Vietna mum
Karen Leonard Joined: October 11th 2006
Logged in: February 13th 2012
Logged in: February 13th 2012
A dedicated traveler since the age of eighteen, Karen has visited many countries. In 2000 while backpacking through Vietnam, Karen met a young street kid and they had an instant connection. He introduced Karen to his world, his fellow street kid friends and their families. It wasn't long before Karen was supporting several street kids by encouraging them back to school and paying their education costs. After returning home from this first trip deeply affected by the plight of these people, Karen made a commitment that she would return to Vietnam and support him and a few others.
At Karen's annual friends and family Christmas Eve Party later that year, she suggested to everyone that instead of buying the usual obligatory Christmas present that everyone put into a hat the amount of money they would normally spend on a present and, on her return trip to Vietnam, she would help a poor family improve their life with this money. The idea was wholeheartedly embraced and so it began. As word got around friends and family donated more money to help children and families in Vietnam. Initially Karen's help and assistance in Vietnam was rather "ad hoc".
Whilst Karen had no problem receiving donations from people that trusted her and that she knew, it became uncomfortable when friends of friends that Karen didn't know began to give her money to take to Vietnam. It was then that Karen decided that what she was doing needed to be set up formally in order to be accountable to all of these people. Lifestart Foundation was registered as an Incorporated Association. No. A0045550E on April 7th 2004 in Victoria, Australia.
Prior to her first trip to Vietnam Karen had never harboured any ideas at all that would have suggested that this is what she would be doing with the rest of her life. Indeed, she had probably envisaged being semi-retired by now, taking it easy and enjoying the fruits of her labour in relative comfort!
Karen now has no plans for any type of retirement and, in fact, has never worked harder than she is doing at this present time. She views her thirty years of teaching music to the privileged and running a small business as an extremely long apprenticeship for the work she is now devoting the rest of her life to.
Travel Blog Posts
Robbie
If you are thinking of volunteering in Vietnam, - press " Lifestart Foundation's " button. How to feel, from a purely personal aspect, truly satisfied, humbled, and very happy, - and with the added bonus of being totally appreciated by the main players and also the disabled and disadvantaged craft makers you will be helping, as well as the "crew" that operate Lifestart Foundation. How many thank you's, in any language, can you take in, each and every day????? Al and I fell on our feet as far as our accommodation was concerned. With just one email we were offered a palatial room, purpose built to accommodate long-term stayers, - ie., expats, volunteers, and anyone wishing to stay in Hoi An longer than 4 weeks. Beautiful, with all we needed, comes highly recommended by these two ... read more
Thank You from Thinh!
A thousand thank you's for the immediate response to last weeks appeal for help with little Thinh's Primary School education fund. We are only a small organization (by world standards) but we are able to make a huge difference in the lives of many in Central Vietnam. Our dedicated group of supporters never fail to put their hand up when I put out a call for help. Six sponsors who will now be affectionately be called "Thinh's Team" (you all know who you are) have now pledged the funds for Thinh's Primary School education. In addition Thinh has been invited to an interview for a scholarship place at the prestigious STEC English Language School in Hoi An - Smart Tutoring English Center! How exciting for her. Sincere thanks from Karen, Thinh and Hoa. If you are ... read more
THINH VISITING THE LIFESTART FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
Thinh is six years old and is in Grade 1 at Primary School in Hoi An. Thinh loves attending school where her favourite subject is English. Whilst Thinh's mother Hoa can afford to send her to school she does not have the funds for Thinh to attend "extra classes." Attending extra classes in Vietnam is vital. Government school is only for a half day, and if you can afford it, the rest of the day is spent at extra classes. Children who do not attend extra classes usually drop out of school prematurely as the work covered in the extra classes is necessary to pass each year level. Unlike most other children, Thinh was conceived and born with a purpose in life, to be her mother's carer. Each day, Thinh has chores that she completes to ... read more
MERRY CHRISTMAS
ALBANIAN gëzuar Krishtlindja ALSATIAN gleckika Wïanachta ARABIC miilaad majiid ARMENIAN Shnorhavor Surb tsnund AZERI Noel bayraminiz mubarak BASQUE Eguberri on BELARUSIAN З Божым нараджэннем (Z Bozym naradzenniem) BENGALI subho baradin BOSNIAN sretan Božić BRETON Nedeleg laouen BULGARIAN весела коледа (vesela koleda) BURMESE Christmas nay hma mue pyaw pa CATALAN bon Nadal CHEROKEE ulihelisdi danisdayohihvi CHINESE 圣诞快乐 (shèng dàn kuài lè) CORNISH Nadelek lowen CORSICAN bon Natale CROATIAN sretan Božić CZECH veselé Vánoce DANISH glædelig jul DUTCH vrolijk Kerstfeest ENGLISH merry Christmas ESPERANTO gojan Kristnaskon ESTONIAN häid jõule FAROESE gleðilig jól FINNISH hyvää joulua FRENCH joyeux Noël FRISIAN noflike Krystdagen FRIULAN bon nadâl GALICIAN bo Nadal GEORGIAN Gilot... read more
MAI AND HER DENIM BAGS
When Mai was only three years old, she lost the use of her left leg. Mai still is not completely sure of the reasons why, but she does know that her father was a soldier in the American War and was present when Agent Orange was sprayed. Mai describes herself as being born “sick on the inside”. When she was three she became ill and the doctor came to her parent’s house and gave her an injection in her left leg. After the injection was administered, Mai’s left leg contracted and started to curl up and since then she has had no feeling in it and is unable to walk on it. You would not know the hardships Mai has had to endure though her life to look at her beautiful, smiling face. Sitting at the ... read more
Trisha and with the Lifestart Foundation Workshop Staff and Members
"Wow – where do I start? This was what I thought when Karen asked me to write about my time volunteering at the Lifestart Foundation in Hoi An, Vietnam. My husband and I were holidaying in Hoi An in 2009 when we walked in the door of the Lifestart Foundation Workshop. I was immediately impressed with what I saw and heard. We were talking with one of the shop staff, when Dung and then Karen (the founder of Lifestart) swept in – literally. Karen is a dynamo, full of enthusiasm and vigour. I got caught up with the energy of the place and decided to ask about volunteering. On that meeting we made plans to come back in 2010 for two months to get involved. It was the beginning of a love affair. We run a ... read more
SOCK MONKEY
Believe it or not Christmas is just around the corner. Would you like to support the Lifestart Foundation Workshop initiative in Hoi An, Vietnam? You can help by purchasing some of your Christmas gifts from our members. The workshop members individually make each item with care and love and will be very grateful for your support. The Lifestart Foundation Workshop is a non-profit workshop and it focuses on creating handmade arts and crafts to help support those living in challenging situations in Vietnam. Many disabled people have been empowered and now thrive under the support and guidance of the Lifestart Foundation. The entire proceeds from these products go directly to the workshop members to provide a sustainable income stream and sense of independence. As the 25th December gets closer the season of good will often become ... read more
LIFESTART FOUNDATION 2011 CHRISTMAS IN JULY DINNER DANCE & CHARITY AUCTION
The Annual Lifestart Foundation Christmas In July Charity Dinner and Silent Auction was held on Saturday 30th of July in Melbourne, Australia. A huge thank you to all who attended and supported this event. Thank you also to those who organised a table or two of guests and to those of you who donated wonderful items for our Silent Auction. We had close to 100 items in the Silent Auction which made for a terrific range of goodies on offer. A big thank you to Loren Ward for her co ordination of the Silent Auction. A great night was had by all who attended. Santa ( aka Rod Brown ) greeted guests as they arrived. Damian Nicholas was our M.C for the evening ensuring that the evening ran smoothly. Our $20 game of Heads or Tails ... read more
XUYEN
Do you live near a Spotlight Store? If you do I would love your help purchasing wool for the Lifestart Foundation Workshop. We will reimburse you of course - as we have to buy wool during the sale and clearance time it is not always possible to get the products we are looking for. Spotlight have a sale on this weekend! You can find out where your nearest store is in Australia (97 stores) or New Zealand (17 stores) on the Spotlight websites. There is also one store in Singapore . The Lifestart Foundation Workshop in Hoi An has several women with disabilities who knit and crotchet beautiful scarves, hats and shawls. These women who were previously unemployed, who had a bleak hi... read more
Com Chay Dam
Top Restaurants in Hoi An We thought we’d put together a list of our favourite restaurants and menu recommendations for our supporters and visitors to Hoi An. At the time of publishing this blog the exchange rate was approx. 20,000 VND = $1 AUD or $1 USD. Everybody has their own favourites but here is our pick of where to find a tasty bowl of rice, plate of lasagne or local baguette in Hoi An. Quan Chay Dam Local vegan buffet with rice, veggies, tofu and spring rolls. Local price and super tasty – even the biggest meat eaters couldn’t fail to enjoy. Priced from 8,000 VND to about 15,000 VND depending on how much you put on your plate. From the Lifestart Foundation Workshop turn right and it is down the first alleyway on your ... read more
