Friday, October 30, 2009

Children Coming Back!

Great news! With the generosity of a donor, dedicated staff, and an excellent contractor, the repairs to the Hoa Mai Orphanage have been completed in record time and the children are able to return.

Many poor families still face challenges ahead as they struggle to rebuild their homes now in rubble or without a roof.

Thank you to everyone who made a difference by donating funds for relief packages and reconstruction. We at COV and the families and children left stranded by Typhoon Ketsana are truly grateful for your assistance!

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Photos of Typhoon Ketsana Relief Effort

Hoa Mai Orphanage damage. The wind ripped off the roof of many of the buildings. The damage was so severe the children were evacuated and can no longer live there until repairs are made.












Blanket distribution.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Typhoon Relief Update

Going to the southern part of Quangnam Province, staff delivered Typhoon Ketsana relief packages to the people of Tam Giang and Tam Hai island wards. As part of this effort, children received school supplies to replace books, notebooks, and pencils that were washed away and/or water damaged.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

$25 Provides Emergency Food & Blanket for Two Families

At this time, our staff are spending all of their energy distributing relief packages to people without food or shelter. A single relief package cost about $13.00 per family and includes rice, noodles, oil, canned fish, and blankets and mosquito nets when families have minimal shelter.

A gift of $25 will provide immediate relief for two families. Donations can be made via our website at http://www.childrenofvietnam.org

Typhoon Ketsana is only the start of troubles for poor children and families. While the storm has passed (killing at least 163 people), the government is estimating 150,000 people are now displaced with damaged or completely destroyed homes. Many in this region are farmers who depend on the food they grow to feed the family. Now without a safe home and ruined crops, hunger is a stark reality. Without proper shelter and sanitation, disease is probable.

Thanks for caring!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Message from Rod Brooks, CEO, Stop Hunger Now

After the Typhoon Ketsana ripped off the roof of our food warehouse, all of our food was at risk of spoiling. Staff acted quickly to salvage the thousands of meals generously donated by Stop Hunger Now. This food product is a highly fortified dehydrated tofu and vegetable mix designated for distribution to eleven institutions providing shelter for poor children and their families, orphans, street children, and old people’s homes within Danang City and Quangnam Province. Salvaging this fortified food was critical as the typhoon has negatively impacted many facilities, homes and crops. Stop Hunger Now is a major partner and contributor to our Nutrition Initiative, and in response to our successful salvaging efforts, Rod Brooks, Stop Hunger Now, CEO, sent the message below.

Dear Ben,

Thank you so much for your note. I am sincerely moved by the dedication shown by the COV staff in Vietnam. Their efforts demonstrate the value they place on the food we've donated and exemplify the high level of accountability that your organization provides. I have shared these comments with our Board and staff, stating how the partnership SHN has with highly effective organizations such as yours is indispensable to our efforts to end hunger.

Ben, please express my profound thanks to the staff who have worked so hard to ensure that the meals we sent are secure and distributed to the children who really need them. And please accept my sincere thanks for all that you are doing.

Yours truly,

Rod
Rod Brooks, CEO, Stop Hunger Now
2501 Clark Avenue, Suite 301, Raleigh, NC 27607, (919) 839-0689 office, (rbrooks706 SKYPE

Friday, October 2, 2009

EMERGENCY APPEAL - PLEASE HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY TYPHOON KETSANA!

On September 29 Typhoon Ketsana roared through Danang and central Vietnam with winds up to 90 mph and dumping 10 to 15 inches of rain. Children of Vietnam offices did not suffer too much damage, but our food warehouse lost its roof. Per our Country Director, Ms. Hong, “two /third of food have got wet, but each small box covered by plastic bag so we have to use a lot of towels to dry each bag and put to another box. 620 Boxes ax 36 bag = 22,420 bags. About 25 people help us yesterday including 7 COV staff, Hai Chau Orphans, our University Scholarship students. We finished around 7 PM.” Ms. Hong and the volunteers knew that salvaging this food (fortified rice, tofu and vegetable mix) was vital to provide some relief for people flooded by the storm. Staff are now swamped with requests for food and housing assistance.

Our staff are focusing on the immediate need now and will send photos and a full report shortly after the situation becomes less severe. So far we have learned that two of the poorest districts of Danang have suffered considerably, In Hoa Van, a very rural district, 64 villages and 5,384 people are flooded with water (up to 2 meter is some locations), 92 households have completely collapsed, and 1,089 household have lost all their roofs. In Gnu Hanh Son, 50 household have completely collapsed and 500 households lost their roofs. We know the need will be great for sometime to come until families are able to rebuild and begin their lives again. COV is using it limited emergency funds to provide relief and we are also redirecting our food stocks originally designated to supply food supplements to 11 agencies in the area (orphanages, street children programs, old people and people with disabilities homes.)

We are asking for donations for our emergency funds which will be dedicated to crisis food, health, and housing support. Your gift would be a tremendous lift to the families and children facing this crisis. Please act now by making a donation.

We will share more information as it becomes available.

Thank you,

Ben Wilson, President and Founder