Project Vietnam

ABOVE: VOLUNTEERS HAVE A GOOD TIME WITH BOYS FROM THE LONG HOA CHARITY HOME

In April 2008, The Future Factory made it's first trip to Vietnam. The project was led by The Future Factory International Director Tanya Dupagne, accompanied by a team of volunteers from Australia and Ireland - Naomi, Peggy, Marg, Sal, Fergal, Sally & Shondelle. Two major projects were selected:

Long Hoa Orphanage (near Saigon): An orphanage for 110 children.

This orphanage began 10 years ago, to help and shelter orphans from the Saigon area. The children in this orphanage are either orphans or those from reduced family backgrounds, and were taken off the streets. The Long Hoa Charity House supports these children to evolve in their lives, to start families and find a stable environment.

Village of K'Ren (near Da Lat)

An underprivileged village, K'Ren has a school and church, but living conditions are substandard. People in this village are in need of assistance with education and English skills, as well as basic necessities and self sufficience.

The team spent a week on each of the projects, providing games and workshops for children and staff, dance programs, teambuilding and motivational activities, craft projects and sports. Through fundraising before the trip, we were also able to provide educational gifts for all children at the orphanage and village (such as jigsaw puzzles, dominoes and chess sets, embroidery projects, books and journals), meals and party packs for all children, toothbrushes and toothpaste for all the Long Hoa boys, soccer balls for the children to play with, a computer for the boys in the orphanage, and school supplies, medical supplies and a nurse for the village.

The team received a warm welcome from both projects, and would like to thank everyone who was involved. The days were long and it was often hard and tiring work, but the smiles on the faces of the children made it all worthwhile!
 

Our next trip to Vietnam will take place in July 2009. For information about joining us as a volunteer on this trip, please email tanya@thefuturefactory.co.za

ABOVE: GOOD TIMES IN K'REN VILLAGE