The past twelve months have been interesting and also challenging. Interesting in that we have taken on some new projects and challenging as it always is, in raising funds to finance the objectives of the Fund. The objectives are to assist the underprivileged children of our province.

One of our accomplishments this year was the upgrading of the bathrooms at the Phu My orphanage, photos of which are on our web page.

The challenge of raising funds is supported here in Vung Tau byour tours, raffles, poker runs and events like Melbourne Cup day held mainly at the Downunder Bar and supported by Tony Keddie. All these events are conducted by volunteers, and we thank all our
friends and members for their support. With our website back up and running we hope to reclaim some of the support that we used to have from Australia and from around the world. Coming to the website will be a new feature where people will be able to subscribe to sponsor a child from the orphanage at Phu My. Phu My in the old days of the war here was the turn around point for the Australians escorting convoys from Vung Tau to the old Saigon, now Ho Chi Minh City, and Bien Hoa. People will be able to get details of the children and receive progress reports on a regular basis.

The Fund is also looking at extra English classes for the children at the orphanage. English is now the second language here in Vietnam, and to give these children a better chance in the world once they leave the orphanage we intend to pay for extra classes for the children.

Relative to the above, we are also looking into providing subsidised Tertiary and Further Education courses for the older children, like apprenticeships. Phu My is an industrial area with a large scope for employment of trained personnel. The way out of poverty for some of these youngsters is education,education and education. Most have no opportunity of a University education but would fit well into an apprenticeship, or TAFE like situation. At present the Fund is looking at reviving the housing project that it was originally set up for, providing a house for an underprivileged family, with children. This program was put on hold during Covid as we lacked funds and members here on the ground. Like everywhere else in the world, Covid knocked the Fund for six. Prior, the Fund had very generous donations enabling us to build some 30 houses for the very poor families in our province.

The cost of a basic house here in a rural area which is where we try to do this, is about AUD$7000.00. They are not luxuries by any means, but certainly much better than living in a tin humpy or under a sheet of canvas. They are clean, provide secure shelter, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens and living areas. We realise that the homeless situation in Australia and around the world is dire, but it stands out here in a country where there is no welfare and no social services. Some of our house recipients have their own little success stories. Some have gone on to open little shops and refreshment stalls in their front yards, thereby creating an income for the family albeit a meagre one. Some in the very outlying areas we still support with food packages, as their only income is as unskilled farm labourers on a wage of sometimes less than AUD$200.00 per month.

Regarding donations of goods and school equipment from Australia or from anywhere overseas; If you are bringing it with you when you visit it is more than welcome, soccer balls especially. Otherwise the cost of us getting it here out-ways the benefits. Everything available overseas is available here and probably cheaper. A donation to the Fund will probably go further than what you spend on the items and the cost of transportation.

We wish all our members and friends well, and thank you for your support.

Please be assured that every cent we raise goes directly to the children, we have no middlemen or paid employees, It’s just the children.

Best Regards,
Chris Blacket, President, VTV&FCF.