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The Hai Doung Orphanage, home to Son Pham and over 700 other orphaned and abandoned children, was built in 1982 to house, feed, educate and train orphans, handicapped children, Agent Orange victims and other children in desperate need of shelter. This area of Vietnam was heavily bombed by Americans and heavily sprayed with Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. The high levels of dioxin in the soil and in the food supply have resulted in abnormally high rates of birth defects in this area. What was once a bomb crater has now become a pond in the centre of Hai Duong Orphanage. The orphanage staff, including the Director, are all committed to helping the children in their care to the best of their ability. Every one of them has been deeply touched by the difficult plight of Son Pham. The Director of Hai Duong has accompanied Son Pham to the hospital for his treatments.
The Foundation has been providing financial assistance to this orphanage for the past two years and will continue to do so for many years to come. The needs at this facility are great. The children's rooms have 5 bunk beds. The beds are metal with boards and bamboo mats for mattresses. It is not uncommon for more than one child to share each bunk. The main yard has a metal swing and there are very few other activities available for the children. With no money for toys, the children use coconuts in the place of soccer balls.
Most of the children in this centre are school aged and have varying degrees of special medical needs. Many children use sign language to communicate with one another. Assistance is required for basic breakfast nutrition programs and to purchase supplies ranging from soap and towels to sign language and trade education tools. In the words of one generous donor, "I want to help make sure that that these kids will not have to use coconuts for soccer balls ever again!".
Better Learning through Better Vision
In April 2007, Jonathan Arnel, a member of the Children's Bridge Foundation Board of Directors, donated his time and talents and travelled with his wife, Joanne, to Hai Duong to conduct eye examinations for the children. The goal of this mission was to provide the children with glasses and or medical care. Eye examinations for 107 children living in Hai Duong with 30 requiring spectacle therapy. The children’s' capacity to learn will be dramatically enhanced through improved vision.
Thien Binh Orphanage
Thien Binh orphanage is located on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. The orphanage relies on fundraising to survive and receives no government assistance. There is only one common room where children study. When it is time to sleep, the desks are moved so that the children can sleep on the floor. In 2004, tuition fees were provided for 24 students at Thien Binh orphanage to attend Long Thanh Children’s Centre.
Sister Lucie Nguyen Thi Toan runs the orphanage and requested assistance with the construction and maintenance of a pig barracks. Previously, the orphanage had barracks to raise chickens that were sold or traded to support the centre. The project had to be abandoned due to the avian
flu in Vietnam. In 2005, the Foundation contributed $10,000 towards the establishment of a
pig barracks. The pigs will be sold to raise funds and will be a source of food for the children. This
donation will assist the orphanage in becoming a self-sustaining entity.
Phan Thiet Wheelchair Donation
Foundation staff had the opportunity to visit the central Buddhist temple in Phan Thiet where a group of handicapped children were presented with wheelchairs. The need for wheelchairs was unquestionable as many teenaged children were carried to the ceremony by their caregivers. The Foundation purchased ten wheelchairs. Those present were deeply moved by the plight of these children upon whom nature seems to have visited its greatest cruelty. One would need a heart of stone not to be touched by their dire circumstances.
 - Hai Duong Photo Gallery
A very special boy names Son Pham desperately needs complicated surgery. We are currently raising funds to get this surgery done. Please click here for details.
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ive Media Inc