Finance meeting at HOPE school

We grabbed another "Grab taxi" -( the Uber competition in Viet Nam ) to go to Hope school. 
Bye the way, in Viet Nam Grab and Uber drivers have to have a taxi license, which is displayed in the front window. I think it is a very good idea. 

Anyway, we came to discuss and negotiate the school fees for the new school year 2016 - 17. All students we support receive meals at school. Over the years the daily meal costs has increased. 

Click on photos to enlarge and see in slide show, thanks.

It was not easy, but we do understand ...

 We had to find a compromise and we did. We have to increase the school fee for the Hope school to $ 450 annually. 
Anyway, it was good to talk about the whole school situation and also about some students, at home and at school. The school is like a big family ... they care and do whatever they can for individual students. It was a long afternoon ... and then we went to the VN version of ...

.... you guessed it: Red Rooster !!!

 It was getting dark by the time we arrived. 
Very nice outdoor restaurant and they had all sorts of dishes ... so we all found something we liked.

Colourful lights set up for Independence Day, 2nd of September.

"The Light Of The World" = Mekong delta support

"The Light Of The World" is the project name of our Mekong Delta scholarship program. It includes five different areas. We support about 45 children with school fees, books, uniforms and insurance for $150  year. We also support about 9 uni students at various universities and colleges in Sai Gon and Can Tho, Mekong delta.

Click on photos to enlarge and see in slide show, thanks.

We met at the Catholic church at Hoa Dinh

We visit the children every year to see them again, to encourage them and to check their school records.This is a short snippet about 14 kids from Hoa Dinh. Sadly 2 children left school, one move away the other did not like to go to school and had failed exams. 

Ly received a pre-loved lap top from us. This is to encourage her and others to do their best. This is all we can do !!!

We had some presents for the kids, some got the dolls that our friend Rose and her daughter made, others got little Koalas and bookmarks.

She also got a hand made bag for her school things

We were happy with most of the school results, most of the kids have improved from last year, which is good. Before we took a group photo Ly thanked us for coming and for our support and withed us good health and happiness.

Ly thanking us and praying for us

Group photos ... and ... See you again next year !!!

The brothers and their mum wave "Good Bye". Mum is limping, she has got some injury on her foot.

Mother and daughter getting ready ... and guess who is paddling ???

Meeting OUR uni students

We met up with Ngo Nhi and Ngoc Hien, both from the Mekong delta. Over the years we were supporting them by paying their school fees, books uniforms and insurance.

Ngoc Hien started uni two years ago, subject: industrial food processing. She is now in her third year and is doing well. She is living with her sister and has got a part time job in the afternoons selling "Australian wine". She, like everybody else has got her own motorbike to get around.

Ngo Nhi only just finished school and was excepted at college to study to become a Kindergarten teacher. Nhi only just arrived in Sai Gon, but she already sorted out her accommodation, close to her college, just a short bicycle ride away.

We pay Hex / Hoc fee for both girls plus 6 other uni students. The average Hoc fee is about $ 300 - 450 per semester.

We met both of them near our hotel in district one to have a chat and see how they are going. We try to meet the other students too ... see how we go. 
 

Eating FROG ... Nhi was not so keen !!!

Look at that smile. Hien is supported by us personally !!!

Nhi ... now in the big smoke ...

Uli and the girls !!!

Bye for now ... see you both before we leave.

Bang Lang and My Trung, Mekong Delta

     Every year we visit the children who are supported by CVSG through our sponsors. We interview the students to find out how they are going. The half yearly school reports are provide by the students which enables us to see how they have performed in the last six months. The results give us an idea what is going on. For instance one boy's average dropped from 7.5 to 5 ??? Our Vietnamese interpreter asked him what is going on. He is bullied at school. Teacher intervened. Bullying stopped at school, but after school the boy gets beaten by three older boys. We will report that to our coordinator and hope that something can be done about it. 

Click on photos to enlarge and view in slide show >  

 

Great smile Tuong Vy

By by every body ... see you later everybody !!! Next year for sure !!!

Thao said "good bye" and a big "thank you". Hope you come again next year she said. Wishing us good health and happiness and will be praying for us!!! How good is that !!!

A quick group photo and we are on our way to My Tho where we are staying overnight. 

 It's been a long, long day. Uli not feeling well. We interviewed 35 kids / students and asked all sorts of questions. It's good to see how they are developing and growing. See you again next year and keep up the good work !!! 
 

 

Opening ceremony at Hope School

     In Viet Nam it is and old tradition to have an opening ceremony for the new school year. We were again invited to the Hope school for hearing impaired children, to join the teachers and the students in this years ceremony. 
The first thing we had to do is buy some flowers. We ordered them the day before. The flowers had already arrived when we came. 

Click on pictures to enlarge and see in slide show. 

Aren't they beautiful ???

    The ceremony started with performances by various students of different age groups

A rap song ... very loud, otherwise the performers can not hear

Officially handing over the flowers.

Thân then gave a detailed report about last year and an overview of the new year

Some kids got a bit bored !!!

The hall was packed ...

Hitting the drum hard ... and it's OPENED !!!

Then we were asked to say a few words. Uli did a good job, short and sharp

Now we got some flowers and a present !!! 

Another short speech by the representative of the parents.

It's over ... Thu and Trang ...

Nice flowers

Ba Ton and Kinh Gay, Mekong Delta

     Every year we visit the children who are supported by CVSG through our sponsors. We interview the students to find out how they are going. The half yearly school reports are provide by the students which enables us to see how they have performed in the last six months. The results give us an idea what is going on. For instance one boy's average dropped from 7.5 to 5 ??? Our Vietnamese interpreter asked him what is going on. He is bullied at school. Teacher intervened. Bullying stopped at school, but after school the boy gets beaten by three older boys. We will report that to our coordinator and hope that something can be done about it. 

Click on photos to enlarge and view in slide show > 

    Interviewing Tra. He is now in year 10, his average about 9. His English is great, he greeted us in English and most of the conversation was in English. What a fine young man. 

     This is Ngoc Hong. in 2012 she had bile cancer, she had to go to Sai Gon once a month to have chemo therapy. We helped the parent with paying all the bills.
Today she is a beautiful young woman, a lot more outgoing and she wants to study tourism.

Preparing for lunch

Having lunch together with the student

Having fun ...

Before we left some of the students thanked us in a little speech. Tra spoke in English, just brilliant. They wished us good health, happiness and said they would pray for us and asked us to come back next year.

Nhi thanking us ...

... then it was Ngoc Hong's turn

Last but not least Tra. Yes he addressed us in English !!!

Cam offering a kiss

      Cam thanked us and asked if she could give Uli a kiss. Why not. Matt asked to for one too ... and everyone cracked up laughing !!!

Group photo and that's it for another year