please enjoy An Khang's blog...

 I LEARNED A LOT OF THINGS FROM HOW AND THE CHILDREN I MET (HOW/FHV Volunteer 2012) Hi, my name’s An Khang. I’m from Vietnam. This summer, I volunteered as an interpreter for Helping Orphans Worldwide (HOW). I have tons of happy memories and useful experiences.
When I sent my CV to apply to be an interpreter and then had the interview with HOW staff, I just wanted to have a more exciting life than I had been having: studying all the time and being surrounded by homework, assignments and deadlines. And thanks to HOW, especially the children I met, I can bring inspiration back and ease my mind a lot. I feel like I’m much more happy now and helpful as well.

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The most memorable meeting I think is the time I visited Huy, the boy with EB. He was so adorable and intelligent. He was very confident and beautiful. He treated us like his own relatives or close friends. He told us a lot of stuff about his life, his habits and favorite TV shows,… And I can still remember the way he talked about his dream that he could walk like other people and explore everywhere. It absolutely touched me. The dream is so normal and … sad. I didn’t know what to do to help him recover this kind of painful disease. I just talked to him, told jokes and sang along with him to make him happy. Although he has had a painful disease, he still welcomed us and gave us a wonderful day. And then I look to myself. I am healthy. I can walk and have a lot of friends. I’m “richer” than Huy so how can I sometimes be depressed and bored about life-like I am. I realize that I have to love the life I have had and appreciate what I’ve got now. Huy helped me to know that and I’m grateful to him for that.


In addition, the children I met in Lotus Shelter made me laugh a lot. The children always help people to forget their own problems and just enjoy playing with them. I did a lot of activities with the girls here and it’s so amazing such as making origami, dancing Chicken Dance, having party, etc.

Next, I want to mention about my volunteer position. This was my first time being a real interpreter like that. And it was so interesting. Sometimes I had some problems when I translated Vietnamese to English and English to Vietnamese. I earned so much experience from that. It still can make me smile now when I remember about that. Furthermore, I found out that I have to practice my English more often. Between you and me, sometimes when HOW staff told jokes, I didn’t laugh because I didn’t understand a single word of them haha.

Moreover, I made friends with interesting and humorous people such as Kerri, Aisling, Milly, Fiona, Hang, Thinh, Minh, Ngan. They were totally sweet and friendly.
Eventually, the VIP program of HOW is over now. And I think I am going to miss all of you. 7 days with you are always my beautiful memories. Love all of you and your work! Keep doing what you are doing ☺

P/s: The Appreciation Day was totally awesome and sweet xoxo

Please visit the HOW Volunteer album : http://www.eastvillagers.org/hillary/albums/865

Please visit if you would like to make a donation where 100% of your donations will go to support EB: Transparent Fish Fund 

http://www.tfishfund.org/how.html