| |
| In spring of 2007, a contingent of U.S. Vietnam Vision Board members and volunteers traveled to Vietnam. They were greeted by two of their Vietnam Vision Associates and began a tour throughout the country which included providing humanitarian support as well as meeting with organizations needing future financial support or sponsorship. |
1-The Team went to Cantho to visit the students who are enjoying scholarship from Vietnam Vision at Cantho University. Lunch was provided to all 40 students as well as the University staff. |
2- While in Hochiminh City (Saigon), the Vietnam Vision Team visited Quang Trung High School for the first time. While there, the Team decided to sponsor additional 20 high school students and donated 10 concrete benches for the school playground. |
3- We spent the same day at Binh An Buddhist Temple. We also visited the Nursing Home where more than 30 abandoned elderly are housed and cared for. Vietnam Vision supported their Hospice Program and donated special beds to meet their needs. Vietnam Vision also sponsors 10 orphans at this temple to attend the high school and college. |
4- During the second day of this stop, the Vietnam Vision team provided dinner for all 80 of University and high school students of Saigon. Children from the orphanage at Binh An Buddhist Temple also joined this dinner. |
5- With volunteers from the Buddhist Central Temple, the Vietnam Vision team had an opportunity to go to Govap District where the team visited and distributed 600 gift packages to the disabled elderly and handicapped children at the Institution for the disabled. |
6- A trip to Dalat allowed the Vietnam Vision team to meet with the local Vietnam Vision associate to discuss the future sponsorship of students at Dalat University. |
7- While in Nhatrang, the Vietnam Vision team had an opportunity to work with and help the Tram Huong Charity Organization. There, eye surgeries were performed for the poor as well as blood transfusions for these needy patients. Vietnam Vision also supported the group who is trying to work with unwed mothers. This project will take time and education of these young girls to help reduce the abortion rate. |
8- The Vietnam Vision team flew to Da Nang to meet and have lunch with the 30 students being sponsored there. The students who have graduated and are currently working would like to form an alumni group to help support the new and future students sponsored by Vietnam Vision. |
9- The last leg of this trip included a stop in Hanoi. There, the Vietnam Vision team had an opportunity to visit a few universities. The team was also able to get in touch with the Education Authorities in order to provide future sponsorships to students who meet Vietnam Vision criteria. |
10- In July 2007, Vietnam Vision provided the financing for an open-heart surgery required for Tuan Tu, a young boy from a very poor family. One of our local Vietnam Vision Associates read about this desperate situation in the local newspaper. |
11- In early August 2007, heavy monsoon rains exacerbated by Typhoon Pabuk resulted in floods and landslides in 15 provinces in central Vietnam. The flooding contaminated water sources, damaged rice crops, and caused an estimated $124 million in damage according to VN media. Vietnam Vision sent financial assistance with the help of Vien Quang Buddhist nuns and volunteers. A convoy of trucks and buses transporting loads of rice bags, dried food, instant noodles, clothing, etc. were sent to a remote village in Kontum. Many handicapped orphans and displaced elderly received assistance. |
12- In September 2007, Vietnam Vision sent financial assistance to Be Tho Orphanage in Dongnai after learning of their needs in a letter from the Director. Be Tho Orphanage opened in 1993 and is managed by Sister Vinh. The children at Be Tho Orphanage are either orphaned at birth or are orphans who suffer from various disabilities. |
13- In October 2007, Vietnam Vision donated $20,000 to support the VietArt Center Foundation in Garden Grove, California (www.vietartcenter.org). The mission of this not-for-profit community center is to preserve and advance Vietnamese arts and culture. Scholarships were also granted for 25 students in grades 1-8 from low-income families to attend the Center's After School Program. |
14- Also in October 2007, Vietnam Vision donated $10,000 to SAP-VN (www.sapvn.org), a charitable corporation whose primary objective is to provide direct relief to poor and needy people, especially orphans and handicapped children, mainly in health care, education and social welfare in Vietnam. |
| |
