We are happy to report that everything is fine at the orphanage in terms of health, safety and education. From the nuns who help there, the house mothers and other staff to the children, no one has succumbed to Covid-19. The children had to be home-schooled for a short period, but classes have since resumed as normal. Nhu Tri, the head of the orphanage, is healthy and a pillar of support during this time of challenges. The children continue to receive food and care; the doors of Dieu Giac Temple are open to welcome the community whenever possible and additional needs requiring attention are duly met.

During 2020, Dieu Giac organised free lunch distribution to poor people in the neighbourhood over many months when there were severe curfews and thus, high unemployment. Older children and housemothers cooked and packed individual portions of food and distributed them to anyone who needed a meal. As the virus situation improved, this practice was reduced to a weekly and then monthly routine for the rest of the year. Those people who lost their jobs and their livelihoods also received packets of rice and basic food as gifts.

In October 2020, there was a typhoon and flooding that destroyed many small towns in central Vietnam. Again, Nhu Tri organised timely relief deliveries of food, clothing and money to victims in these areas.

In recognition of her public service, she was presented with a Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister of Vietnam at a public conference in November. The children and everyone at the orphanage are enormously proud.

Source: Vietnam Children's Project (VCP) Newsletter, vietnamchildrensproject.org