http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Vietna-mum/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Vietna mum en-us Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:10:31 +0000 Fri, 27 Nov 2009 06:10:31 +0000 It's my great pleasure to let you know that Lifestart Foundation has launched an online shop selling unique crafts handmade by Lifestart recipients in Vietnam.Currently available are a selection of note cards which are made by artist Trong Sinh a Lifestart recipient. Some of you will remember Sinh from earlier blog posts.They come in sets of 5 original water colour painted note cards on handmade http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-454705.html As we sat eating our dinner the sky which had appeared threatening all day suddenly opened up and a downpour the likes of which I have never seen just plummeted down to Earth. Continual flickering of background lightening was soon replaced with constant bright flashes of light and accompanied by rumbles of angry thunder. After an hour the thunder became so loud it was frightening and one clap http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-452222.html PLANT AND CRAFT SALE Succulents Herbs Geraniums and morehellipChristmas presents with meaningmade by Lifestart Foundation Workshop members in Hoi AnRECYCLEDDENIM BAGS 25SILK CUSHION COVERS 25 pack of 2HANDPAINTED EMBROIDERED CHRISTMAS CARDS 20 pack of 5HAND KNITTED SCARVES 15SILK SHOULDER BAGS 10 WINE BOTTLE COVERS 10 BOOK MARKS 5OIL PAINTINGS by SinhAlso homemade Marmala http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-452607.html Little Hien was only three and half years old when her grandparents dropped her off at a pagoda in Hoi An to live with the nuns. Hien comes from a very poor background and a family history of broken relationships.In August 2008 the decision was made to take her to the pagoda to be raised instead of remaining at home. Now at school age and living in a pagoda that relies solely on donations Hien n http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-446175.html 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 us by ordering some of your Christmas gifts from our makers. The makers will individually make each item with care and love and will be very grateful for your support.The nonprofit workshop focuses on creating handmade arts and crafts to hel http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-433393.html Almost without fail the first arrival every morning at the Lifestart Foundation Workshop is Nghe. When asked why she generally rolls up to the workroom at least fifteen minutes before production starts no matter what the weather she answers simply ldquoI'm afraid of being late and missing out on some time with the grouprdquo. The benefits of the camaraderie Nghe and her group members ha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-312960.html Son is a delightful 18 year old who has been the recipient of a Lifestart Foundation Education scholarship for the past four and a half years. When I met Son I was saddened by his living conditions his house was very small made of very basic materials and positioned in a most vulnerable area. At the time Son was in year 9 at high school and contemplating not continuing with his education. Thi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-428828.html Dear friends and supporters of Lifestart Foundation PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR LIFESTART'S LATEST NEWSLETTER http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/blog-405049.html In November 2008 six bicycle riders departed Australia to complete the ride of a lifetime in Vietnam. After months of fundraising and training some more than others on the training side of things they arrived at Hanoi's Noi Bai airport full of anticipation nerves and excitement.I had arrived in Vietnam a few months before and made my way up to Hanoi to meet the group.This was the first fundra http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-379867.html Sherry Berger always brings to her volunteering for Lifestart Foundation something extra special. Her Memory Portrait Project was no exception.Sherry asked me if it would be ok to take a photo of fourteen women in our disabled group. See previous blog . Her idea was to take the head shot photos back to America and give each of her artist friends one photo they would then paint a portrait of each http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-363339.html Doctor John Sherman was introduced to me by a mutual friend Richard Tregear. John and Richard have been friends for fifteen years and have worked together at Open Family an outreach program in Melbourne for many years. John first attended our annual Lifestart Foundation Dinner Dance and Charity Auction a few years ago and subsequently became interested in the work that Lifestart Foundation was d http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-363881.html Craft Workshop Coop for Women Living with Disabilities in VietnamIt is with great excitement that I write this blog. It has been a long held dream of mine and many of the disabled women that Lifestart Foundation helps to open the first genuine not for profit shop in Hoi An. In December 2008 I was fortunate to be in a position to rent a fabulous shop and work space for the women. The shop is lo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-312959.html Two years ago I wrote my very first blog about a young Vietnamese boy named Sinh. Many of you who have been following my blogs for some time may remember this blog. For those of you who havenrsquot read Sinhrsquos story please have a read so you may understand the significance of this update click here... Sinh's Original Blog.Since this first blog so many positive things have happened in http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/South-Central-Coast/Hoi-An/blog-337346.html During the last year or so of the American War as it is termed in Vietnam Luong was a happy twelveyear old living with her family in a village thirty kilometres from Hoi An. Then one fateful day a bomb was dropped so close to her family home that it was instantly incinerated. Whilst the rest of her family scrambled out of the inferno relatively unscathed Luong's lower body took part of the bla http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/blog-312956.html Thank you friends and supporters of Lifestart Foundation The Annual Lifestart Foundation Dinner Dance and Charity Auction held in July was an enormous success PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR LIFESTART'S LATEST NEWSLETTER http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-318207.html Just as I was finishing up after a long day I was asked to visit a boy who was very sick. I was tired but it was on my way home so I agreed. I am very glad I didThe sick boy lived close to my house in Hoi An. I went to visit him to see what the problem was and if I could help. I was taken to his house by a friend of a concerned neighbour and introduced to the boy I would soon know as Nguyen. T http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-281397.html You will remember Birdman aka James EversonCrane from the UK who in support of Lifestart. flew across the Yarra River in Melbourne like a hellipwell like a glorious white emu type bird Well now the intrepid Birdman is planning to reach new heights. On August 30th 2008 he is planning an ascent of Mont Blanc which at 4810m is the highest mountain in the Alps and all of Western Europe.Once ag http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/Australia/Victoria/Melbourne/blog-300205.html Hoa was three years old when she contracted Polio.Her parents took her to many doctors and hospitals unfortunately no one was able to help.Polio left Hoa unable to walk she cannot stand upright . Her body appears to crumple from the waist down so she moves around by placing her hands under her feet and slowly moves each foot. Getting from A to B is extremely slow and painful for her.Hoa's parent http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/blog-277473.html Thong pronounced Tom is another member of the Lifestart Foundation disabled group living with Polio. I call him a can do kind of man because there is not a whole lot that Thong won't have a go at. Thong walks on his hands his legs simply do not work. So he puts his sandals on his hands crosses his legs into lotus position and off he goes...........and by golly he's really fastThong c http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/North-Central-Coast/blog-277464.html Thanh and Ghi's first month. A thousand first experiences. We stopped counting after the first week.They have settled in remarkably well and are extremely happy. Ghi and Thanh had a week and a half to get their bearings before they commenced their training at Mariana Hardwicks. Their week is now quite full and includes English lessons two nights per week taught by Lifestart volunteer ESL teacher http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Vietnam/blog-279301.html