Children’s Shelter
Children’s Shelter for Orphans & Disadvantaged Youth
Two principles that were put forth by the Friends of Hue Foundation’s founder Huu Dinh Nguyen were to “treat the children under your care as if they were your own” and that “the protection and welfare of children should be the first priority of people and agencies entrusted with their care.”
Drawing from this, the FHF Children’s Shelter at Xuan Phu in Hue, Vietnam was built in 2003 to support disadvantaged children and orphans displaced by the Flood of 1999, the worst flood of the century to hit Central Vietnam. Presently, there are a total of 25 children living at the shelter. Some of these children are orphans; others come from homes with one parent, with families that often are living at the margins of hunger and extreme deprivation. The children range in age from 7 to 20 years old. All attend school or vocational training.
At the shelter, the children receive lodging, food, medical treatment, and an education. Our staff members at the shelter provide a safe and loving but also disciplined and enriching environment in which each child is encouraged to do his or her best.
Beyond food, clothing, shelter, and education, the shelter provides:
1) Nurturing home environment with a dedicated staff
2) Extracurricular activities and classes such as traditional Vietnamese music, piano, dance, and art classes to encourage creativity
3) Volunteers who serve as mentors in emotional, psychological support all year long
4) Career guidance and counseling
5) English-language exposure all year round, particular in the summer in conjunction with the Global Volunteer Program
The children acquire the values, discipline, and skills necessary to becoming contributing members of society. To date, 20 children have left their shelter with promising career paths and a formal education. Your donations provide more than just physical maintenance. It is an investment in their present and futures; it is giving them opportunity. It is an investment to their nutrition, their education, and the staff who educate them. It is an investment in their potential, their ambitions, and their contributions to the community. These children are encouraged to “Dream Big” – that all things are possible.
Sustainability
FHF currently has a department working with e2f Translations inc. This U.S. based company outsources specific tasks to FHF’s 5 accountants in Vietnam. This not only benefits the accountants but makes the Children’s Shelter more sustainable because e2f makes a matching donation at 80% of the accountants salary to the Shelter. This means that if e2f pays $750 to an accountant, they will donate $600 to FHF as well. FHF’s long term collaboration with e2f has resulted in much needed consistent donations to the Shelter.
We welcome opportunities to collaborate with all organizations, individual contributors and volunteers. For more information please contact us at info@friendsofhue.org