Sponsor's update from Ben Tre, Vietnam

Child sponsorship update from the SOS Children's Village Ben Tre, Vietnam from Summer 2008

Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you in good health and good spirits.

After so many abnormal changes in global weather, we used to expect a different summer with much sun and scarce water. Fortunately here comes a mild summer with early light rains and high sky. As usual when summer comes, we write a summer letter informing you about the village life since the start of year 2008.

Our big family - our small community

We are really a big family! The children belongs to their separate houses and to the Village community as well. A child’s development, what he gains or fails to achieve and his problems are subjects in Village’s meeting held twice a month. In such meetings, we share both gladness and worries, we discuss and propose solutions, we make reference from school and his biological family (if there’s any left) for better education. In general, a child’s progress is a shared fruit which includes the biggest credit of his/her mother.

The number of Village children now is 94 (46 boys) distributed to 12 family houses not including 27 youths off to Youth House and 6 others follow further education in universities, colleges and technical schools in cities far away from home. Since the beginning of this year, 6 children has been newly admitted. The feeling of new comers is ever the same: babies crying for relatives, boys and girls cautious and self-protective of the new environment. It’s so affecting that early comers welcomed these ‘strangers’ with total sympathy and soon that love is reciprocated and they are needed in return. It is an important and beneficial experience for children who have not felt any kind of bond towards their own biological family.

Village activities, clubs and children’s performance

Schools take most of the children’s time. They are at school an average of 8 hours/day including extra curricular and self-research time. It’s so glad that some Village children keep good progress and won the annual Odon Vallet scholarship (8 children). To our children, learning is also a duty for their own future but it’s so disappointing that not many of them find it a joy. In fact, there are many of them who are wearied by schoolwork (both at school and home) when they are in higher classes. Slow and weak-constitutional students often cannot finish their school task and resign themselves to discouraged school reports.

At the moment, the children are relieved of school burden, feeling so easy some time before summer activities get started in June. Until then, they take part in various movements in productive labour, aptitude classes, knowledge revision, making knowledge handbooks… Since each child belongs to this community, they join it as a part of their life. If you have chance to visit us these days, you will find Village life live until around 9pm. Dawn animated with sound from morning exercises of the whole Village; morning joyful with children in groups find their ways to classes such as swimming, painting, cooking, fixing domestic disorders… or extra classes on English, maths…

Every fortnight, village children get together in different clubs by age groups and sexes. In clubs, the children listen to and discuss examples, stories or situations in everyday life. Step by step, the children feel opener to express themselves. We particularly hope to enhance their social competence via these clubs by learning to regconise their own abilities, boundaries and the needs of society. It’s glad to see that the majority can develop well in Village environment. They mingle well and have their own likes, dislikes and above all, good wishes like every other normal children at the same age. Wishes may vary at different moments but via these wishes, our children have chances to think about their future life when they leave this nest.

Looking to the future

Summer is also the season for university-college entrance exam. This is the second summer we give counseling to high school graduates for what schools and fields to follow. Bringing them up since they are small children, we give high prominence to this turning point on which their life seem to depend. All of them now is looking forward for the exam with both expectation and worry.

Obstacles

Thanks to precious support from sponsors all over the world, the Village’s activities go on smoothly. We can make a difference and help to reach the achievable targets set out. SOS Children’s Village Ben Tre is a prestigious social service in local range. However, through practice, we are facing some specific thorny problems as follow:

Dealing with the number of weak students which is on the rise: Most students who performed well in primary school can’t keep good progress when they step to higher levels. Some of them become disheartened and afraid of schookwork, the remain try to gain fundamental knowledge. Studying quality will surely affect their future. We do have give much help via extra classes during the academic year and summer time, but the result doesn’t seem much better.

Offering help for graduates to find good jobs in such a small province like this. In this global price storm, meal quality is reduced. Mothers try very hard to prepare good meals with essential nutrition facts.

A blessing in disguise

Last summer, among 6 youths who had to take the final exam in high school, 1 girl failed. Failing in this exam means ill luck for her because she wasn’t entitled to the university entrance exam like all her friend were. The girl blamed herself for bad luck and for not trying her best, feeling so bad in such a long time with no talk, no listen and complete disappointment. At last, she decided to take a short course of several months to be a seamster. What a stroke of happiness for us to see this child now begins her independent life with a stable work in an industrial park nearby. Each time back home, the eldest sister brings with her fascinating and lively stories about her working life outside. The stories infuse a new spirit into the home and Village life and help to change a deep-rooted way of thinking among Village children: you don’t have to enter a university or college or technical school to earn a good and happy living. It’s so nice!

Dear friends, in this early summer, we would like to show our gratitude for taking time giving us your precious support during the past time.

We sincerely appreciate your continued patronage. We hope you enjoy your summer vacation.

Yours sincerely,

Huynh Công Bình
Director
SOS Children’s Village Ben Tre