huehelp's blog
July and August of this year were taken up with our summer volunteer programme which came to a sad but triumphant finish on Sunday 22nd August. This summer we worked with Manchester University RAG (raise and give) to provide 15 English teachers in 5 different children’s centers- Home of Affection, Thuy Xuan, Thuy Bieu, An Tay and Chi Lang. As well as teaching English, our volunteers also organised other activities such as art, crafts, sports, games and singing. This all lead up to the elaborate closing ceremony held on Sunday, which included a football and singing competition between the different centers and speeches both from Hue Help staff, the volunteers and even the local government. This was all followed by a campfire and party for all those that were invited to the ceremony.
The programme has been a huge success and I hope it can continue in the coming years. I would like to thank Nathalie, Stuart, Kim, Tom, Laura, Shanon, Phil, Beth, Liz, Holly, Jack, Sadi, Rhona, Allannah and Serena as well as Manchester RAG for making all of this possible- it was a great summer!
"Going to University is my burning dream and I will strive to achieve this dream" - Vo Van Truong Giang, one of the orphans living at the Home of Affection.
To support the children’s dreams, Hue Help has organised many extra classes in Literature, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry for children from Primary to High school at the orphanage.
Currently, there are six extra classes, including one Literature and Math class for 8 children at the primary school, four classes of Math and Literature for 12 children at the secondary school, two Chemistry and Physics classes for 8 children at the high school. To ensure that children have a thorough understanding of the lessons, in addition to the classes held by grades, we also hold monthly examinations. And from that the teachers are able to plan more appropriate curriculum for children.
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for Education Service’s support and it’s with their help we can turn our children’s dreams into reality.
Tiếng ViệtOn July 4th, 2010, Hue Help carried out the Mobile Clinic for poor people in Vinh Phu Commune, Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province in conjunction with the Union of Friendship Organizations, and the Thua Thien Hue Red Cross.
With the voluntary team of five doctors, pharmacist and local doctor and nurses of the VinhPhu infirmary, we provided free medical check-up for 310 patients in the community. Besides, we also advised about 150 out of 310 patients in the program on preventing disease as well as counseling for mothers with malnourished children on how to cook a rich diet based on available food sources in the community.
On 18 May 07 2010, we will implement this program for Huong Xuan commune, Huong Tra district, Thua Thien Hue province.
- Khanh Truong, Representative in Vietnam
On the 1st of June 2010, Hue Help collaborated with Hue Sports Centre to launch our Swimming for Safety programme for orphans in Hue city with the participation of local leaders, orphanage managers and nearly 150 orphans.
After 6 weeks of training, the course will be completed on 18th August, 2010, with a swimming competition among the children taking part in the programme. To develop the children’s’ swimming skills, the centre will also provide an advanced class and rescue skills for children in addition to the basic programme for new participants.
During the last three years, Hue Help has provided swimming courses for more than 450 orphans in the orphanages in Hue, such as Hoa An, Home of Affection, Nguyen Trai, Chi lang, Xuan Phu, and Xuan Thuy orphanages. The programme not only teaches children swimming skills to prevent accidents related to water, but also gives children from around Hue an opportunity to meet, mix and enjoy interacting whilst learning.
Despite the mixture of long rainy days and very hot days, the garden with a hen-house was finished on 4th April. The children and volunteers enjoyed planting flowers and vegetables in the garden on the morning of that day. There are a lot of vegetables now growing in the garden, such as tomatoes, cabbages, peppers, beans, cucumbers and more! Most of the seeds were sent from New Zealand by Mrs Tamra and her daughter- Summer. This garden and hen house will provide fresh eggs and vegetables for the children in the next few months – just at the moment when the children move to the new house at the end of May, 2010. The project cost was just 370 pounds (£GBP) and this has been a combined fundraiser through Mrs Tamra’s family and friends and also her daughter Summer playing Bingo with her entire school using Vietnamese numbers which raised nearly 150 Pounds!
The garden will help provide a source of food for the children in the orphanage, as well as a great educational resource, when they move home in the summer.
You can see some pictures of the new garden in our gallery here
- Khanh Truong, Representative in Vietnam
The kids of Home of Affection had a very special culinary treat this month- a rare opportunity to sample some typical Spanish fare. On Tuesday 16th March, a small army of children accompanied by house mothers and volunteers piled into a number of taxis to be taken to Mediterraneo- the best Italian restaurant in town.
‘Why are the kids going to eat Spanish food in an Italian restaurant?’ I hear you ask. The restaurant is managed by Señor Carles- a proud ‘Velanciano’ who has recently added an extensive selection of Spanish tapas favourites and his own mouth-watering Paella to the already great selection of Pizza and Pasta.
The opinions on the food were mixed. But everyone was able to find something they liked- even if was only the delicious gelato ice-cream that followed. And of course everyone enjoyed the chance to try something new and different.
We would like to thank Señor Alfonso Gonzalez Sencion, Hue Help’s Spanish representative, for funding such an activity.
¡Muchas Gracias a nuestro amigo espanol!
On March 7th 2010, in cooperation with the Union of Friendship Organisation Thua Thien Hue and Phu Loc Red Cross, Hue Help carried out a medical care session for disadvantaged residents of Hoi Mit and Hoi Dua villages, Lang Co town, Phu Loc District, TTHue Province.
Hoi Mit and Hoi Dua are two of the poorest villages of Phu Loc district, with a population of about 2,000 inhabitants. Their living conditions are very difficult, and the villagers are not usually able to access medical care. With a team of 7 doctors, one pharmacist and 3 medical students, we made medical examinations and provided treatment for 278 patients. As well as this, we were able to advise the patients on preventing disease. During the medical care session, we found that the proportion of children with dental disease is very high and that the local infirmary has no specialised doctors or dental equipment to treat the children in time.
The next medical care session will be carried out for people living in Phu Vang District, Thua Thien Hue Province.
After nearly a week helping build a pool at An Tay orphanage, the teachers and students at Realms of Inquiry have to say goodbye to Hue and all people here. “This is the best experience that I have never seen before in our trip” cited in Mathew and his students’ speeches. Digging a hole, taking sand out of that hole, transporting sands, etc seem to be very new to them; however, so much fun they could get from that. Just thinking of one day, the children can have an ideal playground to play, they could try their best and work harder and harder. This could be all kids’ pleasure to receive the love sharing and concerns from members of Realms of Inquiry school.
It is that time of year again! Tet, or lunar new year, is one of the most important times on the Vietnamese calendar. Tet is traditionally a time for reunions, and for family. This year, we welcome the year of the Tiger.
We held a party for the children at the Home of Affection. The children are given 'Li xi' or 'lucky money' in red envelopes, part of the tradition of the Tet holiday!
Our Vietnam office in Hue will be closed until Monday 22nd February for the national holiday.
Chuc Mung Nam Moi (Happy New Year!)
- Hue Help Team
From January 20th to 25th 2010, HueHelp and Thua Thien Hue’s Union of Friendship organizations collaborated to organize a social activity for 15 students and teachers of the Realms of Inquiry (American) in Antay orphanage, Hue city, Vietnam.
The students and teachers worked together to build a playground and teach English to the children in the orphanage. As well as this, they visited and exchanged with handicapped children at the Hope Vocational Center; visited sights and landscapes and enjoyed Hue’s special cuisine.
This is a meaningful social activity and a good opportunity for the youth of Vietnam and America to interact and learn in order to develop the relationship between the two countries.
Khanh Truong, Hue Help representative in Hue
