Little
more than ten years ago, very little assistance was
available to children with severe vision problems in
Vietnam. Sister Nhuong, recently "retired"
as Superior General of the Lovers of the Cross of Christ
Sister of Thu Duc, encountered two blind orphans living
on the streets outside the Sisters' residence in 1993.
Without hesitation, she took them in and her Sisters
set to work caring for them and teaching them basic
life skills. It was not long before other children with
various sight impairments came to live with the Sisters,
and Nhat Hong ("Sunshine") School was established.
Sisters soon went off to school to learn Braille, and
to learn how to educate and care for blind and disabled
children. A long-time friend of Fr. Thuan, Sister Nhuong
was not shy about requesting for financial assistance
from the Vietnamese community in California. The Nhat
Hong home was the back end of a divided house, accessible
through a narrow serpentine alley. The house required
improvements to accommodate the many residents, and
not to mention food, clothing, and educational materials
for the children. Fr. Thuan's initial fundraising attempts
gave birth to the Blind Vietnamese Children Foundation
(originally named the Nhat Hong Foundation) in 2000.
Over the past ten years, the Sisters opened other homes
and career development centers for blind and sight-impaired
children. They initiated a number of outreach programs
to aid families with young blind children at home, particularly
in remote areas. Other groups of Sisters and volunteers
have opened homes, schools, and healthcare centers for
visually impaired children in other areas of Vietnam.
The BVCF has continually provided funding for these
programs and facilities.
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors
and supported by hundreds of friends who give much of
their time and wealth throughout the year to assist
in BVCF fundraising efforts. Every year the Foundation
holds a benefit luncheon with silent and live auctions
and raffles. A lively family atmosphere blends different
cultures and faiths in a single effort to help our very
special children live promising lives in Vietnam.
In January of 2008, Fr. Thuan and twenty friends of
the Foundation visited several of the schools and residences
supported by the BVCF. Meeting these special young people
ranging in age from 5 to 22 years is an inspirational
experience for every guest. The warmth, enthusiasm,
and courage of our special friends demonstrates the
tremendous success taking place in these Foundation-supported
facilities and programs.
It is unknown how many more visually-challenged children
are underserved or neglected in Vietnam. Many also suffer
from other disabilities besides vision impairments and
require special education and care. Just as many possess
tremendous talent and potential to live productive and
happy lives if only they can receive the proper training
and care. The efforts of the Foundation to support,
maintain, and develop more programs for blind and sight-impaired
children are just getting started! |
