Michela, a GTV volunteer since 2024, left Italy in early March to carry out an internship in Vietnam. 

Last semester, while approaching the conclusion of her Bachelor's degree in International Studies at the University of Trento, she decided to take on a field experience that could complement her academic path. Thus, thanks to a scholarship, she had the opportunity to travel to Vietnam with GTV. By experiencing firsthand what it means to operate in a developing context, this experience will not only enrich her personally and professionally, but it will also make her more aware of the mechanisms and challenges of international cooperation.

The internship will take place between Hanoi and the Xin Man District. In Hanoi, Michela will primarily focus on communication, acting as a direct point of contact between the Vietnamese and Italian offices. In Xin Man, she will have the opportunity to assist the local GTV team in monitoring project activities.

Michela has just returned from her first mission in the Xin Man district. We asked her how it went to gather her impressions and feelings.

"From March 20th to 25th, I carried out my first mission in the Xin Man district. These days turned out to be intense, full and extremely enriching. In fact, I finally had the opportunity to experience firsthand what GTV’s commitment entails, to deeply understand the values that drive it, and the reasons behind the objectives it pursues. Getting to know the beneficiaries of the projects, their traditions, and exploring the areas they inhabit was a unique experience since it allowed me to gain a deep awareness of my role, first as a volunteer and now as an inter.

The tasks I worked on alongside Kien (GTV’s representative for Vietnam), assisted by Mai e Lan Han (interns for the "ISABEL" project), were varied.

First, we were responsible for  rice and hygiene material distribution.
Initially, I was a bit intimidated by the idea of actively participating in the distributions because, on such occasions, I always fear that the action might be perceived as a humanitarian gesture with a hint of paternalism. However, all my fears quickly dissipated because the warmth and hospitality of these people immediately bridged the gap of cultural, linguistic, and origin differences. So, between curious smiles and signs of gratitude, the diversity lost its significance when, upon the arrival of the truck filled with rice sacks, the human chain we created to unload it sparked authentic connections, sealed by a moment of cooperative solidarity.
 This episode, which I see as a bit of a synthesis of GTV's work, allowed me to concretely realize the meaning of my contribution. In particular, meeting face-to-face with those who, before—when I was a volunteer in Italy—were just unfamiliar faces seen in photographs, suddenly gave a new meaning and weight to my commitment to GTV.

In addition to this, we also worked on several monitoring activities in the supported schools and attended various institutional meetings. Here, between one cup of tea and another—an indispensable welcoming ritual in Vietnam—we had the chance to speak with principals and teachers, check on the progress of the various projects the schools were involved in, inspect the condition of the school buildings and the related issues, all while walking through hallways and courtyards under the curious yet shy gazes of the students.

Finally, this mission also saw us working alongside Anna and Jacopo, Italian photographers and videomakers, who dedicated part of their time to recording and editing a video on GTV's Child Sponsorship Program a Distanza.

Thus, we witnessed and participated in the daily lives of these people, in the spectacle of the landscapes they work in every day to earn a living. This allowed me to admire and appreciate not only the richness of their values and traditions, but also the extraordinary simplicity of a life completely different from my own normality- a life based on relationships, hard work, dedication, solidarity, respect, and a deep connection with nature. 

At the same time, however, it was a reality check, a concrete realization of the inequalities that are becoming increasingly pronounced, both in a country like Vietnam, which is undergoing an incredible period of development, and for the world at large. In its constant acceleration, the world seems indifferent and unconcerned with these populations who, more and more vulnerable, are largely excluded from the progress of our times.

In short, these days were a blend of contrasting emotions: on one hand, joy, admiration, and amazement for the breathtaking landscapes I saw and, above all, for the lives that animate them; on the other, the realization of a harsh truth, that of a reality made not only of poverty, hardship, insecurity, and vulnerability but also of isolation and exclusion from the development of urban centers.

This immersion into the challenges that we, as humanity, are facing has taught me a lot and, in particular, has made even more motivated to work towards making international development no longer exclusive and exclusionary. Therefore, I can only thank GTV for the opportunity these months are providing me with, as this internship is giving me the chance to get involved in achieving this goal."

In light of the activities that will involve her, we thank her for her contribution and wish Michela the best for the continuation of her internship.