It is last day in Ho Chi Minh City and we are visiting the children’s orphanage this morning with Michael. The orphanage is sponsored by ILA Vietnam (employers of Andy, Lizzie and Michael) and many of their staff regularly volunteer their time to help out two or three times a week and there are several here today. We’re going to spend the morning helping with babies and toddlers many of whom have some form of disability (although in many cases these are very minor) and have been abandoned as a result. Others are casualties of the one-child policy that applies to government employees and results in severe financial penalties for those who have a second child.
We start by helping out with the feeding of the babies of which there must be 20 or 30. The first thing that strikes us is how quiet they are, lying in cots in a bright and airy room. My baby doesn’t seem to be very hungry and would much rather be lifted up on my shoulder to have a good look at what’s going on around. Andy meanwhile has one that just wants to sleep after a good feed. After baby-feeding we move on to play with the toddlers and immediately I have a little girl who wants my undivided attention and who, once picked up, won’t let me put her down. Whilst another little girl is fascinated by Andy’s beard.
Michael takes us on a tour of some of the other rooms here where children with more severe disabilities are cared for. It’s a heart-rending experience, but also a positive one. The hospital is clean and well-equipped thanks to the generosity of sponsors like ILA and is in the throes of being upgraded and the children are being looked after in a stimulating and caring environment.
Having seen the work that is being done here and discussed the possibilities for using the money Andy raised from his sponsored shave, we have decided to support operations to remove cataracts which the ILA are hoping to start sponsoring in the New Year. If the project goes ahead the money will give two children back their sight and the possibility of an independent life.