Have a read about Song and let me know if you would like to help. Song (pronounced Som) was born with polio. I have been working with Song for a few years now, and he has done several courses through the Lifestart Jobstart Program. Although a few health issues and stints in hospital have disrupted his courses, he is well at the present time. Song, who is very bright and intelligent, has completed year 12. It is difficult enough for an able-bodied person to get employment—even with a good education—and unfortunately, Song’s disability puts him at an even greater disadva [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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Dear little Ngoc ( pronounced Nop ) has cerebral palsy. Life for Ngoc and her family is not easy, despite this I would consider Ngoc to be one of the luckier children living with severe disabilities in Vietnam. Ngoc has a devoted family that loves her to pieces, and with the help of Lifestart Foundation, the family’s problems are lessened a little. Ngoc’s family was the first family Lifestart Foundation sponsored. I call them our “Christmas Eve Family.” Those of you who don’t know the beginning of the Lifestart Foundation story can have a look at our website, [View Full Entry]

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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 [View Full Entry]

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This trip saw all of the children who attend the Lifestart Foundation Free School visit the dentist for the very first time in their life. I am sure that when they eagerly jumped onto the bus for the one-hour trip to the dentist in Danang City, they had absolutely no idea what was in store for them! Our children were given free dental treatment under a humanitarian program run by another aid organization called East Meets West. This wonderful organization was founded by Ly Ly Hayslip, a former Vietnamese refugee who now resides in America. I think it is quite special [View Full Entry]

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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 Viet [View Full Entry]

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Hi Everyone, I will finally try to update you in installments on my most recent trip to Vietnam. I do hope that you have been able to understand that this last trip was my biggest to date (in terms of work load), and my long days (up at 5 a.m. and in bed at 12 p.m.!) left no time to sit at a computer and do any of these stories justice. I really feel like there is a story every hour of every day, so consequently, at the end of each week, I am never quite sure where to start. [View Full Entry]

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