We're Packing Up Boxes

MN Aid Expedition Team packing up boxes of toys, crafts, medical supplies and school supplies that have been generously donated!  

Getting Ready To Go!

Greetings Friends!
Welcome to the first "blog" of the 2004 Vietnam Aid Expedition. From June 8-18 you'll be able to read our "blogs" online at http://2004vietnamaidexpedition.blogspot.com . We are almost one week away from the start of another fun and busy two weeks in country! We wouldn't have been able to make it there though without the support of ALL of you!
We have ALMOST raised $22,000 in just a few short weeks because of your generosity! We have just $1500 to go in the last week!

Now here's an idea of what our team will be doing in Vietnam. For the first week we will have a Summer Camp for 220 homeless, abandoned and orphaned children that are currently living in shelters in Saigon. We're traveling with them to Nha Trang to play on the ocean front with crafts, games, music and see some sights. Our goal is simply to give them 4 days of fun - where they don't have to worry about anything and just be a kid. The entire cost of camp per child is only $45 - for meals, lodging, transportation, new clothes, backpacks, activities and games. Many of you have sponsored children to attend and we are so grateful for your support!

Right before we leave for Summer Camp, our amazing volunteers on our team will be conducting basic medical exams on all the children. Headed by our very own, Dr. Shelley Watters along with the assistance of 4 nurses on our team (and then rest of us) we will be giving most of these children their first ever physical! On the next expedition we will have to find some dentists to come with us so that basic dental needs can be met!

While we are at camp we will also be celebrating the 5th Annual Little Red Fairy "My Vietnam" Art Contest. The kids have always amazed us each year with their creativity and we can't wait to see the new winning entries! The winners are provided with over $2100 in scholarships so that they can attend and finish school. This year the entire contest has been funded by Judge Memorial Catholic High School in Salt Lake City, UT. Earlier this year they made beautiful ceramic bowls in art class, auctioned them off at a fundraiser and now will make dreams come true in Vietnam! Wow and THANK YOU!

After summer camp, the team of volunteers to Da Lat to finish a renovation of Da Loi Primary School. It was built almost 60 years ago and is in terrible shape. It houses 5 classes and about 115 children. It will only cost $1400 to remodel the last two rooms - the library and main hall. Initially they were going to ask our team to actually do the work like replacing the tin roof and tile the entire building but because of our limited time (and knowledge) I suggested that we just do the painting! I could just imagine us trying to replace this tin roof and falling through!

Our last days of the expedition will be spent back in Saigon at the Tam Binh Orphanage for children with HIV/AIDS. Currently there are 60 children there that are all sick - some more than others. We are going there to help the nurses for a day. We will play with the children - hold them and feed them. The saddest part is that none of these children will survive without AIDS medication. But, we have been able to secure donations of antibiotics and first aid supplies though so we will be able to address some of their needs.

We are so Close to making this all happen - JUST $1500 TO GO!! I hope you will consider making a donation to the 2004 Vietnam Aid Expedition - just give us a call before June 8th at 507-664-9558 or send your 100% tax-deductible donation to:

Catalyst Foundation
710 St. Olaf Ave. Ste. 100
Northfield, MN 55057

Thanks in advance for your support! No amount is too small and every dollar makes a difference!

Caroline Ticarro-Parker
Co-Founder & Executive Director, Catalyst Foundation
positive change for children of Vietnam
www.catalystfoundation.org
cntpar@catalystfoundation.org

Phone: 507-664-9558
Fax: 507-664-9526

You can give the gift of hope to a child...donate now at
www.catalystfoundation.org.