DeMatties Vietnam

To Whom It May Concern:

As the Co-Founder of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Vietnam and former Chairman of the Hanoi Chapter I was pleased to be associated with the Christina Noble Children's Foundation and introduced to this cause to the Ho Chi Minh Chapter of AmCham and the Director of the European Union in Hanoi.

Christina Noble from Dublin, Ireland was well known to us even before our involvement in Vietnam since we have had an office in Dublin since 1978. Again, through introductions to on one the biggest Irish companies, a sizable donation was made to the Foundation because of the admiration they had for Christina and the work she has done for the young people of HCMC.

We are proud of Christina and will continue to support her work. We wish that many companies will do the same.

Sincerely,

Alfonso L. DeMatteis
Director of Operations

British Embassy
Hanoi

To Whom It May Concern:

During my period in Office here I have been privileged to see something of the work undertaken in Ho Chi Minh Coy by Christina Noble and the Christina Noble Foundation. I have no hesitation in saying that I feel deep admiration for the very real practical assistance which the Foundation has provided to the poorest young children of Ho Chi Minh City. The way in which has been done through the establishment of excellent relations of cooperation and trust with the local authorities and in a working environment which can be difficult, is equally impressive.

I know that the Christina Noble Foundation has received support from British Companies working in Vietnam and I am glad that I too have been able to help in some small way. The use of the funds has been excellent as also then way in which maximum impact in practical terms for the children's' benefit has been achieved.

I wish Christina Noble and her Foundation continuing success in the future and would strongly commend her work and that of the Foundation to anyone.

P K Williams
HM Ambassador

British Gas

To Whom It May Concern:

Since my arrival in Vietnam in August 1989 I have known Christina Noble on a personal basis and hold her in the very highest regard.

I have watched her take the Centre and the Foundation from a thought to reality overcoming many obstacles on the way which would seem incomprehensible to any who have not lived and worked in Vietnam.

To those she has helped she is Mama Tina and indeed in some cases the only mother they have ever known, but the children of the streets in Vietnam may today be defenceless and in need but they also possess a spirit the very essence of which leaves visitors to Vietnam with such a feeling of awe and respect that to give help in any way is both immensely rewarding personally and of inestimable value to the recipients.

I have helped in a small way by assisting with sponsorship from British Gas, Enterprise Oil and the St Andrews Society and would be more than happy to talk with any interested sponsor as an individual or corporately.

Christina has dedicated her life to these children and fully deserves all the support you can give.

Les Blair
General Manager

Saigon Centre

To Whom It May Concern:

The Christina Noble Foundation is unique among charities, primarily as a result of the efficiency and dedication of Christina and her staff who manages such a large establishment with so few people.

As a result each donation results in a direct benefit to the children. Anyone visiting their establishment could not leave without experiencing a sense of awe at what has been achieved.

We will continue to support the Foundation in its efforts to bring love, happiness and hope to the lives of the children.

We encourage other organizations to provide assistance to this very worthwhile cause.

M J Ryan
Project Director

British Consulate General
Ho Chi Minh City

The Christina Noble Foundation for Street Children in Ho Chi Minh City

Since my wife and I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City in December 1994, we have been much impressed with this charitable organisation. It has a fine reputation in this city, and, at least among the non-Asian expatriate community, is well known.

The Foundation's work depends of course on international and domestic funding. From what I know of its activities, it certainly gives value for money to those who are able to donate money this excellent cause.

Not the least of its impressive qualities is the way in which its administrators have worked so well with the local authorities in what can be a very difficult and sensitive area of activity.

I have no hesitation in recommending this organisation for further, charitable funding.

N.P.Carter
(Consul-General)

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Enterprise Oil

To Whom It May Concern:

Enterprise Oil has been a significant sponsor of the Christina Noble Foundation for the past five years. It has been a rewarding relationship for both the company, in the corporate sense, and a large number of its personnel. I, as one of those individuals, feel privileged to have helped the excellent work of the Foundation in some small way.

Given our interests in Vietnam, we have seen at first hand the practical and worthwhile way in which the Foundation has provided help, comfort, education, medical support and - above all else - love to the poorest children of Ho Chi Minh City. The Christina Noble Foundation is already seeing rewards from this programme and Enterprise Oil is pleased to have played its part.

I wish the remarkable Christina Noble and her dedicated team continuing success and I commend the Foundation to others who might feel able to lend support.

Ray Dafter
Director, Corporate Affairs

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Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam (MOLISA)

To Whom It May Concern:

Christina Noble Children's Foundation (CNCF) is a humanitarian, non government, non benefit organization which has been cooperating with the Ministry of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam since 1991 to assist children in especially difficult circumstances and poor communities in Vietnam.

Recently, CNCF has signed an Agreement with MOLISA including 9 projects to assist the orphans, malnutritous, disable, street children and poor communities in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and some other provinces such as Dong Nai, Kien Giang etc. These projects have been successfully implemented and have gained encouraging results.

MOLISA highly appreciated the cooperation of CNCF on assisting the children in especially difficult circumstances and poor communities in Vietnam.

We would like to request all concerned authorities, within the responsibilities, to create favourable conditions for CNCF to effectively implement its projects in Vietnam.

Nghiem Xuan Tue
Deputy Director
International Relations Department, MOLISA

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United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Dear Mrs. Noble,

I am very grateful for the dedicated copy of Bridge Across My Sorrows, and I am sorry to have been so long in thanking you.

Your story is a truly inspirational one, showing as it does how courage and generosity can triumph over personal adversity. I cannot speak too highly of your work for street children in Vietnam and am glad that UNESCO has been able to make a contribution to your Sunshine Schools initiative. We shall continue to work, with governments and organizations such as the Christina Noble Foundation, to end the scandal of street children and to extend to all the children of our world their elementary right to education, welfare and dignity.

Yours very sincerely,

Federico Mayor

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Government of Vietnam
Public Administration Reform Programme

To Whom It May Concern:

During the past year while consulting in Hanoi on the national Public Administration Reform programme funded by the UNDP and directed by the Government of Vietnam, I have had the good fortune to get to know and interact with both Christina Noble and the Christina Noble Foundation in a professional and personal capacity. Each time, my respect and admiration grows for Christina's vision and the unique way in which she implements her goals with the minimum of funds. Christina possesses a wonderful life-enhancing value system and set of principles underlying a given situation and is unswerving in her integrity and loyalty to these basic principles. This is rare in a world where moral courage is sadly lacking as we are daily tempted, or requested, to compromise the truth and ourselves.

The best way of judging the value and worth of any organization, or person, is to carefully examine the impact and fruit of their work and actions. I cannot overemphasize the importance of visiting the centres, schools and homes for the abandoned or underprivileged children in Ho Chi Minh City. We need to see with our own eyes, hear with our own ears, feel with our own heart and understand with our own mind the wonders that can, and have been, achieved by the Christina Noble Children's Foundation. With very little in the easy of physical resources, and overcoming all manner of obstacles fortified by her unbounded love for street children, Christina Noble continues to bring comfort, dignity and hope to all those whose life she touches.

I believe that each member of the human race is born into the world as a trust of the whole. There is still much that can, and needs to, be done for those less fortunate than ourselves. Christina Noble understands, acts, and lives what she believes each day of her life. As a result, the fruits of the Christina Noble Foundation shine brightly in a very dark world.

I whole-heartedly recommend collaboration and contributions to the Christina Noble Foundation.

Nichola Davis
UNDP Consultant