Happy Christmas - War is Over?
I like to keep in touch with everything that is going on here. Also, if there is a new company opening up in the city then it’s always worth checking them out in case they are good for a donation.
Yesterday I did the search and I got reams of American election rubbish. As usual Vietnam is an American political football. Shock horror, the Vietnam Vets Against the War were in touch with Communist Hanoi. Who cares – strange as it may seem to the media in America, Hanoi didn’t want a war. Just like the Vietnam Vets they wanted it over. Is it such a surprise that there might be links between the two organisations?
But anyway, before I get stuck in this ridiculous argument I wanted to write about something that happened yesterday.
Each year KOTO holds a Winter Appeal. And each year there are different beneficiaries. It may be cooking hot soup for homeless people and collecting clothes to give out. On another occasion it was a trip to a kids’ detention center. This year we look like joining up with the Friendship Village.
Set up by a Vietnam Vet who also, it appears, had links with Hanoi, it’s a small area that is dedicated to caring for children who have suffered because of Agent Orange. For those of you who don’t know, Agent Orange was the toxic substance that was dropped on Vietnam as a defoliant to wipe out the jungles where the Viet Cong were supposedly hiding.
In short, ever since then hundreds of thousands have died as a result of the on-going problems caused by Agent Orange. In addition, many more children are still being born with serious defects. The after effects of Agent Orange are on-going. The Friendship Village looks after these children.
Anyway, yesterday we visited the site. After a short talk, we had a walk around and met the kids. Nothing can prepare you for this. One of the cruelest factors about Agent Orange and its effects is the vast array of disabilities. Kids with peculiar body shapes, kids with no legs, kids with the most horrific deformities, kids with mental disabilities. It is shocking.
On arriving one child took a hold of my hand and barely let go the whole time I was there. He followed us from room to room – waiting outside while we looked around, then putting his hand in mine again when we walked out again. There were kids learning skills doing needlework and making clothes. Others, were being rehabilitated and being given prosthetic limbs. Others, I guess, could only be made comfortable.
It was hugely emotional and I suppose I was coping fine. But then we went into a room where a group of kids were learning how to use waking aids. I suddenly became aware of one small child hugging my knees. I squatted down so I could see him face to face. Then he just put his arms around my neck and hugged me. And I lost it. I’m losing it again now typing this.
I walked around the rest of the place with a lump in my throat. The disabilities were horrendous. You are also aware of your own inability to deal with what you see. There is a part of you that just wants to recoil and hide. When the kid holds your hand you look to see how clean he is. These are very basic instincts and they make you feel very ashamed.
This is work that I am doing as part of my time with KOTO. I have no training in working with kids or young people with disabilities. I am a fundraiser. I don’t know how to react to it or how to deal with it emotionally. The kids we have at KOTO are a bright, sharp, good-looking bunch. Then you meet these Agent Orange victims and, for a second, you see street kids as the lucky ones.
Anyway, the upshot is that this year we will probably do the Winter Appeal on behalf of The Friendship Village. Collecting of donations will soon start in earnest. The event itself is how I will be spending my Christmas Day this year.
We talked afterwards about how the day should go. We want to put on a fun day with music and dancing and kids’ entertainment. We want it to be something that will be enjoyed by everyone there regardless of their disabilities. I am sure it’ll be the most amazing Christmas Day I have ever had. I hope we can make it as memorable for the kids of The Friendship Village.
This is what KOTO should be about. The wider plan is that, as and when we get financing for our new restaurant and when we become sustainable as a result of the move, we can these put our motto of : “Know One Teach One” into action and work in wider community projects in Vietnam. The good luck that the kids on our program have had can be passed on.
In addition, we’re looking into wider partnerships with The Friendship Village. Maybe they can make our uniforms. Maybe they can help us create beautiful items to sell as merchandising. We want KOTO to stand for not only helping street kids but also, in the future, about using ethical suppliers and even, potentially, organic goods, environmentally friendly packaging etc.
The ambitions for KOTO know no bounds. We want more KOTOs in Vietnam and South East Asia. Then, maybe India, South America and Africa. Maybe there will one day be a KOTO in your town. Maybe it won’t be staffed by former street kids but it will be a place where you can enjoy your meal in the knowledge that the profits will go to good causes either in your community or abroad.
A final thought before I go into the plug bit again. It’s easy to write off Agent Orange as a one-off or as a catastrophic blip by the American Military. Well, in the last two years depleted uranium weapons have been repeatedly used in Afghanistan and Iraq. It has left behind a new horrific legacy for children and adults alike and cancer rates are soaring. The horrors of Vietnam are being repeated elsewhere.
So anyway, here is the plug once more:
KOTO needs $80,000 to build a new training restaurant for its organisation that takes in street kids and gives them a home training, medical care, a roof over their heads etc etc.
We need to find this money by Spring. To try and find it we are selling bricks in the new place at $50 each. Buy one and get your name on it. If you are an ex-pat it’ll be a permanent reminder of your time in Vietnam. If you always wanted to visit Vietnam then buy one and resolve to come and see it.
In addition, there is a charity bike ride on December 11th from Hanoi to Ba Vi. It’s a beautiful route, I know because I traveled it by scooter on Sunday and my backside still hurts. It’s 70Ks – raise $150 and you’re in.
For information on either contact me on ourmaninhanoi@gmail.com. Or, if you’re a blogger then link me and prompt your readers to either make a donation or do the same. Thank-you to all those people who contacted me this week wanting to buy a brick. Thank-you also to the gentleman from Saigon who says he would like to do the ride. Thank you to those that linked me – including The Guardian and Blogger. Thank-you to all those who left messages of support.
Sorry for no links in this piece. You’ll have to Google it all – this machine doesn’t seem to have the capacity to deal with half the blogger tools.
Cheers all.
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