About Phuong ~ Guest blog by CEF's Ms Ngoc

It’s always delightful to visit Phuong’s family although she does not belong to the area I am normally responsible for. All the kids in her family are sweet and do very well at school. Their mother is such a kind and loving woman who since the father died many years ago has been looking after her three children on her own. When we entered their house on our very recent home visit, there was a sign saying WELCOME TO MY HOUSE and a vase of handmade flowers on the table. Because they are poor and don’t have anything fancy to decorate their home with to welcome us, the children created them. How thoughtful and lovely they are!  

Y, an unusual girl

Y who is in our sponsorship program is an unusual girl. She is strong, determined, hard-working and very forthright, yet very compassionate and caring. She is top student and will be going to university after she completes grade 12. She spends most of her free time at pagodas helping or helping in poor communities. 

Appreciation ceremony ~ Guest blog by CEF's Ms Thuy

Yesterday afternoon, the People’s Committee of Quang Nam Province held an Appreciation Ceremony for all the foreign companies and NGOs working in the province. Besides summarizing any outstanding news or information about contributions from some of the companies and NGO’s during 2016 – 2017, the provincial people’s committee also gave their best wishes for the New Year.
CEF was very happy to be one of NGO’s who received an award certificate in recognition of our contribution to local socio – economic development.

Letters from the CEF students for their sponsors

Twice a year our CEF students write to their sponsors. The youngest of the students who haven't yet developed the ability to write send a drawing instead. The letters are often interesting and delightful. Some students struggle with letter writing and their letters are not filled with interesting details, but we are glad they still make the effort to write to their sponsors. 

Single CEF mums and their daughters

Most of the single mothers of our CEF students are warm and caring women who work hard to give their daughters a better life than they themselves have had and have.  They don't want to see them suffer in the same non-stop way they have.

We admire these devoted and hard-working mothers and are thrilled that because their daughters have sponsors they are being educated and have the potential for very different lives to their mothers.  

A proud father

Dad is so proud of her and we are thrilled for this CEF student as she has been accepted to study at a very good university in Ho Chi Minh City.

Her mother died of cancer many years ago and dad has been challenged to bring her up on his own. He is a very caring and hard working dad although he hasn't good health. He is working even harder these days to support her living costs in Ho Chi Minh city and she has funds from CEF for her tuition and related education costs.

We are thrilled she has been successful and has the CEF support to make this possible.  

Sanitary kits from Days for Girls

Days for Girls donated many natural, cotton, washable sanitary kits to CEF. 

The staff spent two days putting the kits together with volunteer help as well. 

They were eventually donated to many of the ethnic girls in a high school up near the Vietnam-Laos border who needed them.

We are most grateful to Days for Girls for this amazing generosity.

These kits will mean the girls have sanitary supplies without any cost to them, which will last for a long time.  

Contents of a finished kit

 The staff and a volunteer putting the kits together

 

Below are some of the students who received these kits

One of the few boys CEF helps

He is a loving and caring boy. His aunt looks after him and he helps her around the house and with shopping. He does whatever his aunt needs help with. Also he does his homework and works hard on his studies and is doing well in school. 

An amazing spirit

She is a hard working and excellent student. Unfortunately mum has advanced renal failure and spends most of the week in hospital on dialysis. Dad abandoned the family after he was released from prison. Granddad is very sweet and caring and helps look after her in their tiny metal shack, without any bathroom facilities. 

We are very proud of her and her determination to do well in school and to go onto university so that she has a good future.  She has not surrendered to a life of poverty and squalor and her fighting spirit deserves great respect.