My son and I have joined the Catalyst Foundation for the 2010 Vientam Aid Expedition. This will be our 5th trip to VN and we are so excited to be returning. I can't wait to jump on the back of a motorbike, eat some pho and drink some bia hoi. We are also looking forward to helping the children attending the Catalyst school in Rach Gia. Let the adventures begin...

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Team Assignments and FUNdraising Results

Ashton and I are so excited that we were assigned to the School Team. The school team will install and paint new playground equipment for the Vinh Quang school. We will also set up a computer center in the library and distribute bikes to the new students. We can't wait for our first team conference call to start the preparations.

As for our FUNdraising efforts... well, to date, we have raised... drumroll... $1,015. Can you believe it?!?! That is so very amazing to me and the generousity of my friends and family is touching. My goal was to raise $1,000 and Ashton's goal was to raise $500... looks like I am done and he has $485 more dollars to go ;-) Just kidding! We will work on raising our last $485 together with either a yard sale or something like that.

Thanks again to all of you amazing donors... you all ROCK!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

March 2010 Goals

The Vietnam Aid Expedition held every two years provides direct assistance to the children we serve in Vietnam. This is a good will, volunteer trip. We have 85 volunteers, as young as 7 years old, traveling from across the U.S and Canada in March 2010 to Kien Giang.

Over 100 volunteers have traveled with us to Vietnam in the past and each of them has been deeply moved by the children they meet. This "volunteer vacation" is rewarding for everyone involved.
Here are our goals for March 2010:

HOME TEAM
$3000/home

Shelter from rain, wind and sun is a basic human need. The Home Team will renovate five homes in four days for children that have been sexually abused. This new home will give these families shelter, self-respect and the hope of a better life.


MEDICAL TEAM
$20/patient

To be a part of a more concerted effort to address child health problems and malnutrition for the children and families living on the garbage dump, a team of doctors, nurses and medical volunteers from Catalyst Foundation will provide basic medical and dental exams. The cost of $20 per patient covers a full series of Hepatitis B vaccination and fluoride treatments. We are expecting 800 patients in four days.

SCHOOL TEAM
$55/bike (80 bikes)
$2500 playground
$200/computer (100 computers)

The children attending Vinh Quang school are in need of larger playground equipment, computers for the library and bikes for our new students. The school team will install and paint the new playground, set up the computer center and prep the bikes. We will purchase equipment from the “one laptop per child” program. They are extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, and fun.


CAMP
$30/child

We’ll take all of the 130 children from our Vinh Quang school to play on the beaches of Ha Tien!

IN KIND DONATIONS
T-shirts/Shorts/Flip-flops for children and adults (all sizes!)
Arts & Crafts Supplies Beach toys – Frisbees, beach balls, temporary tattoos
Small toys - yo-yos, marbles, cards, jacks, matchbox cars, etc.
Stickers, stickers, stickers
Small first aid kits
Toothbrushes/toothpaste
Travel size soap, shampoo, washcloths
Onesies- for infants under 12 months
Board games & coloring books (for the library)