HumaniTours

14th HumaniTour (July 2011) - In Saigon

2011-12-10T14:09:00.001-08:00

Images from the Go Vap Orphanage in Saigon.

Images from the Hoa Phuong Orphanage in Hai Phong

2011-09-22T01:07:00.000-07:00

Day 5 - Sunday July 10, 2011

Thien Nhan - Vietnamese Miracle Baby

2011-09-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

Day 4 - Saturday, July 9, 2011

Visiting Thien Nhan, Vietnamese Miracle Baby. Thien Nhan is doing well, recovering from his most recent surgery in Italy.

The Teach Me To Fish Program and Agent Orange

2011-09-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Like many handicaps and disabilities, the ailments associated with Agent Orange present a lifelong challenge. Children and adults can learn to cope with their disabilities and can often live fulfilling and meaningful lives. But their problems do not go away when they turn 18.

Kids Without Borders’ Teach Me to Fish (TM2F) project is a program that provides support services, educational scholarships and job training to underserved children in Vietnamese (orphans, street children, ...). The program’s recent focus has been with young people at the Thanh Xuan Peace Village in Hanoi – a facility that provides treatment, rehabilitation and education to children affected by Agent Orange. TM2F supports these children after they turn 18 and are no longer eligible for care at the Thanh Xuan Peace Village.

You can help these young adults transition to life on their own by providing scholarships and support for continuing education, vocational training, health care and living necessities. Please contatc Kids Without Borders info@kidswithnoborders.org and learn more on how you can help making a difference for these children.

Agent Orange in Viet Nam

2011-09-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thanh Xuan Peace Village

Meet Nga who has lived in the Peace Village for the last 11 years. Nga was born with a skin condition and it was diagnosed that her condition is linked to Agent Orange which was exposed to her parents when they served in the war.
Nga completed 12th grade in high school and she is in the process of taking the National University Entrance Exam. She wished that she will be able to attend college, but she knew it would not be easy. Only a small percentage of high school students would annually pass the exam to qualify for entry to university. Then the bigger obstacle is the ability to afford the costs.

What is next for this young woman?

2011-09-18T06:08:00.000-07:00

The 14th HumaniTour Summer 2011
Day 3 - July 9, 2011
Visiting the Thanh Xuan Peace Village in Hanoi, a rehabilitation center for disabled children related to Agent Orange.
Our team delivered new children's clothes, school supplies, medical supplies, and personal hygiene supplies.

The 14th HumaniTour Viet Nam Summer 2011

2011-09-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

July 7, 2011

Hanoi

the 14th HumaniTour Viet Nam

2011-07-08T15:14:00.000-07:00

Join us on the 14th HumaniTour Viet Nam: July 6 - 16, 2011 or the 15th HumaniTour Viet Nam: September 22 - October 2, 2011.

Limited space, please contact info@kidswithnoborders.org for information.

Images from the Fall 2010 HumaniTour

2011-07-08T15:13:00.000-07:00

Reflections from the HumaniTour Fall 2010

2011-07-08T14:57:00.000-07:00

The Power Of One!

When thinking of the power of one, I will forever think of Son Michael Pham, Kids Without Borders. One man's idea, with the love and support of his family, followed by determination, passion, compassion, and a whole lot of love has united people and resources to provide a better life for those who carry burdens far beyond their sole capabilities. Children, some with severe physical challenges, having no parents to protect, guide, and nourish them rely on the orphanages to provide their basic needs.

Son Michael has "adopted" a few of these homes. It was truly an inspiration to witness the dedication of the loving staff and the impact of even these few provisions. Equipped with new clothes, toothbrushes and toothpaste, soap and shampoo, crayons, pencils, and notebooks, bouncing balls, cuddly stuffed animals, sweet treats, and red clown noses, we were met with smiles, giggles, hugs, sheer joy and appreciation beyond compare. We were honored with performances of song and dance that took a lot of time, energy, and practice to master. We arrived with gifts in hopes of lessening their struggles. We left with new perspectives and full hearts, forever changed.

Apparently, unable to leave a minute unproductive, Son Michael, with the combined efforts and resources of The Rotary and Pro Sports arranged for the delivery of wheelchairs. We had the honor of distributing them, becoming wonderfully familar with the look of joy freedom of mobility brings.

Viet Nam awakens your senses. Beautiful beaches, architecture, and parks, chaotic city traffic where crossing the street is an adventure and getting to the other side an accomplishment, markets filled with everything you can imagine and some you can't, posh establishments with modern conveniences and the not so, the language...foreign, but a smile is a smile is a smile. The energy of the city, the serenity of the seashore, the history of a country, the influence of all who settled there, and the people. We experienced it all! And everywhere I travel the same observation...we have the same basic needs and all need to love and be loved.

Thank you Son Michael and all those associated with this journey. You make my heart smile.

Love with Hugs,

Susan

Susan (left) in Dalat, Kathy (right), center are two teachers

Susan and Son Michael

Teach Me To Fish Orphans - Reunion Dinner

2011-07-08T14:34:00.000-07:00

October 30, 2010 - Day 13 of the HumaniTour: our last night in Viet Nam. Our farewell dinner was also the reunion dinner of the orphans supported by the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) program. Uncle Son organizes these reunion dinners three times each year during his visit to Viet Nam. The kids grew up together in the orphanages, then moved out at the age of eighteen and try to survive on their own. Kids Withiut Borders Teach Me To Fish program lends each of these vunerable orphan a shoulder to lean on, a hand to walk with, ecouragement and guidance to become independent and able to work his or her own way out of poverty and avoid becoming victim of human trafficking, of thr streets, of poverty. Our success rate since the program began in 2001: 100% of the TM2F have some higher education and/or vocational training, have employment, place to live, and many have started family of their own. Thanks to the support from Rotary, and so many caring individuals.

A TM2F scholarship to sponsor one orphan for one year: $350 or less than $1.00 a day. You can help us bringing hope and a brighter future to these orphans by contributing to our TM2F program. Visit our website www.kidswithboborders.org and make an online donation (you can also donate to KWB via Facebook).

Rotary Wheelchair Distribution Event in Saigon

2011-07-08T14:08:00.000-07:00

October 30, 2010 - Day 13 of the HumaniTour: 280 new wheelchairs, funded by our partners Rotary International and Pro Sports Club arrived safely in Viet Nam ahead of our team. Today our team involved in the distribution of these new chairs. The event in Saigon was organized on our behalf by the Viet Nam Red Cross. It was our chance to witness first hand that 'mobility' bring 'hope' and 'dignity'. THANK YOU Rotary, Pro Sports Club, and the many volunteers from the Viet Nam Red Cross.

Go Vap Orphanage

2011-07-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

Octobeer 29, 2010 - day 12 of the HumaniTour: our group arrived in Saigon, our final stop of this 14 day journey. We carried 300 libs of gifts tp our most special place, the Go Vap Orphanage.

Rotary In Viet Nam

2011-06-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

October 26 & 27, 2010
Day 9 & 10 of the HumaniTour: we traveled from Danang to Dalat, a city in the highland area used to be called Little Paris. Our team visited the Rose School managed by Catholic nuns. The school was built with funds from several Rotary clubs with the largest support from the Spring Valley Club (New York) and STEP (Schools To End Poverty).

Agent Orange - What You Can Do

2011-06-21T16:31:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2010
Day 8 of the HumaniTour:

Agent Orange - What You Can Do

- Visit http://www.makeagentorangehistory.org/ to learn how you can help support the people of Viet Nam with cleanup and public health efforts there.

- Spread the word so that this hidden issue becomes more widely known, by talking about it with friends, hosting dialogues, writing op-eds and blogging.

- Publicly pledge your support for the U.S-Viet Nam Dialogue Group's Plan of Action.

- Donate moeny to NGOs that are providing services and opportunities to people with disabilities and their families in Viet Nam.

- Volunteer time with these NGOs.

Rotarians in our traveling group will bring this issue back to their home and engage Rotary International with this humanitarian concern.

Agent Orange - The Opportunity

2011-06-21T16:08:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2010
Day 8 of the HumaniTour:

Agent Orange - The Opportunity

- This is a humanitarian concern we CAN do something about.

- Recent progress has created a window of opportunity for the U.S. to itensify its effort in a shared commitment to reduce the public health impact in Viet Nam.

- The U.S. government is providing benefits to affected U.S. Vietnam Veterans and their families, but more needs to be done for them, and for those affected in Viet Nam.

- Advances in technology and knowhow make it possible to clean up the hotspots and assist people who have affected.

- In spring 2010, the U.S.-Viet Nam Dialogue Group released a 10-year Plan of Action that would clean up all of the toxic hotspots and expand humanitarain services in Viet Nam.

- Addressing the impact in Viet Nam will support and affirm the dignity of people there, and can help us identify new ways to enhance support for American veterans and their families who also still struggle with this legacy.

Agent Orange - The Concern

2011-06-21T15:50:00.001-07:00

October 25, 2010

Day 8 of the HumaniTour: after the tour of the Danang Airbase 'hotspot', we visited the children in VAVA Dioxin Center. All of the children cared for by this center have various physical or mental disabilities linked to Agent Orange. We were greeted with songs and dances by the children, and in return we presented them with our gifts.

Agent Orange - The Concern

- Decade after the war in Viet Nam, the harmful effects of Agent Orange / Dioxin are still being felt by millions of Vietnamese families, as well as U.S. veterans.

- According to the Viet Nam Red Cross, approximately three million Vietnamese have been affected by Agent Orange, including 150,000 of today's children who were born with serious birth defects.

- Dioxin is still found in high concentrations in over 25 "hotspots" in southern Viet Nam. It can poison the local food chain. And studies have linked dioxin to birth defects in children and grandchildren of those exposed.

Legacy of Agent Orange

2011-06-21T15:24:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2010

Day 8 of the HumaniTour: this afternoon our group got an 'upclose and personal' look at Agent Orange (AO). Dr. Charles Bailey with the Ford Foundation met up with our group in Danang. After a briefing on AO over lunch, we boarded the bus for the Danang Airbase. More than forty years ago, this military airbase was the busiest airport in the world. Today, Danang Airbase is one of the three major 'hotspots' in Viet Nam. Dioxin is still found in high concentrations on some areas within this airport. Our bus made a brief stop on the way to the airbase, where each of us bought temporary footwear, since we would be walking on contaminated soil.

About Agent Orange:

- Agent Orange was an herbicide used by the U.S. military to defoliate trees and shrubs during the war in Viet Nam. It was named after the orange-striped barrels in which it was shipped.

- It was contaminated with dioxin, a highly toxic chemical linked to a dozen of medical conditions including cancers, nerve and heart diseases, and birth defects in offspring.

- Some 12 million gallonsof Agent Orange were sprayed at up to 50 times the concentration recommended for killing weeds.

- About 5 million acres of forests and crops were destroyed - an area the size of Massachusetts.

- An estimated 4.5 million Vietnamese and hundreds of thousands of American soldiers were exposed.

Rotary Wheelchair Distribution

2011-06-21T15:13:00.000-07:00

October 25, 2010
Day 8 of the HumaniTour: our team participated in a wheelchair distribution at a center for disabled children in Hoi An. The wheelchairs were funded by the Rotary Club of Spring Valley (New York). We also handed over our donation of children clothes.

China Beach in Danang

2011-06-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

October 24, 2010

Day 7 of the HumaniTour: travel day today. This morning we bid farewell to Hai Phong and the orphans of the Hoa Phuong Orphanage and took a one hour flight to Danang.

Ha Long Bay

2011-06-21T10:19:00.000-07:00

October 23, 2010
Day 6 of the HumaniTour: a day of relaxation. We enjoy the beauty of Ha Long Bay on a private charter boat. After a stop to visit a spectacular natural cave, we got back on our boat to a delicious lunch of fresh seafood. Several of the Teach Me To Fish orphans joined us today on this visit to paradise.

Hoa Phuong Orphanage in Hai Phong

2011-01-19T07:55:00.001-08:00

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Day 5 of the HumaniTour
We traveled by bus to Hai Phong City, Seattle Sister City. After we checked in to our hotel, our team took suitcases filled with toys, school supplies, dental and hygiene supplies, to the Hoa Phuong Orphanage. For several team members, this would be another return visit to this happy place and reunited withe many of the orphans they have bonded during their previous visits.

Peace Village - Agent Orange

2011-01-14T07:43:00.001-08:00

Friday - October 22, 2010
DCay 5 of the HumaniTour Viet Nam Fall 2010
Team New York arrived on Wednesday and our group now grew to 31 travelers. This morning, we visited a familiar place, the Thanh Xuan Peace Village. Kids Without Borders (with support from Rotary) has supported this rehabilitation center for disabled children since 2001. The disabled children (physical and mental disabilities) are victims of Agent Orange, used during the war more than 35 years ago.
Our team delivered to Dr. Phuong, Director of the Center, our gifts of new children clothing, dental care supplies, hygiene supplies, medical supplies, and school supplies. Lots of smile and excitement when toys and candies were handed out by our team members.
Learn more about Agent Orange and how you can get involved, visit our partner organization:
http://www.makeagentorangehistory.org/

HumaniTour Fall 2010 - Day 4

2011-01-14T07:33:00.000-08:00

Hanoi celebrating its 1,000th birthday

Teach Me To Fish Program

2010-10-27T00:23:00.000-07:00

The 12th HumaniTour

October 21, 2010

Day 2 in Hanoi: joining our team for our visit to the Thanh Xuan Peace Village this morning are four young women in the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) Program. All of these four orphans grew up in the Hoa Phuong Orphanage in Hai Phong. They moved out of the orphanage at the age of 18, and came to Hanoi for vocational training. The TM2F program supported them during the first two years outside of the orphanage. Now they all live independently, and all have decent jobs. One of the four got married and is expecting a child next month.

Hanoi by night ...

2010-10-21T15:19:00.001-07:00

October 21, 2010

Hanoi, Viet Nam

2010-10-20T15:07:00.000-07:00

October 20, 2010
We have just missed the 1,000th birthday celebration of Hanoi City. Here are some images of Hanoi during the day.

Seattle to Hanoi

2010-10-20T14:27:00.000-07:00

October 18, 2010

Our team left Seattle at 2am on October 19, 2010 - first stop: Taipei and a short layover. We left Taipei just in time to avoid 'Supper Typhoon Megi' waiting in the South China Sea after this deadly weather system strucked Manila. October is still 'monsoon' season in Southeast Asia.

Part of our team from Seattle at Seatac International Airport

23 hours later, we arrived in Hanoi ...

... with our luggage (almost 2,000 lbs., more than half are donated goods)

Kids Without Borders in-country representative Thao (holding pink handbag) welcomes us to Hanoi. Thao grew up in the Hoa Phuong Orphanage and she was one of the first young adult in the KWB Teach Me To Fish program.

The 12th HumaniTour Viet Nam

2010-10-17T22:01:00.000-07:00

October 17, 2010

The HumaniTour team is packed and ready to travel. The team from Seattle will depart at 2am October 18, 2010, first stop is Taipei (Taiwan), and after a short layover we will continue on to Hanoi. We will leave behind the beautiful fall weather at home, with daytime temperature in the 60s and nightime in the 30s.

Rotary HumaniTours (Wheelchair Delivery) Viet Nam & Cambodia

2010-06-04T16:04:00.000-07:00

October 18 - 31, 2010

Limited space is still available for the upcoming Humanitours to Viet Nam and Cambodia.
Wheelchair Delivery (funded by Rotary clubs, Pro Sports Club, The Rotary Foundation Matching Grant, and The Wheelchair Foundation).

The HumaniTours is a project of Kids Without Borders.

Our Partners:
Rotary Club of the University District of Seattle (Washington)
Rotary Club of Spring Valley (New York)
School To End Poverty (New York)
The Wheelchair Foundation (California)
Pro Sports Club (Washington)

The HumaniTour has been featured in:
KIRO 7 Television (CBS – Seattle)
KOMO 4 Television (ABC – Seattle)
Seattle Times
Washington CEO Magazine
The Rotarian Magazine

For more information, email: info@kidswithnoborders.org

How You Can Help Make The World A Better Place

2010-03-17T15:00:00.000-07:00

Article from the Seattle Times

Written by Carol Pucci

November 2007

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2004027807_pucci25.html

Rotary HumaniTours Spring 2008 team delivering medical supplies to the Thanh Xuan Peace Village (Hanoi, Viet Nam)

How To Make Your 'Voluntourism' Count

2010-02-04T14:24:00.000-08:00

Article by Nancy Trejos
The Washington Post
-

From charities to tour companies and luxury hotels, there's no shortage of nonprofits and for-profits willing to organize a volunteer trip for the altruistic - and paying traveler. For good reason: nearly one in 20 U.S. travelers has taken a trip to help the less fortunate or support a humanitarian cause, according to research firm Y Partnership's 2009 National Leisure Travel Monitor.

"Voluntourism" has grown in popularity since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and the destruction of the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Experts cite another reason for its ascent: It's trendy. Think Angelina Jolie touring refugee camps in Darfur.

"There's just much more interest in reaching out and helping people in poverty," said Genevieve Brown, executive director of the International Volunteer Programs Association, a group of nongovernmental organizations involved in volunteer work.

Voluntourism usually works best when the volunteer contributes to a well-organized project while interacting with other volunteers and local residents. But sometimes volunteers don't have a fulfilling experience. Worse, sometimes they harm, not help, the community.

For instance, some voluntourism experts advise against volunteering at an orphanage, because the already vunerable children can get too attached to someone who won't stick around. Others say volunteers should make sure they aren't taking jobs away from locals. "Any project can be harmful to the community if it's done wrong," said Zahara Heckscher, co-author of "How to Live Your Dream of Volunteering Overseas."

With so many voluntourism opportunities out there, and so much that can go awry, how's a traveler to choose?

David Clemmons, founder of VolunTourism.org, said potential voluntourtists should first carefully consider their motivation. Anyone doing it just for school credit (some programs offer courses) would probably be better off getting a summer job.

Anyone doing it simply to write off a vacation probably shouldn't be a voluntourist at all, Clemmons said. (Some U.S. voluntourists may seek a tax deduction if they pay fees to a U.S. nonprofit organization and if they spend most of their time working. But it depends on the organization and the specific trip, so volunteers should consult a licensed accountant.)

Prospective volunteers should assess their skills to figure out what they can offer. There are many types of volunteer opportunities: educational, environment, research-oriented, humanitarian, cultural. Volunteers should decide what kind of work they want to do and what they're qualified to do. Setting realistic goals is important.

Ask practical questions: Where do you want to go? What kind of accommodations will you tolerate? Are you willing to live with other volunteers or a local family, or do you want to stay at a hotel? Are you a picky eater, or can you handle the local food? How much time do you want to spend volunteering versus sightseeing? How long can you volunteer?

Once practical concerns are addressed, choose an organization. If you've decided on a nonprofit that does nothing but coordinate trips, do more digging: Interview someone who works for the group and try to contact past volunteers. Make sure you share the organizations values, as some have overtly religious or political views.

Find out wether the organization is running the program in the community you are being sent to or wether it's simply matching you with a local organization. While you shouldn't automatically stay away from every organization that acts as what Clemmons calls a "pass-through," you do run some risks.

"At the end of the day, it's difficult for you to have any kind of recourse because, really, there's a disconnect between a pass-through organization and the on-the-ground organization," he said.

Prices run the gamut from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Ask what the fee covers. Some organizations cover only housing and food; you pay for airfare, ground transportation and other expenses.

Other will include transportation to and from the airport, supplies, liability insurance, evacuation insurance and more. Some include a donation to the community in the price.

HumaniTours Viet Nam in 2010

2009-09-29T14:32:00.000-07:00

Limited space available on the 2010 HumaniTour to Viet Nam:

- Fall Trip: October 27, 2010 12-14 days - Rotary Wheelchair Distribution in Viet Nam and Cambodia

Trip is open to all ages.

More information, send email to: info@kidswithnoborders.org

Viet Nam News Article - April 2009

2009-04-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

Link at: http://www.tuoitre.com.vn/Tianyon/Index.aspx?ArticleID=311724&ChannelID=312

Images of Kids Without Borders in Viet Nam - April 2009

2009-04-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

Viet Nam - April 4, 2009

2009-04-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday – Day 7:

Our final day of this trip, and a special one packed with last minute activities.

Coming home:

Her birth name is Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, born in September 1974. She was known as Kim Hoa Vermeire Lang when she died in March 2008. Just before the fall of Saigon, Kim left the Go Vap Orphanage to join her adoptive parents, Joe and Ann Vermeire, in Moline, Illinois. Josh Lang left his orphanage just south of Saigon two weeks later for his adoptive family in the U.S. They eventually met and married each other.

Today marked the exact anniversary, 34 years ago, of the tragic beginning to Operation Babylift. This operation brought orphans to the U.S. as the war in Viet Nam escalated. On April 4, 1975, a U.S. Air Force C-5A cargo plane packed with hundreds of Vietnamese orphans, crashed shortly after takeoff from Saigon (176 lived and 154 died).The evacuation efforts did continue and eventually 2,700 children were flown to the U.S, with 1,300 being flown to Canada, Europe, and Australia.

This morning, we met Josh Lang and Ann Vermeire for the first time. The family contacted Son Michael shortly after Kim died and wanted to visit the Go Vap Orphanage where Kim came from. Ann and Josh arrived the day before and Ann’s son was coming from Washington State the next day. In the car on our way to the orphanage, Ann shared with us old photos and news articles she brought along of Kim and her adoption. Josh told us stories of himself and his wife, and the wonderful memories the two families have shared. They brought with them vitamins and gifts for the children. More gifts would come tomorrow when Marc, Ann’s son, arrived. Marc is a teacher and his students donated supplies and money they collected to the orphanage. As we took them on a tour of the orphanage, Ann and Josh reached out and touched almost every baby or child they came across.

Thirty four years ago on this day marked the beginning of a new life for thousands of orphans from Viet Nam. Kim left on a flight shortly before the one that crashed, and Josh left on the first flight after the crash. How ironic that we all gathered here at Go Vap exactly 34 years later with one of the Operation Babylift children and adoptive mothers bringing, his wife-- and her daughter, back ‘home’.

The party:

It was our last night in Viet Nam and we organized our usual ‘dinner party’ for the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) Saigon Chapter. The twenty six TM2F kids got to the restaurant early and they were anxiously waiting for us. Many of them just got off work and had to catch two or more buses to get to the restaurant in the city center. Joining us tonight were many of our KWB volunteers (from Australia and the U.S) and friends, the management of the Go Vap Orphanage, and Ann Vermeire and Josh Lang. The group grew so large that the 56 of us took up most of the restaurant!

The dinner party was a reunion for the orphans in the TM2F program. These kids grew up together and lived together in the orphanage until beginning their adult lives. Now they are scattered around this large metropolitan area and rarely have time or opportunity to see each other. The sumptuous all-you-can-eat buffet only happens when Chu (Uncle) Son comes to Saigon. While resting between meals, they engaged in conversation in English with our volunteers and guests. Some gathered around Son Michael for advice or solutions to all sorts of issues and problems. However, for all the years KWB has been involved in their lives, these kids have always found their own solutions and answers. Just with a little help, a little encouragement, and a little love, they are able to make it on their own.

Ann Vermeire and an orphan.

Josh Lang and one of the children at the Go Vap Orphanage.

Chu (Uncle) Son and the kids in the Teach Me To Fish Program - Saigon.

Some of KWB volunteers from Australia and the U.S.

Viet Nam - April 3, 2009

2009-04-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

Friday - Day 6

Travel day today: leaving Hanoi for Saigon City.

Images of Hanoi and Saigon:

Viet Nam - April 2, 2009

2009-04-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

Thursday – Day 5:

Not the normal thing one would do on a vacation, especially in a developing country. We spent most of the day in a public hospital in Hanoi. One of the TM2F kid has been ill since Son Michael last visited back in November. Mo had lived, worked, and studied with pain for the last four months.

Thao joined us this morning when we took Mo to the Bach Mai Hospital. Thao is serving as our northern in- country representative, and one of the TM2F program success stories. A bright and capable young woman from the Hoa Phuong Orphanage, Thao completed her training at the Hoa Sua School and has been working as a sales person selling motorbike helmets (her work is sponsored by the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation. AIPF is KWB partner organization, www.asiainjury.org). The Bach Mai Hospital was extremely crowded. We waited in one line after another to check Mo in and sign her up for numerous tests. The inferior overall condition of the hospital and the lack of modernization made us appreciative of what we have here at home in America. Eight hours later and US$50 worth of medicine, we were so happy that Mo got the medication she needed to treat her condition!

After we cleaned up, we made a surprise visit to Thien Nhan’s (the Miracle Baby) preschool. Next was our dinner with the TM2F kids, and time for us to get caught up on their life, studies, work, and future. We then file our report with their sponsors at home.

After we sent the kids home, we went to Thien Nhan’s home and met with his adoptive Mom, Mai Anh. We talked about the upcoming trip to Bangkok (Thailand) for his medical examination. The trip will be the first since he last went to the U.S for some immediate medical care. We could feel Mai Anh’s anxiety, concern, and hope as we talked with her. All the while, Thien Nhan hopped around us on his one leg and played with his older brother! When we bid farewell, we wished the family a successful trip and assured them that KWB will stand by them and provide the support needed for Thien Nhan to receive the required medical care.

Tomorrow: back to Saigon.

Thien Nhan and one of his classmates.

The Teach Me To Fish kids in Hanoi.

Viet Nam - April 1, 2009

2009-04-01T20:06:00.000-07:00

Wednesday – Day 4:

At breakfast this morning, the General Manager of the Harborview Hotel (who we know quite well from our frequent visits to Hai Phong) introduced us to a woman who is interested in supporting the Hoa Phuong Orphanage. Son Michael embraced the golden opportunity and had a lengthy conversation with the University Professor from Oslo (Norway) who, with her husband, lives and works in Hai Phong.

We then spent three hours in the car traveling to Hanoi City. After we checked into our hotel and had a quick lunch, we went to the Sofitel Plaza Hotel to visit one of the orphans in the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) program. Nineteen years old Dien is currently working at this five-star hotel as an intern in the housekeeping department. Dien moved out of the Hoa Phuong Orphanage last summer and enrolled in the hospitality training program run by the Hoa Sua School in Hanoi (an international nonprofit organization). Dien greeted us with a beaming smile and was wearing her hotel uniform proudly! She introduced us to her manager, who praised her for being a friendly and hard-working member of his staff.

Later on in the afternoon, we reunited with three more TM2F young women (all came from Hoa Phuong Orphanage, now work, live, or study in Hanoi). And yet another reunion happened tonight-- Thien Nhan (the Miracle Baby, more information at http://help-thien-nhan.blogspot.com), his adoptive parents and two older brothers, all joined us for dinner. The kids had so much fun with each other that the adults spent most of our time over dinner watching and laughing with them. We still had the next day in Hanoi to talk about many important issues.

Meet some of the orphans in the Teach Me To Fish Program: Dien, Giang, and Mo. These young women are currently living, working, and studying in Hanoi. They are sponsored by Rotarians from New York and Washington State.

From left to right: Judy Pham, Mai Anh (adoptive mother of Thien Nhan), Son Michael Pham, and Thien Nhan - the Miracle Baby.

Dien standing proud in her uniform in the Sofitel Plaze Hotel in Hanoi, where she is working as an intern in the Housekeeping Department.

Viet Nam - March 31, 2009

2009-03-31T08:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Day 3:

We left Saigon on a 6am flight and left behind the 90s heat. Two hours later, we arrived in Hai Phong with almost 30 degree cooler weather. We arrived at the Hoa Phuong Orphanage when most of the kids were still at school. After a brief visit with the management staff and getting caught up on the latest happenings in the orphanage, we went from house to house and visited with the ‘house mother’ and the orphans (at home since they are too young to be in school). We met several new babies, and learned one of the baby in the ‘sick house’ just died from a seizure. There are eight homes on the ground of the Hoa Phuong Orphanage. Five of the homes have up to ten orphans, one is for teenage boys, and one new home is a temporary boarding place for street children. The eighth home is for seven orphans who need round the clock care due to their physical or mental conditions.

Before we reached the first home, a group of three students carried an unconscious fourth student across the yard. One of the orphans had a black out in her classroom and she was sent home. When we reached the home, she was still unconscious and surrounded by the house mother and other students and orphans. We learned that the 17 years old Mien has had several blackout bouts within the last several months. We will arrange for her to have a blood test to determine the cause and necessary treatment.

As we finished our rounds, some of the kids arrived back from school and the noise level started to rise when they spotted us. We pulled out the toys we brought with and soon we were surrounded by most of the seventy plus orphans. Some of the orphans were lucky enough to receive letters and gifts from their sponsors (of the Teach Me To Fish program) in the U.S.

For Son Michael, this visit marked ten years since he visited the orphanage for the first time and fell in love with the children. For ten years, he has kept his promises to these orphans-- going out of his way to visit them every time he comes to Viet Nam. This is where the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) program was launched; taking grown orphans under the wings of Kids Without Borders and helping them to integrate into life outside of the orphanage.

The sun started to set, and the mosquitoes became more noticeable. We wrapped up our visit and headed to a modern shopping center with five of the TM2F kids, two of them bringing along their own children! We treated everyone to a sumptuous ‘hot pot’ dinner, and it was an opportunity for us to get caught up on their current situations: home, family, work, dreams and wishes. Two of the five orphans broke the ‘orphan cycle’, both have their own family and child. However, Hoa Phuong Orphanage is always home for these kids, and the ‘house mothers’ and children there will always be their family. They all gather back at the orphanage on weekends, holidays, and especially on the annual anniversary celebration of the orphanage in April.

As we bid farewell to the kids, they all started to count down the days till our next visit and their next feast. We headed back to our comfortable, air-conditioned hotel and they returned to their modest homes. Hope they all had sweet dreams!

Tomorrow: Hanoi City.

Two sisters holding letters and gifts sent by their sponsors in the U.S.

"The School Bus": orphans coming home from their kindergarten class.

Many Rotary Clubs (in the U.S) and Rotarians are supporters of the Teach Me To Fish (TM2F) Program. THANK YOU ROTARY, for Making Dreams Real for these orphans.

Some of the Teach Me To Fish Class of 2005, now contributing members in their community (some with their own children in this photo).

Viet Nam - March 30, 2009

2009-03-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Monday, Day 2:

Our group grew by several people on our first day. We picked up Holly and the Watts family on our way to Go Vap Orphanage. Holly is from Seattle and currently lives in Viet Nam and working as a teacher. She is looking for opportunities to volunteer on behalf of KWB. The Watts family is from Redmond (Washington).

The Watts family arrived in Saigon earlier in the week with three large boxes; all marked 'Special Delivery' for Go Vap Orphanage. Daniel is eight years old and a second grade student at Ben Rush Elementary School in Redmond (Washington State). In preparation for their Viet Nam visit, Daniel with the support of his parents, Andrew and Thuy, put together a school project collecting donated goods for the orphanage. One of Daniel's classmates, Ben, even dedicated his own birthday to support the orphans by having a party where invited friends came only with gifts for the orphanage.

We also met with Dr. Melinda Bunt at Go Vap. Melinda visits the orphanage regularly and provides medical support for some of the sick babies. We all met with the orphanage director and discussed Dr. Bunt's ongoing assistance working with the medical staff at Go Vap.

Later on in the afternoon, we visited the Thu Duc Orphanage and delivered supplies we brought for young babies. When we arrived, we learned that the babies were under quarantine due to a measles outbreak. For the last several months, there have been numerous outbreaks of measles throughout Viet Nam and it is still not yet under control. After our meeting with the orphanage director, we walked around to distribute gifts to the children. Soon our walk was interrupted by a downpour. The quick rain helped cool the 96 degree temperature.

Tomorrow: Hai Phong City.

From left to right: Holly, Mrs. Thao (Director of the Go Vap Orphanage), and the Watts family (Mom Thuy, their Vietnamese niece, Daniel, and Dad Andrew).

A special 'hello' to Ben (in orange shirt in a recent family photo). He is one of Daniel's classmates. Ben organized his own birthday party to collect gifts for the orphans. Wish you were here, Ben!

Special delivery from Ben Rush Elementary School in Redmond, Washington State.

Andrew and Daniel comforted a very young orphan in the sick ward.

Reporting from Viet Nam - March 29, 2009

2009-03-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Day 1:

Back in Viet Nam again. This time, only three of us instead of twenty-one people a year ago (still, we carried with us six suitcases filled with supplies for our projects) and the usual packed agenda.

We arrived in Saigon on Sunday morning, in the sweltering heat - 91 degree but feels like 98 with the humidity. After getting to our hotel and cleaning up, we headed out to Go Vap Orphanage. One of our colleagues from California, Cathy Lam with the Our1World (http://www.our1world.org/) nonprofit organization joined our group. We gave Cathy a tour of the orphanage and said hello to the staff and the children, met some new orphans and learned the sad news about some of the sick kids who left us. We then spent the rest of our time with the English class. When we arrived, there was no chance for our volunteer teachers to keep the class going - the students knew study time was over and fun time began. In between all of the excited conversation, the kids ate treats and colored the new art books Cathy brought for them.

As expected, the streets of Saigon were packed on Sunday night. Everyone was out to escape the heat. We had dinner with the STEP travelers. School To End Poverty (STEP) is based in New York (http://www.springvalleyrotaryny.org/S_T_E_P.html) and has partnered with KWB in many past projects. The group celebrated the end of their successful mission to Viet Nam. Many in the group traveled with KWB in past trips, and are sponsoring orphans in our Teach Me To Fish Program (TM2F). During their mission, STEP dedicated a new school in Bac Lieu funded by the organization. KWB supported their mission with arrangements for visits to the Peace Village (rehabilitation center for disabled children victimized by Agent Orange) in Hanoi, the Hoa Phuong Orphanage in Hai Phong, and some of the current TM2F orphans.

We bid farewell to our New York friends and retired to our hotel to deal with the jetlag (14 hours time difference from home in Seattle) and ready for a busy day tomorrow.

'Hello again'. Nhat had his needed surgery in November

and he is another Go Vap hydrocephalus survivor.

Cathy Lam with some new friends.

Studying is so much fun.

Begin on back row second from right: Judy Pham (KWB), Leanne Tran (Melbourne, Australia), and Mrs. Truc. Leanne and Truc are KWB volunteer teachers.

Images of the Tenth HumaniTour Viet Nam - Spring 2008

2009-03-18T14:31:00.000-07:00

View Slide Show: http://www.kirotv.com/slideshow/news/15847220/detail.html

The Tenth HumaniTour Viet Nam - Spring 2008

2009-03-18T14:28:00.001-07:00

Reporting by Penny LeGate, News Reporter KIRO Television (CBS-Seattle)
March 2008

http://www.kirotv.com/station/15751389/detail.html

Images of the Ninth HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2007

2009-03-18T14:25:00.002-07:00

View Slide Show: http://www.kirotv.com/slideshow/news/11176286/detail.html

The Ninth HumaniTour Viet Nam - Fall 2007

2009-03-18T14:25:00.001-07:00

Video from the HumaniTour Viet Nam Fall 2007, prepared by the Rotary Club of the University District (Seattle):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I64-aYhjVts

The Eight HumaniTour Viet Nam - Spring 2007

2009-03-18T14:21:00.000-07:00

Read stories by Penny LeGate: http://www.kirotv.com/news/11176106/detail.html

View Slide Show: http://www.kirotv.com/slideshow/news/11176286/detail.html

The Seventh HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2006

2009-03-18T14:20:00.001-07:00

Video prepared by the Rotary Club of Spring Valley (New York).

Watch video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5maw77d9a50

The Sixth HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2005

2009-03-18T14:19:00.003-07:00

TBA

The Fifth HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2004

2009-03-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

Video presentation from the HumaniTour Viet Nam 2004, prepared by the Rotary CLub of the University District Seattle (Washington):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oFSCveahj0

The Fourth HumaniTour Viet Nam - Fall 2003

2009-03-18T14:15:00.001-07:00

The Third HumaniTour Viet Nam - Spring 2003

2009-03-18T14:14:00.002-07:00

TBA

The Second HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2002

2009-03-18T14:14:00.001-07:00

TBA

The First HumaniTour Viet Nam - 2001

2009-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

TBA

Destination Viet Nam

2009-02-26T14:26:00.001-08:00

TBA

The Concept

2009-02-26T14:22:00.000-08:00

HUMANITOURS
A one in a lifetime opportunity to go on a vacation, and at the same time make small differences in many people’s lives. The HumaniTour Viet Nam will offer unique time to experience the glorious sense of peace, the magnificence of a culture, the simplicity and natural flow of daily life, and irresistible cuisine. A project of Kids Without Borders (KWB), the HumaniTour will offer you the opportunity to participate in or witness firsthand KWB programs and projects throughout the country. Started in 2001, the HumaniTours is a unique concept combining tourism and humanitarianism.