Son Ky Orphanage for Boys in HCM City Vietnam
Son Ky Orphanage Ho Chi Minh
Address: No: 382/24 Tan Ky Tan Quy. F. Son Ky Quan Tan Phu. TP Ho Chi Minh.
On our recent trip to HCM City, William, a Singapore friend who lives in Saigon and Singapore, introduced Br Manh and his boys to us. He runs a centre for orphan boys below 20 years. In Vietnam, there are lots of children who have been abandoned by their parents for many reasons and the authorities don’t seem to be able to cope with this issue.
Br Jerome Manh, a Salesian religious has a vision of taking young boys and forming them to be future educators who in turn would help run centres. He believes strongly that education is the key to their future. From these boys in his centre, some of them may be called to religious life, to serve as shepherds to the local communities. He is hoping, praying and forming the boys that his dream will one day be given wings to soar.
William, Theresa & I visited his centre on Monday, 19-May-2008 and discovered another world, far removed from the ever-busy Singapore. Here the boys are housed in a 3-storey building, 54 kids all in all, well disciplined and tidy. The day was hot with no electricity, the fans weren’t working and the day’s heat permeated throughout the place. Gathered in lines of 3, the kids were cheerful and respectful. They planned to put up performances for us but they couldn’t due to the lack of electricity. They welcome us with cheers and claps and songs (in vietnamese). Songs and more songs …
An older boy came forth and welcome us in the local language which Br Manh translated, “Welcome to our centre! We welcome you in Jesus and his love. Thank you for visiting us and it is by God’s grace that we meet …..”.
Soon it was our turns to encourage them with words …
There was a boy of 8 eight years who looked so small and tiny. He isn’t much bigger than Basil, (my son of 2 years). I was touched and moved by them.
Due to the rising food prices, (the inflation in Vietnam is 21%) they had to cut down on their meals from 3 to 2 a day. Yet they remained cheerful and hopeful of their futures. Perhaps they are mindful of their present day-to-day struggles without giving much thoughts to the past nor future.
They appeal for funds to help them with their daily struggles as well as their plans to build a bigger centre to house more children. To give each child a future through education. They certainly love and look up to Br Jerome Manh as their father. Hugging and grabbing him by the waist seem to be the norm.
If you are moved to help after reading this, please do get in touch with me, Peter (peter.wellsprings@gmail.com) and perhaps together, as a group we can make a difference in these boys’ lives. You can also write to Br Jerome Manh directly (manhjrsdb@yahoo.com) or call him at +84-908058546.
Address of the Son Ky Orphanage:
No: 382/24 Tan Ky Tan Quy. F. Son Ky Quan Tan Phu. TP Ho Chi Minh.
Beside money, you may also wish to contribute your skill as an English speaker to them as a community. Visit them and spend somtime at the centre to teach the kids English. Communicating in English & interacting with English speakers would help them to build up their skills in the language. Email me and I can make the arrangement for you.
There's 1 Comment So Far
September 4th, 2010 at 2:43 pm
Hello, my name in Andrew I was born in Vietnam during the war and was too in a orphanage. I now reside in the USA, but wanting to move back to Vietnam, I have family still there.
I want to tell you what a wonderful job your doing and the dedication you have for the orphanage. It’s great to see that there are people who is so kind and caring, helping these wonderful children out, giving them shelter and also a chance to make a better life and brighter future for them self.
I would like to visit your orphanage one day, it will be sometime next year. In the mean time continue to do such a wonderful job.
Sincerely Andrew
Share your thoughts, leave a comment!