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Photobucket - Dang Thiep

The legacy of Agent Orange is still very much alive today.   While the war ended many decades ago, its chilling aftermath still lingers today and affects over 150,000 children in Vietnam.  To refresh your knowledge about this harmful chemical, please read the article Understanding Agent Orange.

While VTP has published numerous articles describing Agent Orange,  a common question (and debate) has surfaced time and again regarding how to address the Agent Orange legacy.  Today’s article will review current approaches to this problem while offering a historical perspective on the progress made thus far.

The following information reflects the efforts of the Ford Foundation and its many partners.

The First Phase – Test and Contain

The Ford Foundation and its grantees developed “a multifaceted approach to test and contain dioxin-contaminated soils, restore landscapes, develop treatments and support centers for affected Vietnamese, and educate the US public and policymakers.  Towards these efforts, the Ford Foundation has since 2000 brought in new supporters and foundations and has committed $12 million.

Most importantly, the initial phase called for collaborative efforts between the US and Vietnam to identify, contain, and clean-up dioxin “hot spots”.  The story begins in 2000.

A grant of $150,000 made to the Vietnam Red Cross Agent Orange Victims Fund provided a valuable opportunity to obtain an “on-the-ground” perspective of the “profound impact of Agent Orange and how much remained to be done”.

Around this time, a study released by the Vietnam Ministry of Health-Hatfield environmental consulting firm showed that “high levels of dioxin remains at former US military bases”.  This suggested that dioxin was “principally a point-source pollutant” and that an effective containment strategy would focus on these “hot spots”.

To test this “hot spot hypothesis”, the Ford Foundation granted $289,000 to the Vietnam Ministry of Health and Hatfield to survey former US military bases.  The study, conducted between 2002-2005, showed that 28 military sites contained significant amount of dioxin. The results of these studies provided an opportunity to engage the US government.

The Next Step – Diplomatic Breakthroughs

In 2003, Ford funded a conference held in Washington D.C.  on “The Future of the US-Vietnam Relationship”.  The conference involved dialogues among “senior officials of both governments” and “academics, NGOs, and the business community” on topics of trade agreements, etc.  The conference also addressed the “most difficult subject of all” – the legacies of war and Agent Orange.  The outcome of this conference helped propel the Agent Orange issue into “international politics and diplomatic arena”.

In November of 2006, a diplomatic breakthrough occurred when President George W. Bush and President Nguyen Minh Triet issued a joint statement on Agent Orange stating that both nations acknowledged the dioxin problem and agreed to address this issue in order to continue “development of [US-VN] bilateral relationship”.

In February of 2007, former US Ambassador to Vietnam, Michael Marine, secured $400,000 in government funding for “remediation at Da Nang”, an area heavily affected by Agent Orange.  The Ford Foundation contributed an additional $1.3 million to this project.

Current Strategy – Engage the Public

While Ford and its partners have been successful in many projects in the past, the future of “effective and sustainable programs over time would require more than the support of two governments and courageous grantees”.  The current strategy has been to initiate a “citizen-to-citizen dialogue to raise awareness of people in the US” including officials and business leaders.

In 2007, the US-VN Dialogue Group on Agent Orange/Dioxin met “to advance a humanitarian approach”.  The group made a significant impact by briefing the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and State Department officials in addition to testifying at Congressional hearings.  The result of such lobbying efforts led Congress to appropriate $3 million for Agent Orange/dioxin work in Vietnam for the fiscal years 2007, 2009, 2010.

Ford and 4 other foundations will continue to support the Dialogue Group and its mission to “address the health and environmental consequences of Agent Orange”.  The Dialogue Group has contributed to “strengthening health services for people with disabilities, helped upgrade medical facilities, trained healthcare workers, and provided surgeries, therapy, education and job opportunities”.

Other efforts include an innovative case-management system in Da Nang which promotes “equal opportunities for young adults with disabilities, support self-help groups, challenged the stigma and discrimination, and continue public education in the US and Vietnam.”

Social Media, Web 2.0 and the World

Any movement towards a noble cause requires a strong focus on public outreach and education.  The legacy of Agent Orange and the future of remediation efforts by foundations and non-profit groups must focus on ways (and venues) to reach out to the public.

The phenomenon of the web 2.0 and the popularity of social media has become the prime vehicle for news delivery and social awareness.  OneVietnam Network is committed to educating and engaging the public about the impact of Agent Orange and current efforts to help victims of this toxic chemical.

For more stories about Agent Orange, please read our other features on VTP.

Source: Autumn Cruz, Sacramento Bee

Huyen “Kiki” Vo lost her mother in a fire when she was nine years old.  In the same fire, 85% of her body was burnt.  A nonprofit brought Kiki, her father, and sisters to the United States where Kiki would eventually go through 60 surgeries for her wounds.  Kiki’s father worked endlessly to support his five daughters.  Last November, Kiki’s father died of lung cancer.

Today, Kiki is 18 years old and the eldest of her sisters.  Kiki’s circumstances are unique, but her resilience makes her special.  You see, Kiki, despite the devastation and hardships throughout her life, has been admitted into the University of California, Berkeley, one of the best schools in the world.  But to attend, Kiki needs to raise enough to cover her tuition.  As of today, she is $4,000 short of the $25,000 needed for her first year at Berkeley.

Kiki’s story was brought to our attention by one of our readers, Robyn Dahlgren.  Robyn has no direct connection to Kiki, but was deeply moved by Kiki’s story.  Robyn connected us to Melody Gutierrez of the Sacramento Bee, who covered Kiki’s story.  Like Robyn, Melody was deeply moved by Kiki’s story.  Melody’s article has brought on an outpour of support from Sacramento Bee readers.  At the time of this writing, Bee readers have rallied to pledge $21,000 to support Kiki’s college dreams.

Kiki is $4,000 short of her goal. As a former Cal Bear, it would be an honor to have Kiki become a fellow Bear next year.  A woman with her perseverance is destined for great things with the right education.

Will you make a pledge to help Kiki’s with her education? Any amount of support makes a difference.  Please contact me, James Bao, at jhbao@onevietnam.org or (408) 702-2005.

Sources:

Gutierrez, Melody. “Burn victim, accepted into UC, ‘inspires us all.’” Sacramento Bee, 23 April 2010. Web. 2 May 2010.

Gutierrez, Melody. “Bee readers pledge $21,000 to help woman fulfill college dream.” Sacramento Bee, 30 April 2010. Web. 2 May 2010.

The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious fellowships granted to a student.  Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the fellowship provides students, scholars, and professionals the opportunity and funding to conduct advanced research, to undertake graduate studies, and/or to teach for one academic year in an international setting.

Fulbright SE Asia Conference:

About two weeks ago, Fulbright scholars from around Southeast Asia were invited to Manila to take part in the annual Fulbright Mid-Year Conference.  When the Vietnam group stepped into the Shangri-la hotel, our new home for the next week, our jaws were on the floor.  A 360 degree view of the lobby will show you a lounge with sky high glass walls, a live band off in the corner, the entryway  to  a beautiful swimming pool, and then Heat restaurant (hands down the best breakfast/lunch buffet I have ever experienced).   By the way that we were reacting, the other scholars most likely thought that this trip was the first time we had been welcomed back into civilization in months.

The next day, Fulbright students and scholars from Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines engaged in a multidisciplinary discourse that included both academic and cultural experiences.  The level of excitement in the room far surpassed that which was elicited from us when we saw our accommodations (keep in mind this is coming from someone who has been eating off street carts for the past 7 months, so you know the Conference was good!).  Everyone was genuinely interested in the research that was being conducted within these respective countries, and even more so, learning about these current developments helped us all to understand the progress in our own host nations as well as the region as a whole.  It was truly a remarkable experience, made even better when I crossed paths with a fellow Anteater!

Before coming to the conference, I had been so entrenched in my work that it had completely slipped my mind that I would have the opportunity to meet our Thailand scholar—Andy Hoang.  It was truly a pleasure to be able to meet with Andy and hear about his current research.  He discussed how social norms in Thailand affect the treatment of children with special needs, which paralleled research he had previously conducted in Vietnam.
I found Andy’s perspective and research particularly interesting because of an experience that I had a few days before coming to Manila……..

My Visit to the Agent Orange Village in Tu Du Hospital:

When I had first agreed to teach at HUFLIT University, one of the stipulations that the President and I had agreed upon was that a portion of the money that I earned would be donated to the victims of Agent Orange. As the Chairman of the Board for the Ho Chi Minh City Association for Victims of Agent Orange, he was pushing for me to visit the Tu Du village, which is part of the local hospital.  As the time neared to make the donation and visit the children, I was hesitant to go.

If you venture around the most populous parts of the city (particularly in tourist hot spots), you are bound to see a person afflicted with physical deformities associated with Agent Orange.  So, one would assume that after an extended period of living in this city, I had seen enough of this to desensitize myself from what I was going to see at the hospital.  Even so, I felt very uneasy about my impending visit.  I was afraid of what I was going to see and how I would react.  On the eve of my visit I continued to mull over the necessity of visiting the site.  Needless to say, I decided that the right thing to do was to go and to face my fears.

When I stepped into the village area, where about 60 children live, I was greeted with smiles—all of the children were so excited to have new visitors to interact with.  An area approximately the size of the UCI Scholarship office hosted doctor’s offices and beds for all 60 children (ranging from the age of 3-28).

Some children were bedridden because of the growing tumors and mental disabilities, and others were free to roam around on the floor outside. The first few moments you are in one of their bedrooms, and their reality sets in, your heart begins to sink.   In a country with a healthcare system that is already poor, children with special needs are particularly marginalized (on many different levels).   Not only have many of these children been abandoned by their parents, but to say that their medical treatment and living facilities are subpar would be a major understatement.  Seeing a life in suffering is never easy, the natural reaction is to feel sorry for them.  However, when I interacted with them—I could not keep the smile off my face.  These children were so full of life and just genuinely happy to be playing with my friend and I.  Whatever physical disabilities they had did not obstruct their jovial nature—it was a challenge to keep up with their pace!

In exploring one of the rooms reserved for older girls, I met a girl named Hong.  I had been tired out by the younger kids and wanted to take a break, so I sat down on the floor and she happened to come up and talk to me.  I found out that she is a student at HUFLIT (the school I am teaching at) and that she will be completing her degree in Information Technology this year, and already has a job lined up as a manager after she graduates.  She lives in the hospital in a small room with about 12 other girls, and when she is not studying for her own schooling, she helps tutor the younger students who are able to attend general school. Every day she drives her motorbike to the university without any special assistance.  Hong has no legs and one functioning arm.

Finally, I understood what my roommate had told me (she is a fellow Fulbright student working on healthcare reform): to feel sorry for these children would be to undermine everything they have accomplished.  It is truly amazing.

I am in the process of obtaining permission to volunteer at the village on a weekly basis.

Now, when I really think about where I want my work to take me…it is not to places like the Shangri-la.  It is to the people that inspire you, like the children of Tu Du village.

Photo by SAVICE

On Monday, I was introduced to SAVICE, another great example of a group of successful Vietnamese Americans quietly giving back to the economically disadvantaged in Vietnam.

The SAVICE’s (SAve a VIetnamese Child with Education) mission is noble: change a child’s life in Vietnam by creating educational opportunities.  Their vision is striking: raise funds to provide scholarships and to build schools through annual golf tournaments.

This year marks SAVICE’s 4th annual golf tournament, and its organizers are raising funds to build two new schools and to provide 500 scholarships to Vietnamese children.  Every year, SAVICE’s founders personally donate $50,000 to the organization.  Combined with proceeds from the golf tournament and other donors, SAVICE raises over $100,000 annually to create fresh opportunities for the most vulnerable children in Vietnam.  Most unique about SAVICE is that 100% of funds raised go to children’s educational programs.  SAVICE relies completely on volunteers, and the majority of them are successful businessmen in the Southern California region.

Vietnamese overseas are known to be extremely generous when it comes to giving back to their families in Vietnam, local communities, and those most in need in Vietnam.  Even if it’s just once a year, our “chu” and “bac” are making a big difference in the lives of many Vietnamese children.  It’s always empowering for me to hear stories like this.  I hope that we, as 1.5 and second generation Vietnamese Americans, can follow their footsteps.

Find more information about SAVICE’s 4th Annual Charity Golf Classic, to take place May 3 in Southern California, by visiting their website.

SAVICE Scholarship Ceremony - 2007

SAVICE Annual Charity Golf Classic - 2009

Participants at a March workshop designed to match career-oriented PWDs with mentors.

The Disabled in Vietnam

According to the Vietnam General Statistics Office, 15% of the population have a disability. Among them, less than 20% have a secondary or high school degree and less than 1% have studied or graduated from a college or university (MOLISA 2006). Although quite capable of learning, some people with disability (PWD) are prevented from obtaining an education due to poverty, attitudinal or physical barriers in the community, barriers within the school and, sometimes, even from within their own families.

Ms. Ngo Thi Ngan shares her story with prospective mentors

Take, for example, Ms. Ngo Thi Ngan who was diagnosed with polio at the age of 3. Initially, her parents did not want her to attend school but, with dreams of becoming a doctor, she eventually convinced them otherwise. After completing high school and passing the national exam to attend the University of Pharmacy, Nang was informed that she could not attend because she could not run 100 meters in 11 seconds, which was then a requirement. She tried again through the Department of Health and the Department of Education but was denied for the same reason. “My dream of becoming a doctor was destroyed.” Five years later, after moving to HCMC and working in various fields, Nang decided to try accounting. In her first year at University, she juggled both work and school but in her second year, she applied and received a scholarship, which gave her the flexibility to focus more on her studies.

The Role of Disability Resource and Development (DRD)

Disability Resource and Development (DRD), a not-for-profit organization based in Ho Chi Minh City, granted Nang that scholarship. According to DRD, people with disability face not only attitudinal and infrastructural barriers in Vietnam, but they often also lack confidence, basic education and life skills, all of which contribute to the difficulties they face when seeking work and moving out of poverty.

Ms. Huynh Ngoc Bich sharing her story with prospective mentors

Ms. Huynh Ngoc Bich, was diagnosed with polio early in her life. Although she had less trouble entering and graduating from University, Bich encountered difficulty in finding a job as an English teacher. Though she could not find a job, she found ways to earn money by tutoring young people. During this time, Bich became aware of DRD, and decided to volunteer as an English teacher for a class of people with different disabilities. “My life changed when I learned about DRD,” said Bich. “I became more confident and more aware about my disability.” In 2008, Bich became an employee of DRD and now works as their Employment Coordinator. In this role, she collaborates with both job seekers and employers and tries to find suitable matches.

Since 2005, DRD has been working to support and raise awareness about issues affecting PWDs in Vietnam. Located in District 10, DRD employs 15 staff (50% are themselves disabled) and two international volunteers. DRD collaborates with other organizations that support PWDs across Southern Vietnam and has contact with over 2,000 PWDs.  Individuals and organizations can access a range of services from DRD such as counseling and mentoring, vocational training and employment matching, scholarships, resources and more.

The organization is headed by the Director, Ms. Vo Thi Hoang Yen, who was struck with polio at an early age. Despite financial challenges, Yen’s family encouraged her education and she eventually obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Development from the United States. Upon returning to Vietnam, Yen was determined to change the way PWDs are viewed in Vietnam and ensure that the opportunities denied to her are made available to others.

DRD’s employment support services were developed in response to need and requests from the disabled population in HCMC. The employer network now exceeds 300 organizations, including both Vietnamese and foreign companies. Recently, DRD introduced a pilot mentoring program, which seeks to match successful professionals as mentors to PWDs, in an effort to help guide and support them in their desired career path.

Ms. Ngan is one prospective mentee. “I am looking forward to getting a job that is suitable with my health and ability,” she said. “I want to live independently by the money that I earn by myself. I do not want to depend on family members or charity organizations any more.”

In March, DRD opened Hoi Quan Doi Rat Dep (Life is Beautiful Club House). The first of its kind in Vietnam, the Club House provides a safe and convenient setting for vocational training, a showcase for awareness-raising about the talents and successes of PWDs as well as a warm place for meeting friends, developing life skills and enjoying a social life sometimes not otherwise available.

At the DRD Club House, young social work students team up to compare social work with charity work.

If you would like to learn more about DRD, feel free to drop by their Club House, located just fifteen minutes from central Ho Chi Minh City. For details, please visit: www.drdvietnam.com.

Interested to support DRD?  Here are a few things you can do:

• Become a Mentor: Would you like to become a mentor for a career-oriented PWD? DRD is looking for professionals that are willing to provide approximately 6 hours per month of one-on-one support aimed at developing business skills, life skills and/or career guidance. If interested, you can contact Ms. Bich (ngocbich@drdvietnam.com) or Ms. Caroline (caroline@drdvietnam.com).
• Volunteer: DRD welcomes and appreciates skilled volunteers. Among the skills sought are social work, fundraising, marketing and communications.
• Donate (In-Kind and/or Cash): DRD is looking for funds and/or in-kind contributions to help cover the cost of its various programs and services including:
  • Scholarship and Mentoring Program (VND 12 million ensures one scholarship per student per year)
  • Club House – DRD welcomes and appreciates equipment for the kitchen and workshop areas as well as funds to support on-going maintenance of the Club House.

Contact Details:

Disability Resources and Development (Ch??ng Trình Khuyêt T?t và Phát Triên)

Address: 91/6N Hoa Hung St., Ward 12, District10, H? Chí Minh City

Tel: 84-8-3868-2770

Fax: 84-8-3868-2771

Email: info@drdvietnam.com

Website: www.drdvietnam.com

Check out some of LIN’s videos:

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Manager of the Hoi Quan Doi Rat Dep, talks with LIN staff about current and planned activities at the Café.

A college student and first time visitor to the Hoi Quan Doi Rat Dep shares his feelings about the Café and it’s capacity building programs for social work students.

A participant in one of DRD’s weekend training programs shares her group’s comparison of social work and charity work

While searching for a topic about Vietnam,  I ran across some articles about the Agent Orange problem in Vietnam and decided to write about it from a mathematical standpoint. For those who are not experts on the matter, here is brief  description from Wikipedia:

I hope this article will allow us to become more informed about Agent Orange and efforts to combat it.  There are more than 50 US-based groups that focus efforts to helping victims of Agent Orange. I am relieved to know that many people are aware of the problem and are dedicated to improve it. However, a closer look at most of these articles I realize the following:

- There is a vast amount of government aid, totaling up to $100 million (my rough estimate from multiple articles I have read), but the funds aren’t being used effectively

- There are many complaints from the service groups about the insufficiency of the funding, and they have to turn away more than 60% of potential aid recipients (again, my rough estimate after reading several articles)

My analysis of the situation:

Due to my background in economics, I will present my analysis from a more mathematical perspective than James and Brian have previously in their respective Ageant Orange articles. 

With the assumptions that there are 5 million victims out there and $100 million in aid, my quick calculation leads me to the conclusion that there is only $20  per victim. This is assuming that relief workers do not get paid for their labor, and the money transfers directly to the victim.  I should add the disclaimer that these numbers are based solely on my reasoning capabilities and not on exact numbers.  Survey data are lacking for me to make a concrete analysis.  Nevertheless, I believe these numbers are quite close to the actual data.  If so, then I realized that government aid is simply not sufficient to help those in need.

Importance of OneVietnam Network:

Hence, after careful analysis and data interpretation, I came to the conclusion about the importance of a social non-profit network like OneVietnam Network. Vietnamese expats send home $7 billion every year, without the help of social networking. Imagine if OneVietnam Network is able to connect all generations of Vietnamese and friends of Vietnam,  the awareness of problems like Agent Orange is large, and the cost of contributing is small!

Let’s say East Meets West foundation sets a goal of helping 10,000 victims. They need a budget of $10 million. Accessing their profile on OneVietnam Network (which assumed to have 10 million users at the time) and asking for donations, they can reach out to many people in a short amount of time. Everyone only has to donate $1/ user in order to help 10,000 victims. With a quick announcement on OneVietnam Network and maybe 2 weeks of fundraising, East Meets West will have the funds to help the victims.

In conclusion…

I see a many efficiency problems that need to be resolved. I feel an unlimited amount of affection and care for people in need. I see a great potential in OneVietnam Network.  I believe OneVietnam can revolutionize the scene of philanthropy and inspire our generation.  The possibilities and vision of OneVietnam Network give me the inspiration to work late nights, during weekends, and on holidays with only happiness in me because I know that I can do my little part to make the world a better place.

Please become a fan of OneVietnam Network: http://www.facebook.com/OneVietnam, and invite all your friends. We want to reach the people who care!

This article was written by Guest Blogger Dana R.H. Doan of the LIN Center for Community Development (LIN). LIN is a new resource for local not-for-profit groups, individuals and corporate philanthropists based in and around Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. You can see LIN’s other article on VTP about empowering Vietnamese women here.

As you may know, nonprofits in Vietnam are understaffed, underfunded and relatively new.  This limits their ability to expand and improve core programs and services.  LIN was founded to  provide much needed training, grants, volunteers & resources to these nonprofits.

LIN supports grassroots not-for-profit organizations in their efforts to effectively manage resources and provide programs and services to disadvantaged members of our community. LIN’s core services to NPOs include: targeted trainings, skilled volunteer matching, grantmaking, research and information sharing.

To date, LIN has formed strategic partnerships with forty NPOs addressing different community needs such as: basic needs (food & shelter), education, vocational training, sports initiatives, environmental protection, arts and culture programs and more. Our partners include the Audio Library for the Blind, Blue Dreams Volunteer Network, Disability Resource and Development, HCMC Child Welfare Foundation and the Hospitality School of HCMC. Although our target beneficiaries are local NPOs, LIN collaborates closely with the international NGO community and government agencies that work to achieve our shared goals.

Members of the North Star Donor Club (Cau Lac Bo Sao Bac Dau), which is hosted by LIN, discuss how to best invest their resources into the community.

Simultaneously, LIN offers local philanthropists, including individuals and businesses, a way in which to engage constructively and support local needs while providing a transparent mechanism through which their contributions can be tracked and monitored. LIN believes that the more informed donors are, the more likely we all are to effect lasting and positive changes in our community.

Whether they may be interested to volunteer their time and professional skills; donate products or services; and/or make a financial contribution LIN provides support services to help donors that want to meet the needs in the community. To date, LIN has provided donor advisory services to individuals, international donor organizations, international and domestic companies including Hamon Investment Group, EMpower, Megastar Media, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Irish Aid and many more.  Because we work closely with local not-for-profit organizations, we have an understanding about needs that are not currently being met and are therefore able to pass this knowledge along to prospective donors.

The LIN Center for Community Development is a licensed, Vietnamese, not-for-profit organization by authorization of Decision Number 741/QD-LHH of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Association. LIN is an acronym for Listen, Inspire and Nurture.

Ms. Nghiem Hai Ly, CPA with an international accounting firm, takes time out of her weekend to train local NPO staff in financial accounting.

LIN CHALLENGE:

LIN is currently competing in GlobalGiving’s Global Open Challenge.  If we are able to raise at least $4,000 from 50 individual donors by April 26, we will be awarded an ongoing spot for our projects on GlobalGiving.org and have a chance to earn up to $6,000 in prize money for raising the most money during the challenge and attracting the greatest number of donors.

You can help us to raise money, earn a spot for our projects on GlobalGiving and earn GlobalGiving prize money just by spreading the word!  For example, you can:

1. Make a donation to LIN by going to our project on GlobalGiving here
2. Share LIN’s story and Global Giving fundraising to your friends, families and colleagues. It’s easy, just share with them this article’s link.
3. Post this information on your Facebook page or “Tweet” it using a short appeal and our abbreviated link (http://bit.ly/LINonGG).
4. Call your friends, send them a message by SMS, shout it from mountain tops (I think you are getting the idea by now…)

By just passing along this information, you are going to help the LIN Center because the only way we will get new supporters is if you help us to tell them about us. We sincerely thank you for your support!

Many of you have been asking and searching for the report.  We have uploaded it here for your convenience.

Download: United States Congressional Report on Agent Orange in Vietnam

Tet in Boston brought together the community for cultural entertainment and performances from local talents.  There were numerous booths and local vendors.   Those who were feeling lucky that day can place bets at tens of game tables.   For a California boy (such as myself), the welcomed custom of appreciating spring and Tet usually meant enjoying the festivities in the outdoors.  Southern Californians know what I mean – the Tet festival extravaganza next to Bolsa Grande High.

Where do Bostonians go for a taste of culture in zero-degree weather…? Harbor Middle School.  Yes, boys and girls, we had our Tet festival in the gym of a middle school. My day volunteering at the event was predictable like all the other years – except 2008 when I unexpectedly met Nhu Loan (jealous?).   2010 was different. I was very fortunate to run into Van from VietHope, a nonprofit organization hoping to “provide access to education to financially disadvantaged students in Vietnam”.

Unlike the other years where I would come home from the event tired but satisfied, I came home that night in deep contemplation. The stories and personal accounts of VietHope volunteers made me think about the hundreds of children who had crossed my path within the past 5 years.   VietHope volunteers have graciously shared their stories with our readers, please listen to their heartwarming accounts:

~Tim Bui ~

“Last summer, we joined four other families to Vietnam to do charity work and to introduce our children to our country.  We visited several cities and villages from way south to almost the 17th parallel, building houses for the poor, giving bicycles to students, wheelchairs and prosthetic legs to the handicapped, and distributing food to orphanages.  The food made quite an impression on our children. They saw how beautiful Vietnam is and also saw first-hand the meaning of poverity –   “homes” with mud floor that could not keep occupants dry in normal rain, people drinking and washing their clothes from the same ponds where water buffalo soak, children without shoes, laborers toil for one or two dollars a day, orphanages without running water, handicapped people using bamboo sticks as artificial legs.  There is still so much suffering… One event that made the most impact on me was a walk in downtown Saigon. One late night, as I was snapping pictures of Saigon night life with my camera, a young girl at the age of about 16 to 18 approached me and asked if I wanted to go on a date, in broken English, assuming that I am a foreigner, for my being too fat for a typical Vietnamese.  I turned her down, but then watched her as she walked away. Two hundred yards further, she accosted another man, probably offering the same thing.  A sad feeling overwhelmed me. If I were her father, I would be heart broken. Denying education is the most effective way to eliminate or reduce one’s future.  The contrary is also true.  Giving education is the best way to live one’s life out of darkness.“

What would that girl’s life have been like today if she were given a college education.  Tim’s account caused my heart to ache; I wanted to hear more, to know more.

I then heard…

~Van~

“Walking 20 kms and staying for 2 weeks near the market, these Sapa girls were selling bracelets and wallets to tourists for less than 1 penny which took them at least 1-2 days to make. Be Thu asked me “Chi ten la vi? Chi o dau?” (What is your name? Where do you live?) She proceeded to give me a bracelet as a sign of friendships. Before I knew it, I was surrounded by at least half a dozen girls age 6-12 offering to give me these knick knacks that they had spent days laboriously making. I only spent 1.5 days in Sapa, but was struck by the poverty of the locals, mortality rate, and lack of modernity. When I finished my breakfast to return to the tour bus on our way back down the mountains, one girl asked me if she could have my address to write to me. None of these girls knew how to read, they spoke their native dialect and not completely fluent in vietnamese. How would they have money for ink, paper and stamp to send me the letter? My heart ached and I didn’t want to go. I also felt a profound sadness for these girls who might be married off when I come back for another visit in a few years to a man perhaps twice their age, with no opportunities for pursuit of their own happiness which may include education.

My return from Vietnam that year hit a nerve within me that still lingers to this day. On those tough days when life and work is just frustratingly difficult, my vivid memories of those faces and sad eyes of Be Thu and other Sapa girls remind me of how fortunate and blessed I am. It also fortified my commitment to VietHope, to help children in all regions of Vietnam who are poor and most deserving of the hope and possibility of something better than the status quo of their existing life. It made me realize that education was their access to these doors of opportunities.”

Education can save lives.  It is during those late night cram sessions where my body is so fatigued that it barely functions on IV caffeine drips that I become revitalized to study more because of the images of the girl on the Saigon street or the Sapa girls.  I am alive and doing well because education has been fueling my mind and body.

Please support VietHope in their noble efforts to bring education opportunities for the children of Vietnam.

A reading club of youths met on a monthly basis to discuss vietnamese literature of famous novels and poems. The group started discussing what they can do in addition to discussing their love for vietnamese literature to make Vietnam, their beloved homeland, a more prosperous country. As they were students attending elite universities in Boston, they understood that their educational opportunities and the promise of the successful career and comfortable life it will afford them upon graduation was unattainable to their counterparts in Vietnam. Highly ambitious with hearts of gold, the members of the reading club formed VietHope with the mission: “VietHope shares the dream that Vietnam shall become a prosperous country where every child will grow up with the opportunity to reach his or her full potential.VietHope’s mission is to provide access to education to financially disadvantaged students in Vietnam.

VietHope is dedicated to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development, which we believe must be based on long-term perspectives and sustainable results. It is our conviction that good education is a requisite to attaining this goal.”

How to Help
– Cocktails night, House parties, BBQs, and any other events with donations going towards VietHope

– Cultural shows, sports tournaments, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons with a mini-presentation about VietHope to guests

– Start your own chapter of VietHope to recruit volunteers, raise awareness, support VietHope.

– Contact local magazine and/or radio to promote VietHope to your community. Add VietHope as your friend on facebook, twitter and other social networking sites. Post events related to VietHope and invite your friends to attend those events.

– For questions or suggestions, contact VietHope at info@viethope.org