As the year is coming to a close I look back on what has been, yet again, another difficult year financially. However, we have again made it through the year.
Thanks to a small Band of Angels who continue to offer their unwavering support. We are so Blest to be surrounded by our Angels.
As the year is coming to a close I look back on what has been, yet again, another difficult year financially. However, we have again made it through the year. Thanks to a small Band of Angels who continue to offer their unwavering support. We are so Blest to be surrounded by our Angels.
Many changes, big and small, occurred throughout 2022:
- Our first student, Sơn, finished school and began working! From such a shy, frightened and lonely child in 2008 he has grown into a wonderful caring young man and such a great worker. I am very proud of the fine young man he has become. Special Thanks to Laura Oliver for her unwavering support of Sơn over the years and to a lovely Aussie bloke, Brad Cooper, who has taken Sơn on as his employee.
- Our third student, Tố Trinh, was accepted into a Government recognised boarding school 1000 kms from Hoi An. This is such wonderful news as it means Tố Trinh will, eventually, complete her education with official recognition. Tố Trinh is aiming for a career as a Teacher’s Assistant at Hearing and Beyond! GratefulThanks to my Kiwi friend, Phillip Havill, for his continued support of Tố Trinh’s education. Tố Trinh began with us way back in 2008. Confident from birth, it has been wonderful to watch Tố Trinh grow into a natural born leader.
Thanks to our Handyman/Tutor, Mr Đức, our Skills Center continues to provide valuable skills training. Our students so enjoy hands on learning at the Skills Center we use it as a behaviour modification tool – poor school work = missed time at the Skills Center! It works like a charm…….
With 2 students having moved on from HAB we have finally been able to take on 2
new students. Đoàn Công Lý and Nguyễn Lê Hạo Nhiên have been patiently waiting to join HAB. When their new uniforms arrived both boys came racing into my office to show me – now they really do see themselves as part of the HAB Family.
new students. Đoàn Công Lý and Nguyễn Lê Hạo Nhiên have been patiently waiting to join HAB. When their new uniforms arrived both boys came racing into my office to show me – now they really do see themselves as part of the HAB Family.
Whilst we continue to receive donations from a faithful band of supporters I do wish to specifically acknowledge two amazing groups that have started supporting us over the last 2 years. An amazing couple from Belgium, who I believe wish to remain anonymous, have made a huge difference to HAB.
B&P have kept us afloat this past year - basically their donation kept our school open! Apart from keeping us open there were sufficient funds for HAB to begin the process of, hopefully, becoming financially self sufficient! We have commenced a small operation that will eventually bring in an income for school. More information on that below. Suffice to say, I will be eternally grateful to B & P in Belgium for their oh so generous hearts.
The second group I wish to acknowledge are the employees of OKE
(https://www.oke-group.com/en/)
This is a German company who are now also operating in Vietnam. OKE employees, in Germany, donate to HAB each month. This is a voluntary donation from the employees – something I would so love to be able to replicate with other companies. (Australian Volunteers International have found a wonderful volunteer for us, John Lalor in Canberra. Hopefully this will be something John
and I can work on in 2023). Huge Thanks go out to OKE Employees for helping
this amazing group of students receive an education.
Whilst the two aformentioned group make significant donations I cannot but help feel humbled at all the donations we receive. From the $10 a month donations all the way to the top, every single donation is changing lives in the most amazing ways. I wish I had the words to adequately describe just how much you are all changing so many lives. Alas, there are not sufficient words. You really do need to visit us to fully comprehend how enormous the changes are that you are facilitating…….
This is a German company who are now also operating in Vietnam. OKE employees, in Germany, donate to HAB each month. This is a voluntary donation from the employees – something I would so love to be able to replicate with other companies. (Australian Volunteers International have found a wonderful volunteer for us, John Lalor in Canberra. Hopefully this will be something John
and I can work on in 2023). Huge Thanks go out to OKE Employees for helping
this amazing group of students receive an education.
Whilst the two aformentioned group make significant donations I cannot but help feel humbled at all the donations we receive. From the $10 a month donations all the way to the top, every single donation is changing lives in the most amazing ways. I wish I had the words to adequately describe just how much you are all changing so many lives. Alas, there are not sufficient words. You really do need to visit us to fully comprehend how enormous the changes are that you are facilitating…….
Both OKE Employees and B&P in Belgium have unknowingly become intertwined. Part of B&P’s donation was used to train our children in the art of Card Making. My plan was to employ 2 Deaf/ Hard of Hearing young adults to hand make THE most beautiful cards. I would then take these cards back to Australia with me to try and sell. We had made about 50 cards when Dirk & Denis
( OKE Management Staff) visited our school. When Denis saw a sample of the completed cards on my desk he was immediately interested. Within days he had ordered 500 cards…. *Gulp*…… we can do it. Days later the order was increased to 1,400 cards – OKE management wanted to give a card to each employee……
( OKE Management Staff) visited our school. When Denis saw a sample of the completed cards on my desk he was immediately interested. Within days he had ordered 500 cards…. *Gulp*…… we can do it. Days later the order was increased to 1,400 cards – OKE management wanted to give a card to each employee……
CAN WE DO IT?????
With a lot of help from our students and staff we completed the project with 3 hours to spare before collection! Thanks to OKE another financial boost to our coffers.
And so begins, hopefully, a thriving business that will benefit both HAB and some young local employees who are disadvantaged…….
1,400 Christmas Cards
Hand made Christmas Card. Each piece of paper is individually cut, folded and glued.
A sample of future cards we hope to produce..…….
Bảo Linh, one of our earliest students, has come back to the fold as an employee. Currently she is making the cards herself but, if this venture is successful, we will employ others to work with her. zbảo Linh was very sad and lonely at home as there is so little work available to anyone in Hội An who has a disability – especially since Covid hit. We, and Bảo Linh, were thrilled to be able to offer her some work - albeit on a very low salary. She is delighted to be at school each day amongst others like herself.
Despite being so busy with their studies our older students still manage to find the time and generosity of their hearts to assist others less fortunate than themselves. How my heart sang watching them perform in a concert and then interacting with the residents of a local government shelter for homeless, aged and disabled. They brought so much happiness into the lives of so many, who have so little. We are raising wonderful adults at HAB……….
Between typhoons and sporadic outbreaks of possible Covid school has been closed for too many days this year – such is life in Viet Nam. Our students really do hate when school is closed, even for the weekends, as that is the only place they are freely able to communicate. Every day at school is a joy to these students. I don’t think there are too many schools anywhere that can honestly
say EVERY student loves to attend EVERY day!
say EVERY student loves to attend EVERY day!
There is still much to tell and many to Thank – but it is now 20:15 hours on Christmas Eve and I have Santa presents to wrap for my Grandchildren – this is possibly their last year believing ☹.
I will finish this quick update in time to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and I hope the New Year comes with more Happiness than Sorrows. I am Humbled at the generosity of each and every donor – a.k.a Our Angels. We could not keep the school open without you.
I will finish this quick update in time to wish you all A Very Merry Christmas and I hope the New Year comes with more Happiness than Sorrows. I am Humbled at the generosity of each and every donor – a.k.a Our Angels. We could not keep the school open without you.
Namaste, Mái
