Other Projects
DIRECT SPONSORSHIP PROJECT
This project allows a donor to directly sponsor a child at Vinh Son with as little as $100 a year. There are many children (over 70 as of June 2007) who have sponsors through FoCH, Inc. and all sponsors get a Certificate of Appreciation from FoCH with a photo of the child and we also send a Vietnamese Language letter to the Sister in charge at the orphanage to announce to the child the sponsorship. We encourage the sponsors to provide us with a photo so we can include a copy of it to the child. Also, we strongly urge the sponsor to write small notes to the child and to send through our offices. We will have the note translated and delivered to the child. Do not expect an answer in return, but one really ever knows for sure. For more information please contact us.
1K ENDOWMENTS
This is a small project that allows a sponsor to provide a $1,000.00 endowment for a child in the orphanage. Basically, the money is held in trust or a named child and when that child reaches age 18 the money will become available for use. The use will be for post high school education, either academic or vocational, or it will be available as a Quality-of-Life spend down.
A submitted plan will be required of the child to be reviewed by the Board and when the plan is approved, the FoCH trustee will see to the dispersal of funds according to the plan. Further information is available upon e-mail request.
QUALITY-OF-LIFE PROJECTS
As an organization, FoCH, Inc. has a presence at the orphanage that is second to none. Based on that presence we see clearly the day-to-day needs of the children and we are there with the assistance needed, from medicine, to powered milk, to flour for bread and personal hygiene products for the older girls.
BEACH TRIPS
Since 2005 we have provided a Beach Outing for many of the children. We have been to the beaches at Qui Nhon and Nha Trang (link here to photo section). This may seem trivial, but please realize that most of these children would never see the Ocean in their lifetimes. Our mission was verified by the little boy who was splashing in the water and stated: “This is the largest river I ever seen….and it is salty too”
In 2007 we have added in new bathing suits for the children, for as simple as that would appear, the children never had swim suits since there was never a need.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
In December 2006 we had the distinct pleasure of providing a Christmas Party for the children, including a tree, music, wrapped gifts and Christmas cards provided by children in the United States. (link here to photo section) We will be doing the same in 2008 and it is our intention to keep Christmas not only in our hearts, but also in the orphanage at Vinh Son.
FARM PROJECT
In the past several years, FoCH, Inc. has been providing funds as an organization and also as personal direct donations to buy land and live stock as well as fruit trees and other agricultural items to start and maintain a small farm. The products are used for feeding the children, teaching farming to the older boys and girls and any money realized above costs goes back into the farm.
SCHOOL CLOTHING PROJECT
In 2007, we have purchased on the open market in Sai Gon the material needed to make the school uniforms for the children. The national uniform in Viet Nam is a white top and a blue bottom. The material is being sewn into the uniforms needed by the sewing shop at the orphanage, which is vocational training for the older girls who are doing the work.
This year we have also purchased on the open market in Sai Gon, a large quantity of back packs for the children and we will also supply the children with the supplies they need.
GIRLS DORMITORY
In 2005, FoCH, Inc., in partnership with an Italian organization, completed the construction of a new dorm for the girls. This was complete with running water and flush toilets. We are currently having additional beds fabricated and we have already built personal lockers for the girls with a generous private donation to our Viet Nam office.
VILLAGE CHILDREN PROJECT
Many tribal boys and girls come to Kon Tum to stay so they can attend school. These are not orphans, but they live too far away for daily travel as their tribal areas are not yet serviced by the government schools. Since the distance is too far for daily commuting, the teen boys and girls stay at the orphanage in converted animal shelters.
There is little light in these primitive conditions and of course there are no running water taps or bathing and toilet facilities. It is all very, very rural Viet Nam basic.
We have delivered assistance to these children and we will be able to report on it soon. Our first success there was the completion of a new kitchen for the children to have their meals prepared. Prior to this, cooking was done in one pot on an open fire built on the dirt floor.
PHARMACY ASSISTANTS
On July 14th last year The Friends of the Central Highlands, Inc. said farewell to two young ladies from the Kon Tum area that were traveling to Ha Noi, Y-Yang and Y-Yatch.
They are two students from a nearby minority village who have been accepted to study in Ha Noi as pharmacy assistants. Through the hard work of our Director of Viet Nam Operations, Nguyen Tau Can, we were successful in providing these young women with the money needed to travel and to attend the training.
This was a huge step for these young ladies and it is a huge step for their villages as the students travel so far from home to study for skills that will be a life long vocation and will assist their village and their country.
MOTORBIKE REPAIR PROJECT
One of the future projects we are working on is to build a Vocational Training Center at or near the orphanage so we can train those children with the mechanical aptitude and desire to learn the trade of a motorbike repairman. As you all know, if Viet Nam has an abundance of anything, it is motorbikes.
INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE
Through personal commitment, several of our members have taken individual assistance projects with people they have become close with during our years of assistance in the area. Although we do not service individuals as an organization, we nonetheless see problems that can be addressed on a one to one basis and our members have no problem doing extra, above and beyond the call of duty.
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