Chris has not only sponsored 4 children but raised funds for 3 roofs

Chris has been very kind and generous; he is a man with a big heart. He has sponsored two boys for several years and recently started to help two girls with their education and one with food too. He has also arranged the sponsorship of another girl. He has couch surfers stay at his home and they have made donations and he has been able to raise funds for three new roofs this way. The three families had seriously delapidated roofs and one roof is now complete, one nearly complete and one is to have work starting on it next week. All three families will be dry for the rainy season and so will their school books! The families are thrilled and so are we! Thank you Chris for your big heart,kindness and generosity!

Dental care for some of the CEF children

Some of our children have just received dental care from 'Vietnam Vision'. 'Vietnam Vision' is based in Sydney and their team visits Vietnam yearly and provides free medical care, particularly cataract surgery.

This year they also provided free dental care. Some of 'our children' who lived near the hospital where they were based on this trip were able to benefit from this generous help.

Most waited with apprehension, but as you can see from a couple of the pictures, it was fun for some! The girl who you see laughing was very confident that she had good teeth and no cavities, but she had cavities, as did half of 'our children'.

Thank you 'Vietnam Vision' for this very generous and beneficial gift!

Our Board of Directors

As the founding director and manager of CEF, I feel a good board of directors and advisors is crucial for the support we need, not just practically, but also emotionally. I am blessed with a caring, considerate, conscious and compassionate board, and advisors as well. They don't just care about the charity; what it is doing, how it is growing, and developing and it's future, but they also care about the families, about myself, and our staff. Most of my board and some of our advisors have even been to Vietnam to see the work we do and to experience it first hand. This has been very helpful as well, as their advice has then become even more finely attuned. This support is invaluable and hugely appreciated!

CEF children that Rotary has sponsored

We are thrilled that 2 Rotary Clubs in Sydney have taken on 10 sponsorships in the last few months between them. This is truly wonderful as this means 10 more children are in school. Rotary Clubs are located all over the world. It is a secular organization open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed or political preference. There are more than 32,000 clubs and over 1.2 million members world-wide. The members of Rotary Clubs are known as Rotarians. The stated purpose of the organization is to bring together business and professional leaders to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary's best-known motto is "Service above Self". Children's Education Foundation and the children and their families or carers are thrilled for them to have this support for their education.

Oanh's father killed himself, and mum can't make ends meet and send her exceptionally bright child to school. Now Oanh can continue attending school due to the help of Rotary.

Minh is an exceptionally bright child who with Rotary's help is able to stay in school. Her mother has very poor health, can work very little and is responsible for her two children and a mentally-ill brother.

Quynh's mother has poor health and a debilitating skin disease. Her father had a major accident and is recovering still. They have a huge debt and neither parent can work. Mum does some sewing when she feels well enough. Quynh is a very bright girl and we are thrilled we can help keep her in school with the help of Rotary.

Nga's parents have many children, dad has poor health and can't work much. Mum can't earn enough to pay all costs including their education. Two children have been removed from school due to their poverty. We want to make sure Oanh has an education.

Huong's mum stays home and looks after the youngest child and dad can't earn much. We are ensuring Huong has an education with the support of Rotary.

Van's dad can't work as he had a work accident and has some paralysis. One lower leg had to be amputated recently. Mum can't earn enough to pay medical bills, pay for family expenses and send her children to school. One child has had to leave school and we are helping Van stay in school with Rotary's help.

Linh's mum collects garbage and also works part time as a helper in a kindergarten. Her husband died and she is now also responsible for her elderly father-in-law. She can't make ends meet and needed help to educate her children. Fortunately Rotary has helped.

Nguyet's dad left mum with the children and they live in an isolated area where there is very little work. Help was needed for the children to receive an education. Now that is possible.

Diem is a very bright girl. Her parents are unskilled laborers and have relocated in the hope of finding work. At present they have no income and live with granny. We are supporting Diem's schooling with Rotary's help.

Quoc's mum died of a stroke, dad died in an accident and they live with their grandparents who can't afford to educate them. Now he can stay in school as he has the support needed from Rotary.

Dung become a novice monk at one when his mother decided to become a nun. When he is old enough he can decide to leave if he wants. As his mother is a nun she doesn't earn any money to send him to school. Rotary is making it possible for him to be educated.

About Phuc Le Education Program - Guest blog by Brian

At first glance the village of Phuc Le resembles a picture postcard of Vietnam. Lying, as it does, among lush green rice fields, on the soil rich floodplains of the Red River and its tributaries, the village presents an idyllic picture. And it is indeed a picturesque place. Mostly small brick and mortar cottages, nestled among the many fruit trees planted by residents, intersected with meandering narrow concrete pathways. Dotted throughout are many small ponds, often covered with colourful water lilies; and a haven for the fish, being nurtured as an important food source for the villagers. However, as is often the case, appearances can be deceiving. Behind this picture and that presented by the personal cleanliness and neatness of the residents, lies a story of a constant struggle by many against poverty. The majority of families eke out a living from the small rice plot they lease from the Government (average 1,000 Sq Metre – about the size of the average house block in Australia or US). After setting aside enough grain for the family’s own use, the remainder is sold to realise a small cash income, about $US300 annually. Where circumstances and opportunity allow, families attempt to supplement their farming activities with other sources of cash income. Some get casual labouring work on local building sites. Others opt for one parent to leave and take work in a factory near one of the big cities. But then there are those who, because of broken relationships, poor health and other reasons are unable to avail themselves of such opportunities. Bui Chu is a young man from Phuc Le, who has a strong desire to the children in his village get the same opportunities in life through education that he has had. Chu has for some years assisted CEF in identifying those families in greatest need, in terms of providing an education for their children. As a part-time (infrequent) assistant to Linda and the CEF team, it has been a great pleasure, indeed a privilege, for me to be able to accompany Chu on five occasions as part of the annual monitoring of students in receipt of CEF support. It is so humbling to sit with these families, who despite their impoverished dwellings and the very hard and difficult lives they lead, are so welcoming and hospitable; and so appreciative of the help. Above all, I delight in having, over the years, been able to watch our students grow and change, many now showing the benefits of their education in their emerging assertiveness and self-confidence. I can only say that all of you who have contributed to giving these kids a chance of a better life can be assured that it is appreciated. A new generation of young people is emerging that, unlike their forebears, will not be sentenced to a life of slaving in the rice fields. On behalf of the kids of Phuc Le - A GREAT BIG THANK YOU.

CEF New York Fundraising Event (VIDEO)

Here's a glimpse at a fundraiser we held in New York City - thank you to all our wonderful donors.

Look out for news of fundraising event in August in New York!

A roof replaced due to internal waterfalls when it rained

A roof that had internal waterfalls when it rained, has been replaced, thanks to the donations of a kind sponsor and his couch surfing friends. Thank you Chris!

This is the home of one of the girls in our education sponsorship program. She couldn't do her homework anywhere when it rained due to all the rain that entered through the roof. This single mother and her daughter are both overwhelmed and thrilled with their new roof!

The pictures show the roof off and the new roof.

A few more of Brian's photos of the Phuc Le children

 These lovely photos were taken of our girls in Phuc Le by Brian Kuhl. We are helping the girls receive an education as they all come from poor families that can't afford their education. These girls will have a future with choices. they will be educated women who can make a difference!

 

Photos by Brian Kuhl of some of our children in Phuc Le

Our Children's Education Foundation 2012 Beach Outing

We took many of the Quang Nam children to the beach for a summer adventure! We had a water safety talk, floating lessons, swimming lessons, games on the sand until their toes were too hot and then lunch and an outing into Hoi An, our local historic town.

It was once the largest port in South East Asia and was a major trading centre. A Chinese and a Japanese community lived on different sides of the Japanese friendship bridge. The children learnt about Hoi An and saw some of the arts and crafts of Hoi An. They left with a photo from the afternoon and a little Japanese lantern. They all had a wonderful time!