Menh, the mother of nine-year-old Huy, has had polio since she was very young. Her husband (Huy's father) has been in a psychiatric hospital for the past two years. Menh told me that her husband may be discharged soon, which is causing her great distress—she is unsure if his problems have been addressed or, for that matter, even treated. If he comes home, it will also mean one more mouth for her to feed. She already struggles to feed Huy and herself. Menh is very independent despite her disability; she sells water at the local market every day. She starts her day at sun-up and finishes at sundown, earning an unstable income of between 10,000 - 20,000 dong on a good day. I know that sounds a lot, but it is under one dollar per day! ... read more

Little Thi Manh is three years old. Her sister Ly is 12 and in year 7 at school, and her other sister Thuy is nine years old and in year 5 at school. Thi Manh has advanced hydrocephalus (water on the brain), brain damage, and malnutrition. She has had many stints in hospital and several surgeries that often resulted in infections and complications. Thi Manh's mother, who stays at home in order to be her full-time caregiver, is not able to care adequately for her with out intervention and help. Thi Manh’s father has unstable work as a builder’s labourer. It is a big struggle for a casual, unskilled labourer to provide for a family of five, especially when one family member is so critically ill. The family lives in a small house on the highway ... read more

This trip had a theme and focus for the children who attend the Lifestart Foundation Free School. The aim was to teach the children how to take care of their bodies and look after themselves. I knew in advance that we had an outbreak of nits at our school, so this was the first problem that needed to be addressed. The kids refer to nits as having animals in their head...this somehow conjures up a pretty weird picture in my mind! (And also makes me start to itch!) Anyway, Lifestart volunteers Marelyn and Robyn went armed and prepared with products from Australia to eliminate the little critters. The nits were attacked on day one and every subsequent day thereafter for the duration of Marelyn’s and Robyn’s trip! I think that in the end, they got to ... read more

Lifestart Foundation would like to sincerely thank the Commanding Officer, Captain David Johnston, and crew of the HMAS NEWCASTLE ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY for their volunteer work preceding the typhoon that recently hit Hoi An. Typhoon Xangsane was the worst to hit central Vietnam in the past 10 years. Unfortunately, it barely rated a mention in the Australian media. I received an email from SBLT Alicia Cross a few weeks ago telling me that the HMAS NEWCASTLE would be in Darwin, Australia and then proceed to Danang, Vietnam. The Commanding Officer was kindly offering to transport goods to Vietnam for Lifestart Foundation. I emailed back and explained that, being in Vietnam, it would not be possible for me to coordinate such a request; however, I asked if Lifestart could take a rain check on such a great ... read more