Drogheda girls get on their bike as they help out in Vietnam
A GROUP of local students have said a week helping Vietnamese children has been a life changing experience.
The group of 11 girls, along with a handful of parents, paid their own way to be part of a project, working in association with the Christina Noble Foundation.
The girls set off on the 16,000 mile round trip journey last month, having raised €18,500 directly to be spent improving the lives of fellow young people in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon).
The Drogheda girls had been made aware of the “bicycle programme” and how the bicycle is a game changer, allowing young children to make it from the remoter areas into the city to attend school which is the all important ticket to education and a better life.
After a busy fundraising couple of months they exceeded all expectations by accumulating over €18,000, eight times more than the charity had ever hoped for!.
Christina Noble’s daughter Helenita met the travelling party at the airport and was a brilliant ambassador for the charity and the work it does.
After a short time gathering themselves at the hotel the girls set off for the Sunshine School and its associated Son Ca Kindergarden. They proved to be a huge hit with their hosts as they sat down and played with the boys and girls and could see how their good work was about to improve these young peoples lives.
Surplus monies not spent on the 90 bicycles was earmarked for new much needed physiotherapy equipment for the centre.There were songs and dance by both the Vietnamese boys & girls and the Drogheda girls.
The girls visited four centres in total run by Christina Noble (CNCF),including the centre in Tay Ninh (a three hour drive) for visually impaired children and a centre for homeless girls. Each time the welcome was hearfelt and warm and the Drogheda girls were recieved in effect as heroes by these young people and their families who have very little by way of material wealth and still are so happy and content in their lives.
There was also time to take in the sights and culture of Ho Chi Minh City and rural Vietnam.They had after all travelled at their own expence (well maybe borrowed from the bank of mam & dad!!) They saw the remnants of the old French colonial presence with a junior Notre Dame catherdral in the capital and the markets at night were always popular to test their haggling skills.
Further afield was the trip to the Mekong Delta, travelling by boat on the Mekong river to the islands,drinking coconut juice to cool down.
The Cu Chi Tunnels,used during the war with the US were very interesting and challenging. The pool at the hotel was a popular way to relax and cool down. B
y weeks end the group had completed a busy schedule and had made a very positive impression on those they got to meet and help. Simiarly, Vietnam had made a strong impression on the Drogheda girls and in particular the children cared for by the Christina Noble Childrens Foundation. Knowing that the busy funraising was making such a difference in their lives out there was their great reward.