Brisbane floods....

After spending the past week or so dealing with the impact of the floods here in Brisbane, we can finally see our way clear.

We were physically stranded at home for five days as the waters flooded nearby roads, blocking all access. Thankfully, our family is safe, and our home was spared, so we have no complaints at all.

 This was my street a few days ago.

As soon as the waters recede, the mud is cleared and power is restored, we'll again be focused on our plans for ACCV in 2011 and the ways in which we can help underprivileged children in Vietnam


Kind regards 
Alison & Rose

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Mixed feelings....

It's day of mixed emotions at ACCV.  The day began with a very real dose of sadness and absolute frustration. 

And there's a sense of pride in there too...

 I recently blogged about a young girl who was terminally ill due to thyroid disease and malnutrition. Her family had asked ACCV to pay for a photograph of her for them to keep.  

Sadly, she has passed away.

 For such a young life to end due to thyroid disease and malnutrition in this day and age is just untenable. Mai was barely a teenager...

Amongst the absolute sadness on hearing this news, I must say, I was so proud of how Toan handled the whole thing. He has worked with Mai’s family since ACCV became involved in July  of last year. He is in fact involved with all the children at the hospital we are hoping to support.

When Mai’s mother called Toan to say she wanted to speak with him, it was obviously a very sad and emotional time for her family. That’s not an easy situation for a young man to walk into. Toan told me,  “I felt scared, but I understood that she wanted to share some things with me”.  And so off he went to their remote island home to see what they needed and how he could help. 

Toan shows great empathy for the people we are working with. He’s just one of life’s good guys and we’re lucky to have him at ACCV.

Before she died, Mai wrote a letter of thanks to ACCV. And she asked if we would help her younger brothers. Sadly, it turns out that they also have thyroid disease. The parents are extremely poverty stricken and can not afford medical treatment for them.

 
Kind regards 
Alison & Rose

MAKE A DONATION

(please drop us a quick email so we can acknowledge your kindness)

Every dollar donated goes directly to the children of Vietnam - all administrative costs are covered by the Vidotto family

Another year over, and a new one just begun.........

Hi everyone,
Happy New Year, wishing you all the very best from everyone at ACCV!

I hope you've all enjoyed the Christmas and New Year festivities. After a crazy, hectic year we spent a very pleasant few days as a family away from the crowds on a quiet Queensland beach. A very nice way to re-charge our batteries and welcome in the New Year....

Now it's back to reality to deal with those new year resolutions and our goals for 2011.
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Our major goal for the year is to help as many of the young children waiting in the Endocrine ward of the pediatric hospital as we  possibly can. We now have approximately fifty children in our Christine Edith Sponsorship program, and 160 seriously ill children waiting. Hopefully they won't have to wait too long.............. should funds allow.

Our other major program is of course with our young blind students. An absolute source of  pride and joy, they are doing so well. So much better than our grandest expectations. As an English language teacher myself I am seriously amazed at their progress. I now receive emails from students who had sat alone in the dark for years, without any prospects at all. It's a direct result of the commitment and hard work of both students and teachers, it's wonderful! 

The ACCV English Language and IT Education program is now running in three different districts in Hanoi, with a view to run a fourth program after the Lunar New Year next month, .......... should funds allow.

There are so many young blind people waiting in line for a shot at an opportunity to transform their lives. But we are now stretching our resources as far as they'll go. Fortunately, we are able to recycle most of the materials, but we really need an injection of funds to move things along.

As we enter our new year it's not too long until the Lunar New Year approaches in Vietnam, for many people it will involve celebrations and family get togethers. But sadly, for many people we know, it won't.

I hope all is well in your world.

Kind regards 
Alison & Rose

MAKE A DONATION

Tax Deductible Donation

(please drop us a quick email so we can acknowledge your kindness)

Every dollar donated goes directly to the children of Vietnam - all administrative costs are covered by the Vidotto family