Things Money Can’t Buy
Posted on behalf of Dave Lem:
Just came back from Cambodia and Vietnam (Hanoi). I went because I wanted to make someone feel special and bring smiles on their faces.
No matter what I’m doing now, I just really hope that by going to the countries, I can make a small difference to the people I meet there. I hope to be able to bring some comfort and warmth into their lives.
The stories of faith and perseverance of the people like Principal of Bac Phu Elementary School, Mr Jimmy Pham founder of KOTO (Know one Teach one), Michael founder of Blue Dragon and Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV) have inspired me. Their hearts of gold have helped many disadvantaged children and youths and give them a second chance at realising their dreams.
I wish I could do more and not just raise funds for them. The 3 P’s that Jimmy said will stay with me forever – Passion, Patience and Perseverance.
A PHF Volunteer
Have just uploaded abstracts of my journal entries from 3 days.
Re-reading them does make me get a bit emo again. haha. but they explain well, if not a bit too starkly, the things my heart saw during a very meaningful trip.
This truly has been one of my best and most memorable community service trips. In terms of the difference made for the beneficiaries, the friendships built along the way, and the personal lessons learnt, I think the 7 days were a huge success and very priceless.
It really is heartening to encounter people who have courageously dedicated their lives to empowering others without even stopping to count the personal cost. I felt that way with everyone we met from HSCV and KOTO (didn’t get to meet Blue Dragon people cos I was sick in bed). They never once felt sorry for themselves at the opportunities they gave up, or the snubs and disappointments they must have encountered.
They continue to make me feel very humbled and awed. And motivated to make sure PHF Projects continue to keep supporting them and others like them!
GO PHF!!
From a Volunteer’s Journal (3)
One last abstract from my journal…
12 December 2009
“Realised that I was still struck about the little jagong girl [See entry on 10 Dec 09, and video from Stacy's entry.] from the first orphanage. She was God’s instrument in healing a heart that was afraid to love. Glad she helped me to overcome my fears of caring. Her big eyes and innocence. And that she allowed me to carry her. It opened a window to my heart. A window from which I’m able to love…”
From a Volunteer’s Journal (2)
11 December 2009
“Fell sick today. Had rather bad diarrhoea which resulted in dehydration and a lot of body aches. While the team painted, I had to sit and watch. That felt miserable.”
“…Many of the volunteers shared their frustration with the day’s work. It was hard to enjoy the painting with poor quality paints [a mix of limestone, clay and water] and “broomstick” brushes… The frustration and pain of wanting to make a deeper and more lasting difference… To be “efficient” and “relevant”… Yet, may be for the recipients, the only criteria for our effectiveness was Love…”
…We came bearing the good intentions and donations of 200 donors. While we have translated their cash into simple gifts, the greater challenge has been to translate their kindness and good intentions into sincere gestures of love…”
……
“All the charities here are doing very inspiring work. Changing lives, inspiring deep transformation. It’s a slow, bit by bit effort. But together, the amount of good is amazing…
…I see it most on the faces of the HSCV staff. Our hosts are trying so hard to support our work. They are afraid we overwork. And also afraid we get a bad experience. They are very stressed. [and very strong!] I hope we can help alleviate that stress.”
……
“We are all beautiful people. All God’s children.”
From a Volunteer’s Journal (1)
Some of the abstracts from my daily journal during the trip…
10 December 2009
“… We started with a 2h bus ride to Bac Phu Elementary School. The school is packed with 819 children from the village and farms around. When we had time to chat with the principal, her sharing left a deep impression in my heart. She shared very plainly and sincerely throughout. Having served for 30years, she was near retirement. Her one wish for the school was for the students to have a playground…
How often have I taken fun for granted?”
……
“Our visit to the orphanage in the twilight was rather stark.
As we were walking in, a child grabbed me by my hand. I froze. The callused fingers struck fear in me with their unfamiliarity. I could not command the courage to love.
Helped by the looming darkness of the evening and the smell from the poorly sanitated surroundings, I started wondering if the child had lice or if she had very dirty hands. Couldn’t wait to run… I felt a painful stab of shame…
… a toddler-girl came up with her arms outstretched to me. I reached out to carry her. At first, I held her at a distance. She looked really uncomfortable. But, when friends came to offer to take her, she still chose to be held by me. I finally gave in and held her to me.
Amazingly, she actually seemed comfortable to be held by me. When I could finally hand her over to her more permanent caregivers, she broke into this very sweet smile. I was glad I held her. To give her a smile for a moment.”
……
“I asked the mother what she wished for her family. Her reply was that she wanted the children to have an education. She wanted to be healthy again so her children won’t feel pressured to give up studying to care for her.
The heartrending story was echoed by other families. One was a single mother raising 5 children. Her condition was worse than the previous. But, that lady struck me because her gaze held no self-pity. Her situation was hard. Her husband had passed away. But, she pressed on for her children. And, there was the grandma who helped to take care of her 2 grandchildren after her son, their father, had passed away. The neatness of the house and her pleasant smile concealed their poverty. Of the 3 houses we visited, this was the most empty, the only one without even a tattered a mosquito net over the bed…”
Receiving in Giving
Planning our annual PHF trips has always been something I look forward to. It not only gives me the opportunity to explore communities that need help, it also puts me in touch with inspiring people.
This year was no different as we got in touch with the people from the Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV), Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and KOTO (Know One Teach One). It was inspiring to learn of their stories – of how they had set up their organisations upon seeing the need in Vietnam to do something for the poor children and youths. It was by no means an easy task as they hit hurdle after hurdle, disappointments after disappointments. But hard work paid off, and once in a while, the little successes in life motivates them to do more than what they had initially planned for.
I was particularly inspired by Jimmy Pham, founder of KOTO. Having started the organisation some 10 years ago, his sharing of what motivates him to continue doing what he’s doing was food for thought as we think about the next steps for Project Happy Feet. “You’ve got to have the 3 Ps,” he tells us. “Passion, Patience and Perseverance.” The success of KOTO and its graduates wasn’t built in one day. But today, as we speak to the trainees, we see the difference that KOTO has brought them – hope, confidence and most importantly, a sense of dignity. If we begin to think that these same youths could have still been on the streets polishing shoes, we begin to realise what a difference KOTO has made in 2 years – and what a difference we are making in providing scholarships to 4 trainees in the 15th batch of students.
The experience of visiting poor families with HSCV and hearing their stories also reminded us of the things in life we have so often taken for granted – an education, proper sanitation and a roof over our heads.
As I return home, I remember the family of the first home we painted. She lived with her mentally disabled son and was kicked out of the house when her husband left her. Left homeless, she found a little shelter through the government’s help. But the shelter was no more than the size of some of the bathrooms we have at home. Despite that, it made her smile to know we were giving her home a fresh coat of paint for her little shelter. For her, it seem to mean that it was a new beginning – nevermind the holey walls or urine-stench floors. We felt bad for leaving drips of paint on the floor and had wanted to wash it off. But alas, water was scarce and she was just happy enough to know the walls were cleaner and brighter with the yellow coat.
I remember too the boy that came along to meet us in our meeting with the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. He was 22. He left his family in the remote villages in Vietnam when he was 16 and headed to Hanoi alone to polish shoes so that he could get out of the poverty his family was in. At that time, he hadn’t been to school at all. I wondered at that time how many kids in Singapore at that age were wasting away their chance in education. Today, after being given the chance to be educated, that boy wants to be a counsellor so he can help other children in need.
I remember the Principal of the school in the Sok Son province. She was extremely thankful for the second hand photocopier that we had donated. She had served the school and the village for some 30 years and was happy that we had contributed to improving the facilities in the school. When asked for her dream for her students, her one wish for that her students would have a chance to enjoy play in a playground – as simple as that.
Such are some of the many inspiring stories that we remember of our trip. For each of us, every experience in interacting with the local people there has given us food for thought, a chance to reflect, and an opportunity to do something different back home. We are thankful for the opportunity that these people have given to us. And despite the intention of the trip was to give as much as we can, we cannot deny that for each of us, we had received much more than we could ever give.
The Gift of Giving
The journey to Project Happy Feet Hanoi had been both fruitful and fulfilling. I am very grateful for this opportunity to be part of the PHF family, to be able to contribute and do my small part in helping the under privileged. The visit to the various families and orphanages was a good reminder to how fortunate I am back home. While we start to wonder how they could live in a house filled with flies and dust, do we realise that what is more important to them, is their hope in providing enough food and education for their children. I am looking forward to the day that i will be able to design and provide better living conditions for these people to live in.
不管那是大江小江，
还是大海小河，
水到之处就有浪花。
浪花激起就能打开人们的视野，
甚至进而触动人们的心弦。 – 易一
The sharing sessions with the 3 beneficiaries, KOTO Hanoi (Know One Teach One), Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and HSCV (Humanitarian Services for children of Vietnam) were good learning experiences and i was encouraged by how much these organizations had done for them. It is through their act of giving that transformed the lives of these youths greatly. They’ve not only provided them with the basics, food and shelter, they’ve also given them the right education. By equipping them with a precious set of skills, it becomes the key to their future, and in many cases, their family’s future as well. What truly inspired me was how the street kids that had gone through these life-changing processes, are looking forward to becoming social volunteers so that they could help the less fortunate around them. That’s the return. It becomes a powerful ripple effect that transforms lives, one at a time.
孩子们玩乐的笑脸，让我看到了世人神奇奥妙的一面。他们的内心照耀出如斯单纯的真善美。
他们要的很简单 : 能存活下来就足够了。
Money is one way that could help make a difference to their lives but does that really make a problem disappear ? Sometimes all it takes is to give some of our time to show some care and concern, be it painting of their houses or fixing a desk and chair. It is the moment when they truly smile.
孩子们是我们未来的主人翁，现在扶他们一把，对你我的未来，有深远的影响。
Special thanks to my dearest friends and teachers for the donations made. I really appreciate all the help given. These children have a whole life ahead of them, and it is because of your kind generosity and assistance that touched and made a difference to their lives in future.
Charmine Gan – $100, Geraint Wong – $200, Louis Ang Rong Hui – $100, Leow Jia Quan – $50, Lim Hao Wen – $50, Tian Min – $50, Tan Yun Liang – $100, Azizah Sudar, Eden Wee Guan Pu, Derrick Chua Wei Xiong, Chua Zhen Hao, Gay Wei Kean, Ho Hon Loong, Chong Wei Rong, Zun Pwint Phyu, Stephanie Choong, Zenas Deng, Oliver Ong, Lydia Chua Min Li , Stacy Peh – $157
Once again, a big thank you to all fans of Project Happy Feet ! Without your support and trust in us, we could not have done what we did 
More updates on Project Happy Feet !
With Love, Stacy Peh
Reflections
Posted on behalf of Ben Koh:
The first day was one of mixed feelings for me. The living conditions of the people who we visited were a stark contrast from the luxuries back home in Singapore. I was made aware of how much of a blessing the simple comforts that we enjoy in Singapore actually are, in light of the situation that we faced. At the same time, I was overwhelmed by a sense of inadequacy. There was so much more to be done and it felt that despite all our team’s efforts, we had only scratched the surface. It also made me much more aware and appreciative of the responsibility that rested on the shoulders of the Project Happy Feet team and the importance of judiciously using the funds that have been entrusted to us.
I also was grateful for the opportunity to meet with Michael, the founder of the Blue Dragon organization. Meeting him together with some of those who were touched by the Blue Dragon really helped me to appreciate the situation and difficulties that they are facing as well as the life-changing processes that those who choose to come under their wings undergo. I struck a chord with the organization’s philosophy. It was both heartwarming and encouraging to know that the Blue Dragon encourages self-actualization via a non-judgmental, relational approach. It not only offers those that pass through its doors a second chance at life, but also a second home – one that they can return to anytime.
PHF Team visits the Orphanages
Visiting 2 different orphanages over the past 2 days has been extremely overwhelming and has definitely made me appreciate the fact that I have been blessed with not just a loving, but also responsible family, as well as wonderful friends who accept me for who I am.
These children have been abandoned for many different reasons, the most common being parents who are unable to provide sufficiently for their kids. Seeing how these children yearn for love and attention can be heart-wrenching, especially when they display a look of hope that the people who visit them will take them away and provide a functional family environment.
The first orphanage that we visited yesterday was managed by a nun and consists of the younger children, one who was as young as 3-day old and had been left at the temple’s doorstep. Living environment in the premise did not seem ideal and the nun is seeking another donation of 50 million Vietnamese Dong (approximately USD2500) so that she can build another building to house more orphans. The PHF team brought Formula Milk as well as hygiene sets which consists of towels, toothbrush, toothpaste and soap for the children. At such a young age, having the right nourishing milk and a clean upkeep is essential for growth and staying healthy. However, it takes more than just infrastructure and daily necessity for a child to grow sufficiently into a physically, mentally and morally adequate being in today’s society standards.
This morning, we visited the orphanage that houses 55 older children who are either in their primary or secondary school years. PHF team brought blankets, winter jackets and shoes to these well-behaved kids in anticipation for Christmas this year. Seeing how the children excitedly come forward to receive their gifts and carefully folding their precious new jackets made me realize how fortunate we have been and such basic necessities can also bring smiles to another person.
With that, I would like to once again thank our donors who have helped bring a smile to these children’s faces. I have faith that your generosity and kind gesture will make a difference to their lives as the care and concern we show gives them greater meaning to strive on. It is possible that one day, these children may grow up to be successful adults who will in turn pay it forward to those who are less fortunate.
PHF Team Hanoi – Visiting Bac Phu Elementary School
Project Happy Feet Team was finally reunited yesterday even though we are still missing Ben who is flying in later today due to work commitments. After a day of shopping for jackets, stationery, shoes and a photocopier, today we are finally visiting some of the beneficiaries.
Our first stop was the Bac Phu Elementary School in the district of Suk Son. Nestled in the little village, the school provides basic education for some 819 students everyday. As the principal of the school, a 52-year-old Mdm Hoang Thi Dieu, welcomed the PHF Team into her office, we heard an orchestra of cheers and running footsteps – the students were assembling in the courtyard to welcome us. As they ran, they held up their red plastic chairs over their heads, creating a sea of red floating chairs. We were suitably amused.
The ceremony was a simple one; the team presented the study aids and photocopier machine to the students and the principal. We were pleasantly surprised when two of the students stood up and sang us lovely and chirpy tunes to extend their appreciation.
Their positivity and enthusiasm towards education is exponentially inspiring even though they are faced with such limited resources. The library is a makeshift extension containing not more than 200 textbooks and magazines and a handful of educational posters – all the resources are shared among the 819 students at the school.
Aloy asked the principal about her dreams for the school, and after 30 years of serving the school, the gracious woman smiled and said that all she wants is to build a playground in the school so that her students will be able to derive more joy out of coming to school.
As we left, we waved goodbye to the lovely woman who has dedicated her entire life to serving the students of the school. She said her thanks verbally but we all felt her deep appreciation through the warm handshake that she greeted us with as we first walked into the school. Sometimes, it is not about what you say, but what you do.
