Son Ky Children Star Orphanage

A Letter of Acknowledgement

Faces of some boys

Here are 4 boys who I have picked up from the various images to highlight and depict to form the face of Son Ky.

Brother Manh – Director of Son Ky – His Journey

Br Jerome Mahn’s email – manhjrsdb@yahoo.com

Br Jerome Manh, a Salesian religious brother who resides in Ho Chi Minh shares his vision and philosophy in his pursuit of caring for his boys in his orphanage, Son Ky.

A extract from his notes …. you can read the full article byclicking on this link or right click to save this – pdf.

These are some among 52 orphans and street-children belonging to Son Ky Orphanage, under the care of Mr. Nguyen Duc Manh, Fr. Vincent Nguyen Van Hung, Fr. Paul Pham Minh Thanh and Ms. Bui Thi Mai Lien. Together with them, closer to the boys are 5 young aspirants, who in the same time learn the work to become future educators and to assist the orphans 24 hours a day.

On August, 2005, we have started with 7 double orphans and single orphans at Tam Thon Hiep, Can Gio Island, HCM City. Due to problems about the jurisdictional difficulties caused by the local government, on June 2007, we had to move most of them, and received more new ones and up to now, we are gathering in this Son Ky Orphanage 49 orphans and street-children, aged from 8 to 18.

The key to his program is loving his boys with no strings attached. In his words, Br Jerome, “For them, I will dedicate all my energies, times and all my life. I will live and die for them. For their sake, I will make my best to train successors to continue my work. Together we shall form a team, or a community, to serve this great cause. This will be one of the most important tasks while I am still living. From my heart of hearts, I wish that the children I am educating and appealing now, will be the future successors of my work.”

This looks so incredible, if we do not imply love in all this. How can we succeed with so remarkable results, with so much persistent good effects? The secret is that we do not only love these orphans, but we have made them to be firmly convinced that they are loved. More than anyone else in the society, these children need love. They are very sensitive about the way people treat them. The saying: “What matters is not what you give, but how you give” implies here most perfectly. The element which makes the educator succeed depends on how much do the educated feel themselves to be loved. In this family, the orphans have a father whom they are convinced to be ready at any moment to offer his life for their sake. They trust this man completely. In all his undertakings, his activities, his teachings, his exhortations, his going-out to look for money supporting them, or even his rest, his prayers . . . are seen no more than what he is doing for them, because of them, for their goodness, for their sake. No wonder why the children respond so well to what we ask them to do, to change their behavior. They want to show their gratitude, they want to return the good they have received. They do not know what to do, but they fervently wish to be good, so that they can please the one who loves them so much, the one who could die for them.

While making no distinction in admitting children here, in terms of religions, cultures (even children of ethnic minority are admitted), levels of academic achievement, Buddhist and Catholic followers are encouraged to live according to their belief, to practice Buddha’s Teachings or Biblical Principles and Spirit. We even teach them to trust God and to unite closely with Him, to find moral strength to live a decent and worthy life. Many children have found religions a strong base for their moral life, to become good and honest people, ready to fulfill their own duties, but willing to help others as well. They feel that in their religions, they are loved by Buddha or God.

A man with a remarkable vision, Br Jerome speaks a few languages fluently: Vietnamese, English, French and Italian. He also does translation work in voice-over English, French & Italian movies into the local Vietnamese language.

Attached here is a letter from the local bishop to support Br Jerome Manh’s effort and mission. Click on this image/read it as a pdf or right click to save it as a pdf.

Raising Awareness For Son Ky

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.