Orphans in Vietnam

Every year on June 16th my family and I take a moment to remember my brother who suddenly passed away in 2014. While he celebrates his 44th birthday in heaven, we would like to do something in his memory to make the world a better place!

In years past we have donated clothing to A Precious Child, volunteered at Habitat for Humanity, planted trees and more. Last year we asked everyone to perform a random act of kindness for a stranger to see the ripple effect a small gesture can have. The outpouring of stories was incredible!

This year we will be collecting funds to benefit kids living at an orphanage in Vietnam.

My family and I are traveling to Vietnam this summer and are working through a ministry to arrange a visit to an orphanage in the area.

It is estimated that there are over one million orphans in Vietnam. These children are taken in and cared for at orphanages and Buddhist temples throughout the country. Despite the economic growth, one in five families still live in poverty. There remains great disparity between the rich and the poor.

Children and newborns are often abandoned because the families have no financial resources to raise the child. When one parent or both parents die, it becomes especially difficult for the surviving parent or grandparents to support the children. And hence, they are given up to the orphanages. The social stigma around having a child out-of-wedlock is another reason why many newborns are abandoned in the hospital wards. The nurses have no choice but to bring the children to the orphanages. When the families are poor, the care of a disabled child is not possible.

The orphanages are either government-run or privately support (Buddhist temples and private establishments). The government provides on average $1/day in financial support to feed each child, while the privately-run orphanages rely on the support of the community. To protect the children from child-traffickers, the adoption laws in Vietnam are restrictive.

This year, we have a goal to help improve the quality of care for these amazing children, and we need your help. No amount is too small and 100% of donations will go towards the kids.

Thank you all in advance! We will post pictures and updates.