Thai Binh, May, 31st, 2012 – the Training Center (Don Bosco Shelter) for handicapped children in Thai Binh is finished. By now, 30 children are living in the house. They learn, work and spend leisure time together. The neighbours are friendly and accepting, and they donate food at regular intervals.
The Training Center was mainly financed by the Hilfswerk Deutscher Zahnärzte (Relief Organization of German Dentists). Dr. Klaus Winter and his wife Helga Winter came to Thai Binh for the official opening ceremony where the keys were symbolically handed over to Bishop Peter. From August, the Training Center will be run by the Don Bosco Vietnam Salesians.
New Project:
Hostel for Handicapped Children and Street-Children in South Vietnam.
My work for the Training Center is now finished and I will start a new project: a hostel for handicapped children and street-children in South Vietnam. I have now been back in Vietnam for three years. There were quite a few times when I felt I wished to leave and return to Munich. I needed three years to adapt to life in Vietnam. After many interviews with the authorities, I will now get a residence permit for three years.
Interim Resume after 3 Years in Vietnam
During the last three years, I cared for handicapped children in North Vietnam. In order to gain some experience, I was counselor for Caritas Saigon and active in various church organizations, Buddhists institutions, and also state organizations. In some way or other, I now seem to have become more mature in Vietnam and can work independently.
I am used to working, thinking and talking like a German. These three characteristics often cause embarrassing situations: in Vietnam, you cannot directly say NO, you cannot make quick decisions, you cannot think independently and make your own decisions. This is true both for the church and the government. I can adapt, but I will continue to work like a German. Because I feel this is a good idea, even if some say I am arrogant or high-and-mighty – I do not care what they say.
60th Birthday
Tomorrow, I will celebrate my 60th birthday with my children at the Training Center. We will eat well-seasoned barbecued belly of pork with rice pasta. The children look forward to a good meal, because usually we have to make do with 0.30 Euros per day.
5,500 € for a Playground, a House and a Cooling Chamber
In February, Don Bosco Bonn paid me 5,500.- Euros. It was my Christmas bonus for 2012. I used the money for financing a playground for street-children and handicapped children in the Rach Gia /Mekong Delta. It also served for building a house for a poor family with a handicapped father and a 20 qm cooling chamber for girls belonging to an ethical minority in Da lat.
Now they can store their vegetables and seasoning until the wholesale dealers come to pick them up. Now storage is improved, the vegetables will no longer rot, the girls can work all day long and do not need to get up before dawn.
I thank you very much and send the most grateful greetings from the children,
Van Hoi Francis
HUMANITARIAN MISSION FOR AGENT- ORANGE – CHILDREN
0084-903-961288
(Rivised by MS)
(Translated by EG)
Here is where you can make a generous contribution:
Empfänger: Salesianer Don Boscos
Konto-Nr: 22378015
Bankleitzahl: 37060193 (Pax – Bank)
Verwendungszweck: Agent-Orange-Kinder
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