Student Request Policy

Student request policy

VietAID receives many student requests for interviews and information about our work. While we are honored to be contacted and excited about work as it relates to our community and services, we are unfortunately unable to answer most requests.

To remain true to our mission of empowering and serving our community here in Fields Corner and the greater Dorchester area, we ask for an exchange of volunteer time for student requests. This policy ensures that our time spent working with students outside our primary constituency will still help us advance our programs, while also giving requestors a clearer understanding of what we do, as well as why.

Students in the Boston area

If you are a student in the Boston area with an interview or informational request, we ask that you complete a volunteer session with us before conducting interviews or gathering information. As it may take some time to schedule volunteer work, please contact us as much in advance of your deadline as possible, with a minimum of two weeks’ notice. We will do our best to accommodate requests, but cannot guarantee we will be available for every request. We will also require a copy of your final product.

Volunteer hours

We ask for an exchange of volunteer hours for staff time, with a minimum of two hours for each request of an hour of staff time. We are generally unable to accommodate requests that take more than one hour of staff time (minimum of two hours of volunteer equivalent).

Students outside of our region

Because it is difficult to provide volunteer tasks that can be completed remotely, we are generally not able to accommodate requests from students outside the Boston area. Fortunately, there are many resources available on our site that may be helpful for your project. However, you are welcome to contact us and depending on the availability and bandwidth of the requested staff member, we may or may not be able to accommodate you. As with our policy for students within the region, we will require a copy of your final product.

Thank you for your understanding and we wish you the best of luck on your projects! Please see the FAQ below and contact us if you have further questions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: I have a research/interview/informational/survey/etc. request that may be different from traditional requests. Will you consider this?

A: Sure, we’d be happy to hear more and see if we can accommodate your request. Please contact us here.

Q: I am working on a paper or project that is due this week and need information, can you help me?

A: This request is difficult for us to accommodate because of our policy that students must complete an exchange of volunteer hours. Again, we ask that you contact us with at least two weeks’ notice. Our staff is very busy and while we enjoy helping students and the greater community understand more about our work, we are often unable to accommodate every request. Please look through the resources available on our site.

Q: I want to take photos to include it in my project. Is this possible?

A: Any photos taken will require permission from VietAID, especially if it is of children and youth.

Q: My project or paper deadline is very soon. Can you make an exception to this policy? I promise I will complete volunteer hours after I finish my paper or project.

A: Sadly, we are unable to do so with the number of requests we receive. We are happy to try to refer you to other resources if possible.

Q: Does this policy also apply to high school students?

A: Generally, this policy also covers high school students. Please contact us with more details, especially if you are a Boston Public Schools student.

Q: I am a researcher/graduate student/in academia, does this policy also apply to me?

A: Yes, this policy also applies to you. We sometimes provide help or collaborate on projects if they are in line with our mission and programs- if we have extra time. This tends to be pretty rare. Please contact us if you have any questions.

Q: I would like to have someone from VietAID speak at my school/event. Do you take these requests?

A: We are sometimes able to fulfill speaking requests in the Boston area depending on staff time and availability. We ask for a sliding scale honorarium depending on the type of group making a request. Occasionally we may be able to arrange exchanges with other youth organizing groups or substitute a portion of the honorarium with volunteer work for Boston Public high school classes. Please contact us with more information about your event.

Q: I am organizing an event, and everything is set: We have a topic and speakers, and all we need from you is someone to be in attendance and speak. We don’t have funding for an honorarium, but we really want to hear your perspective.

A: We are generally not able to fulfill these requests, but you are welcome to contact us here for more details if you wish as we sometimes make considerations case-by-case.

Q: I am working on or applying for a project to do research. Do you offer project funding?

A: Unfortunately, we do not give out funding or grants and are unable to support your project.