Help Me Make A Difference!

Hi!

Our names are Dom Russell and Seb Trevaskis and we have been given the opportunity through the ‘Cardoner Project’ to travel to Vietnam at the beginning of the New Year to help educate and assist the 'Lovers of the Holy Cross Sisters' who care for multiple children at the St Vincent Diem orphanage.

The majority of the children at this orphanage suffer from the horrible effects of Agent Orange, a devastating herbicide sprayed during the Vietnam War with the intention to strip and destroy thick jungle and forestland to remove enemy cover.

Now regarded as one of the most toxic chemicals known to man, it remains in Vietnam’s ecosystem, in the soil, rivers and in the fish the local people eat. The country is still enduring its crippling effects. The Red Cross of Vietnam estimated up to one million people are currently disabled or have health problems due to Agent Orange, 100 000 of which are children. 

In the St Vincent orphanage these nuns care for children with a range of debilitating physical and mental problems such as birth defects, autoimmune diseases, psychosocial issues, amputees and neurological defects, most notably cerebral palsy. These conditions result in extensive weakness, muscle contractures, and coordination and balance problems. 

Some disabilities are so severe that children lack the ability to complete basic tasks such as sitting upright or lifting utensils in order to eat and drink. Unfortunately in Vietnam, there is a lot of negative stigma around children who have any disabilities and therefore support is limited. 

These nuns tirelessly dedicate themselves to supporting and caring for the children’s welfare. Sadly, this is not enough as many of them lack the knowledge and expertise in the area of health and therefore their ability to improve these children’s plight is severely limited.

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We know each other through our time spent studying at university together, and we will both receive our Bachelor of Physiotherapy degrees next year – Dom having completed his studies and Seb finishing up early next semester. With the skills we have learnt over our time at university we head to Vietnam with the intention to educate, design and implement individualised rehabilitation programs for each child to help improve their function and overall quality of life. Our success will be measured by the positive difference we plan to make in the lives of these children and the nuns. 

The money being collected through this fund-me page is to help purchase medical equipment such as bandages, casts, walking aids, exercise bands and equipment.

Thank you for your support!