Trip to the mountains to give desks to girls in a boarding school - Guest blog and photos by Graeme

Last November we visited a school a two hours drive from CEF's office in the mountains close to the border with Laos. Many of the girls are ethnic Gie Trieng at this school and they board because their families live too far away. We found that the best way we could help them was to donate small desks for them to do their homework on. They'd been working in their dorms on their beds, without any desks, which was not the best for their hand writing and their backs.

Here are some pictures of our second visit last week to deliver the desks to 47 girls.

It was the last day of school before their New Year holidays and the girls were dressed and ready to go home. 

I wasn't sure about the choice of decorations on the desks, but the girls were happy.

Our colleague from the Women's Union, helped with the presentations. 

And so did the headmistress.

CEF staff Kim Chi and Ngoc with one of the girls with her desk in the dorm.

And now ready to do homework!

Tet Food Parcels make Tet a more pleasurable and happier time for CEF families - Guest Blog by Ngoc

Tet or Vietnamese Lunar New Year is a special occasion in Vietnam when all family members living far from home are able to return and gather with their families.  For our CEF children it is a really significant time for them as it’s when their beloved mothers or fathers who had to leave their hometown and family to make a living in a distant area, can be at home with them for several days. For some it is the only time of year that they see them.

Yesterday morning, we delivered Tet Food Parcels to our poorest children to contribute to their Tet being a cozy and joyful time. For me, this is one of the most meaningful activities of CEF as we are able to partly reduce their worry about Tet and it brings more happiness to them.

All the families came to Hoi An before the required time although they live rather far from Hoi An and it was also a cold and rainy start to their morning.  I asked a father from Dai Loc who came first what the reason was for being very early, and he answered honestly: “I left home at 5.30 a.m this morning so that I can be here before 8.30 a.m. This is the first time I went on my own to Hoi An, so I was afraid of being late and other people having to wait for me. I am really happy to receive this parcel so that my daughter and I do not need to worry much about the rice and other foods during Tet. Thanks CEF a lot”.  It is very kind of him to think of others and indeed the parcel is very helpful for him.

Thanks a lot to our very generous donors who helped us this year to be able to continue doing this special and important annual activity.