VCF News

New PC Lab at Quang Nam School

Dec. 28, 2020

In December 2020 the Nguyen Van Cu (Go Noi) school in Quang Nam received a very generous donation from Bill McBride and the TBS 2-67 “Friends of the Go Noi School” Group of two 55” monitors and 15 PC computers for a new computer Lab.

This teaching equipment is crucial in keeping the school current with the ever changing world.

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50th School in Vietnam Built

September 19 2016

“The project is an inspiring example of how people of goodwill can turn violence and tragedy into a cause for hope.”

With the 50th school having been built, it is time to reflect on all who made this worthy effort possible.

Read the article “Vietnam Veterans Work Towards the Future" in...

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Report on 2014 Renovation of Lew’s School, Dong Ha, Quang Tri – Dedicated 1995

April 27 2015

By Sam Russell, Country Director

The Dong Ha school renovation work is a huge success. The place looks great! They replaced all the termite eaten doors and windows, replaced all the broken or rusty door locks and fixed the sagging floors and re-tiled them. They also laid pavers on the school yard so there won’t be any muddy sections. There was a big drainage ditch dug next to the school to help reduce flooding. The director said that they’ve already noticed its effects because the water hasn’t flooded the school building since it was completed.

There was a surprise bonus, they started work on an admin building by sinking pilings for the foundation. With next year’s budget they hope to finish the admin building, which will free up classrooms. The director made a request to the local officials for a sports hall/ gymnasium, which was approved but there isn’t a budget for it yet but it sounds like it will happen one day in the not too distant future.

They want to upgrade their computer lab because the old PCs are like antiques. We asked the director to send us a letter of request that will include new furniture as well. The furniture they have is old and not the correct size for the students. Lan thinks we might be able to get a local Vietnamese business to donate the PCs. She’ll look into it. I didn’t make any promises but said that we would consider their request.

I asked again about tracking down students that went to school 20 years ago because now they’d be 25 to 30 years old. The school staff was skeptical until I pointed out that in Vietnam the students have a tradition to visit their teachers every year. I said that stories from these past students is a great way to raise funds to pay for their requests. The director said he thought it would be possible and would personally look into it.

I was really impressed with the school director as well as the local officials who remain enthusiastic and seem committed to future improvements!

President of Vietnam Honors Sam Russell with highest civilian award

April 16 2014

Sam Russell, Vietnam Children’s Fund longtime in-country director, was awarded the prestigious Friendship Medal, the highest honor accorded by the Government of Vietnam to non-citizens by the President of Vietnam.

Read the full article: Vietnam+ English website: Children fund’s leader...

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Reflection on 2013

December 29 2013

Dear Friend of the Vietnam Children’s Fund:

We hope this finds you celebrating the close of a prosperous and healthy 2013 and looking ahead to a brand new year!

For the Vietnam Children’s Fund 2013 was a year of ups and downs. We are honored and proud to tell you that Sam Russell, our engineer and in country director was awarded the Huân chương Hữu nghị Việt Nam. Known as the Friendship Medal, this is the highest honor accorded by the Government of Vietnam to non-citizens. This medal is in recognition of Sam’s work as the Vietnam Children’s Fund’s representative in Vietnam for more than two decades.

On the down side, our construction work has slowed dramatically. This is due to the unrelenting down economy we are experiencing and the difficulties of fund raising. It is little consolation that many non-profits are experiencing the same as well. We are, however, looking forward to our spring project when we will renovate our first school in Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province. This school was dedicated to the late Lew Puller who founded VCF in 1993.

As you know, for two decades the Vietnam Children’s Fund (VCF) has been building elementary schools in Vietnam—often in the most remote and neglected locations. To date we have completed 48 projects which serve thousands of children. We have been able to provide clean modern facilities for these children who otherwise would be trying to learn in mud huts and crumbling shacks. Many of those young students have gone on to secondary education and universities. They have become teachers, engineers and medical professionals. We are very proud of them!

We would not have been able to do this work without the support of individual and corporate donors who have given so generously to better the lives of children. There are no words to express our gratitude.

There have been extraordinary changes in Vietnam in the course of 20 years. Yet with all the success Vietnam has had there is still no way the government can afford to build the schools it needs. Every one of our schools exists where none would if you hadn’t helped us make it a reality.

We are deeply grateful for your past support and now we ask for your help one more time.

With all good wishes for the best to you in the New Year,

Terry Anderson and Kieu Chinh

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