Child sponsorship update from Vinh, Vietnam

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Vinh, Vietnam from Summer 2008.

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter find you in good health and happiness. Another half year has passed since the Christmas letter was sent to you. In such a long time, a lot of changes have been happened in life at the SOS Children’s Village. In this letter, we would like to keep you informed about the changes and developments of the SOS Children’s Village Vinh you have supported.

Warm Home for Many Children
The overview of children's numbers: from the beginning until today, the SOS Children's Village Vinh has taken care of 310 children; 76 of them left the village and have shift for themselves; 43 are doing their ‘semi-independent program’; 26 are attending their professional courses at universities, colleges and vocational training centers, and 165 are living at the SOS families and at youth houses (143 at SOS families, 22 at youth houses). Besides SOS children, a number of 15 teenagers from neighbouring poor families but having excellent academic achievement are accommodated in the SOS youth house for boys.

Children's development and change during the period: the number of children in the village continues to vary. Since December 2007, 12 more grown up boys and girls left the village for their independent life. This increased the total number of independent children by 76. Also in this period, 14 youngsters of the village finished their professional courses. Eleven of them found employment and moved to the semi-independent programme. With such a numerous graduated youngsters, the village have to move heaven and earth to help them in search of work. Some still have to do the jobs which are not the specialty they learnt at school, but most of them found jobs soon after their graduation and they are stabilising in time life of their own. Only three boys are still in search of employment. We pride ourselves on our grown up children who do not fail our expectation. They have worked very hard and contributed to the development of the country.

For the semi-independent children, of course the village will continue to give them financial help in the first three years of their work. Wherever the children are, the SOS-Children’s Village Vinh is always their warm home they think of and the spiritual base for them whenever they face challenges in life.

Different from older brothers and sisters, younger children at the SOS families and at the youth house have advantages in daily life. In the arms of their SOS mothers and the village community, children have grown up fast in peace, enjoyed happy life at the village and have good development. Out of giving the children a good life, the SOS mothers and village coworkers have created also favorable conditions for them to develop their abilities. Besides the obedient children, there are ‘some headstrong and problem children’. For these cases, the village, especially, the SOS mothers, have to spend a lot of time and energy on educating them. Every little mistake a child can make children , every sin of omission of children are manifested, the mothers have to know and dealt with in time. Thanks to it that the number of "problem children" decreases a lot.

A complete surprise to an SOS mother

This is a story about a mother in a house named ‘Sapodilla’. She has come to the SOS-Children’s Village Vinh since the beginning, in November 1991. After 17 years working as a SOS mother, she has taken care of 19 children. 9 of them left the family for work and professional education far away, in deferent places of the country. On the 28th April 2008, she was so surprised to see all her big children to have home. She said that that day was not a festive day, nor a holiday, so why her children travelled more than a hundred of kilometres home at the same time. In a secret look, the children only smiled and said that they went home because they missed her too much. After the dinner, to her great surprise, the children arranged a party for her. They gave her a big birthday cake and lots of birthday presents. The whole family sang the birthday song and they invited their mother to blow the candles. Then, the oldest daughter said to her: ‘Mom, today is your birthday. We would like to gather here to congratulate you on your 50th birthday. Thank you for what you have done for us during the last years. Please receive from us the respect and deep gratitude.’ The mother was almost moved to tears as she said in a voice choked with emotion: ‘Thank you, my beloved children. Your happy life is already the deserved reward for me. It’s very kind of you to remember my birthday.’ Tears flowed on her cheeks. She cried happily.

Growing up at Vinh, Vietnam

Activities and Clubs
During the first half of 2008, many diverse forms of extra-curricular activities are arranged. The clubs for children and mothers carried out effectively their monthly activities, with rich and multiform contents. During the school year 2007-2008 and based on children's academic levels, the village has organised suitable additional classes for them. The volunteer students from Vinh University and other Colleges in Vinh have been arranged to the SOS families to provide children with coaching on holidays and in the evenings. This has contributed a great deal to the children's progress. In early February, children was happy to enjoy a very exciting traditional New Year celebration at the village, with special food for the fete, beautiful clothing and joyful activities.

Many children’s shows and sports activities are organised regularly. Once again, a boy took part in a national sport competition among schools titled ‘Phu Dong festival’. With his excellent ability, he could easily defeat his opponents and won the gold medal at the fast chess contest. Every afternoon, after the self-teaching time at home, children go to the playground to amuse. The movement of playing football has been fortified and this game is always the boys’ favorite sport.

Facility Maintenance
Concerning the maintenance of buildings in the village, the maintenance and large-scale repairs brought a new face to the village, the SOS Nursery School and the SOS youth house. The procedures for the construction license of Retired Mothers’ house have just been fulfilled. At the moment, the village is clearing the ground and very soon the contractor is going to build the house. All buildings and other facilities in the village as well as at the nursery school and the youth house have been maintained regularly.

Nursery School
With a scale of 6 classes and 14 teachers and workers, the nursery school of the village is not a large nursery school in comparison with local ones. However, among the nursery schools in the city, the SOS Nursery School always receives high appreciation from the children’s parents. The parents feel assured to entrust their children to the SOS Nursery School. This explains why this school year again the nursery school had to refuse a lot of applications from the children in the neigbouring area as all the classes got enough pupils. The title ‘the excellent nursery school’ granted by the Education and Training Department of the city is the deserved reward for the effort of the teachers.

The cause of cultivating people is noble but it is plenty of hardship. It demands time, efforts and also wealth. We are very grateful for your help and contributions to the development of the SOS Children’s Village Vinh over the years. In our mind, you are not only a friend but also a member of the village. Thank you for your great help and we wish you a warm summer with much joy and happiness!

Yours sincerely,

Van Dinh Danh
Director
SOS Children’s Village Vinh