| December usually brings the rains to Vietnam. In 2006, however, it brought a devastating typhoon. On December 5th, the storm ripped through the Ben Tre Province. There it caused significant damage to homes, streets and power lines in the area. According to Red Cross reports, countrywide there were 48 dead, 184 injured, ten missing and over 120,000 homes destroyed or damaged. Many of the children who lost their homes are under the care and support of various Children’s Home Society & Family Services programs.
While in Vietnam to pick up their newly adopted children, several CHSFS families were at our care center in Ben Tre soon after the storm hit. The children were frightened but seemed very resilient. After the storm passed, the older children all pitched in to clear ruined bedding, furniture and toys. They pulled tree limbs out of the streets in order to clear the roads. One adoptive parent remarked at how strong and resilient these children were despite losing what little they had.
This care center at Ben Tre suffered significant damage. The area where the infants and toddlers are housed was only slightly damaged. However, the area that houses the older children sustained significant damage. The roof was blown away and as water poured in, it soaked everything that was in that building. Bedding and clothing were saturated and ruined. This typhoon had successfully wiped out what little “home” these children in the center had.
Your donations will help provide still needed storm repairs to care centers and homes. Futhermore, we will continue to support general upkeep in the care centers we partner with on an ongoing basis.
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