VIETNAM FOUNDATION was founded by a number of concerned friends of Vietnam in December 1995. It aims, in some small ways, to give a helping hand to the Vietnamese people in their mammoth effort to improve their own living condition and to build a modern and prosperous Vietnam. The Foundation's targets for help are the poor and the disadvantaged, especially those living in rural areas.
The
function was organised at Hoa Binh Restaurant in Sydney, with
the attendance of over 900 guests. Entertainment program included popular
artists living in Sydney.
In particular the Viet Vu Dancing Group; the classical Cai Luong “An Duong
Vuong That Thu Co Loa Thanh” by Ngoc Ha & Ha Nam; and the appearance of Stefanie
Dawson, who sang and danced traditional Vietnamese songs.
The guest speaker was Tim Aline Rebeaud, the young Swiss painter who
founded the Maison Chancein Saigon and dedicated her life to the
orphans, the street children and the severely disabled of Vietnam.
Vietnam Foundation was lending Tim our helping hands in raising funds to build
another facility, Village Chance(or Village
of Opportunity) so that many more disabled adults, orphans and children living
in the streets or from disadvantaged families are cared for, educated and given
vocational training.
A total of $62,797 was raised. Of this total amount, $37,289 was
sent to Maison Chance and the remaining amount is being used for two new projects:
1. Upgrade the orphanage “Mái Ấm Hồng Ân” in Tây Ninh.
2. Build two kindergarten classrooms in Cao Lãnh, Đồng Tháp.
In addition to
the Tim Vietnam Dinner, other organisations in Sydney, Canberra, Melbourne and Brisbane had joined Vietnam Foundation in organising fund raising functions
specifically for Maison Chance.The
total amount raised for Maison Chance during this short trip of Tim Aline
Rebeaud to Australia was $234,961.
Mái Ấm Hồng Ân (Hong An Orphanage) is a charity organisation run by Ms Vương Ngọc Sương and her family, providing residence, food and education for about 40 children.
The orphanage has been in existence for over 20 years with the main
location in Tay-Ninh having about 25 children, and a branch in
HoChiMinh City housing 11 children.
Despite being paralysed with both
legs due to an accident in her early life, Ms Vuong Ngoc Suong has
overcome all the odds in forming and running the orphanage with love,
dedication and determination.
