Thank You So Much!
The 2004 Aid Expedition has ended. We've all parted ways in Vietnam with our newfound friends. Some of us are back in the U.S., some are still traveling all over Vietnam, Cambodia and anywhere else the road may lead. This team has been incredible! We put together 32 volunteers (5 of whom were under age 12!) and threw them in a 3rd world country to play with 200+ children that didn't speak the same language. It was nothing short of a success! I am proud to say that I was a part of this dynamic 2004 Team!
First, we couldn't have done it without all of our generous friends, colleagues, family and supporters. Over $25,000 was donated to make all of this happen - the Summer Camp, the Little Red Fairy "My Vietnam" Art Contest, Da Loi Primary School Renovation, toys and medicine to the Tam Binh AIDS Orphanage. Then there were thousands and thousands of dollars worth of medicine, medical supplies, toys, school supplies, film and cameras that were also donated to complete our expedition. We are so grateful - thank you so much.
Many times during the expedition I would be asked if I thought that things were going well. And the answer was always a resounding "YES!". We worked hard but played even harder. Each child that we met had their own story that made our heart break but they also had these beautiful smiles that would make our heart melt. At the beginning of each expedition I always tell the team that this experience will change you - bad or good - but it will definitely change you. Throughout the 9 days that we were together we all were motivated by our passion of helping the children of Vietnam. But what they did was help us see that every child deserves a chance, every child deserves days in the sun and time to play, every child deserves a hug, every child deserves to a hand to hold.
We hope that for our friends that have read and followed our expedition have been able to enjoy it as much as we did. We're looking forward to 2006 - applications being taken already! ;-) Thank you for all the e-hugs and support, we really appreciate it!
Remember, one person can make a difference - one child at a time!
Peace,
Caroline Ticarro-Parker
Co-Founder & Executive Director
www.catalystfoundation.org
cntpar@catalystfoundation.org
