Tu Do Peace Village

  Another chance to visit the Tu Do Peace Village, which is part of the Women's Hospital in district one, Sai Gon. From our hotel is is a 20 minute walk, but some days it's just too much, too hot to walk both ways so we take a taxi on the way back.
For someone who has not been confronted with children who have birth defects due to AGENT ORANGE it is quite confronting.
  To visit one needs to apply for a visitors permit. We got introduced through the Red Cross in 2008.  We visit the kids every year, but the first time was a real shocker initially. One of the nurses wanted to put a baby with severe birth defects into my arms. It was too much, I could not do it and walked out of the ward. I'm usually not shy taking photos, but that was too much. 

Photo from 2008 ...

                 Click on photos to enlarge and view in a slide show. 
   Now, 2017 a lot of things have changed over the years. By now we know some of the kids a little better and we are friends on Facebook. This way we can follow them and see what they are doing. Sadly translations are a lot to be desired ... but we can write to them and they use a Vietnamese translator and then come back with an understandable answer.

Another 2008 photo ... 9 years ago !!!

 Take a look and see if you recognise any of those kids in the following photos. Yes, Uli is there too, but look at Thanh, he is the one in the middle ... 

 This is Mr Thanh today !!! Minh Toan, who's tongue is poking out in the 2008 photo is 14 years old and very good at drawing. See this years photo below.

  The girl in the green singlet with red parrot puppet (2008 photo) , she is in the next photo, sitting down and doing her home work. Yes, most of the kids go to school, some are a bit slow and go to a special school.

  Here are some 2017 photos of the girls at the Peace Village. First Thao, she is tiny, her legs will not be able to support her, you should see her hand writing, excellent. Here she is watching a cartoon on TV.

  My special friend, Xung My. She is six years old and has many disabilities but she is a very bright girl. Always smiling and joking. knows little English ... like Yes and No. It's always hard to say "Good Bye" to her.

Watching a cartoon

 Thao and Diep on the floor. Both can move is by using their hands. Using rubber shoes on their hands.

Visiting My Trung, Mekong delta

  It was a long day, it started with a 3 hour drive from Sai Gon to My Trung. But then the fun was over. We got out of the car and took a ferry across, then hopped on the Honda ... 

On the "ferry" crossing a Mekong arm.Siter Cam and our good friend Hoan

  For two kilometers on the "Mekong delta high way", a one meter wide concrete path ... with lots of pot holes, sand and through someone's property not to mention the people going in the opposite direction. It was dangerous.

Hoan can handle anything ... and with a smile.

               When we arrived, the kids were already waiting for us.

Uli, Fr Long, Hoan and the kids

  In the meeting room we were greeted and Fr Long thanked us for coming from so far away to check on "OUR" kids and to ensure that they keep up the good work.

A cold bottle of water was exactly what we needed after the ride.

 

  Now it was time to start interviewing our scholarship receivers and ask them about their health, the family's health, the situation at home .... and finally we asked about school. For some not such a good subject because we had info sheets with their school marks. We won't go into details, but most of them are doing well. The ones who are in their senior years at high school their marks dropped a bit. Of course that is when it's getting harder, and we understand but encourage to work harder.

                            Just some photos of the girls ...

 

As always, Fr Long sits with the students and adds his comments when necessary.
Hoan's first time as  official CVSG translator.

 After we finished, and it took us a lot longer than expected this time, we had lunch. What an opportunity to take photos of the kids when they are a bit more relaxed. It's fun to watch them ... and keep memories!!! 

  After lunch we were looking around and found Fr Long's sausage factory. The women were busily working on their main product PORK EAR SAUSAGE. See below.

The EARS are cut and washed and what not ...

The were cleaning, cleaning and cleaning again. In the top middle of the photo is the sausage machine. It takes 20 hours to cook and then the sausages can be filled.

 

  Then it was time to say our good byes, but not before the kids came together and thanked us, this time Ngoc Que spoke for all her fellow scholarship receivers. She wished us good health and happiness and hoped to see us again next year.

Bye Bye ... see you again !!!

We are going this way ... Uli on the back.

Translator in "short legs" today

 

Peace Village ... Clothes donated

  When we have some time in the afternoon we take a taxi and visit the Peace Village which is part of the Tu Do Women's hospital. 

  Before we went we had sorted the kids and baby clothes which were donated to us. It was a big bag full ... including some soft toys. 

                 Click on photo to enlarge and view in slide show 

Van Tran was happy to receive our donation.

Thumbs up and happy faces ... nurses at Peace village

    Then it was time to go up to the third floor to visit the children. But first one has to put on protective cover over ones shoes. See photo.

  Now I'm allowed to visit the kids.In the second room, girls 1 year + the Peace village physios were working with some of the kids. 

  I was looking for "MY GIRL" Xung My ... and then I saw her out with a visiting group of people. She had a big smile on her face when she recognised me and immediately she was her usual self ... as cheeky as !!! 

Playing with cups ... throwing, hiding ... whatever. It was fun.

Hiep came and wanted some attention ... but he was playing to rough. Xung My moved away ...

She is severely disabled but that does not stop her from having some fun !!!

 It was time to move on ... seeing what our friend Minh Thong was up to. We had invited him to join our welcome party. He is a lovely boy, 14 years old.

 Now we met him in his room. He shares it with four other boys. Minh Thong loves drawing.

Artist at work, in front of his locker.

One of Minh Thong's drawings.

Visiting Company of Grace

  Another day, another visit. 

  We contacted Peter Hoa Stone and made sure we can see him on the day. Sure enough, so we ordered another Grab Taxi. By using Grab Taxi we saved about VND 90.000 - there and back = VND 180.000 = $ 10 !!!

  What a surprise it was to arrive at the centre. So many changes. It was so good to see Hoa and his wife Hien again. 

                 Click on photo to enlarge and view in slide show.

Hien left, Hoa on the right.

  They are both well, Peter is still suffering from post polio, but that has not stopped him form being the BOSS and organising and telling people what to do. The changes they have made over the last two years are massive !!! There is a big computer room and at least three class rooms for English classes and other studies. 

Mr Co ... can't help himself, he is always laughing.

LULU the guard dog, a new arrival too !!! He is big !!!

Simon, a lovely timid dog

Computer class room

English class room for juniors

 

The BAKERY ... girls are making muffins

Putting the dough in the forms

Then the started on a cheese cake ... pity we did not stay long enough to try it

   Then again, we stayed too long. Peter told me he had a job for me. Wow, I thought, he wants me to take some photos. Yep sure... but then I was surprised. I had to do some gardening. My other favorite !!!

Following instructions ...

... I dug deep and planted two papaya trees under the watchful eyes of Hoa.

  Meanwhile in the kitchen the first tray of muffins were done. Looking yummy, but too hot to try. Missed out again.

Looking great girls ...

Next lot in ...

  Yes, it was a great day out ...  enjoyed the company and Uli  is volunteering to help the girls bake 150 muffins for the mid autumn festival on Friday the 29th of September. May be this time we get a chance to sample the goodies !!!
  Now there was more gardening to do. Sort of indoor, bup good soiland plenty of light ... why not, my hands were dirty anyway.

Another plant to put into the good garden soil.

There was another plant ... but it dies. No wonder, plenty of concrete underneath. Now we found a spot with plenty of soil, so this plant will grow ... if they will water it !!!

  Bye Bye Cog Centre, we will be back end of the month. Enjoyed ourselfs in good company. Bye for now Hao, Hien and the VN mob. 



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