CNCF - CNCF in Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City -

The Sunshine School

The Sunshine Music and Arts Project continues to achieve everything Christina had hoped by giving the children the opportunity to express themselves through the magic of music and art. Christina herself is a great lover of music and is more aware than most people that the ability to express oneself through music is a means of discovering and nurturing the 'human spirit', encouraging self-confidence, and a deeper understanding of others.

CNCF established the Sunshine Music Program in 1997 and in 2001 expanded the project to include a full timetable of art classes. The Program now offers a weekly timetable of classes including art and craft, keyboard, guitar, modern dance and English to children cared for in a number of CNCF’s programs.

Since the Music Program was first established, children have learned to read and write music, sing, and play a variety of instruments, including the piano, guitar and drums. Singing lessons have helped the children learn and perform songs to a wide variety of audiences. Several children who have displayed significant musical talent, also receive private tutoring, which has been made possible by very kind sponsors from abroad.

Through the Art Program, the children have been introduced to a wide range of artistic mediums, including drawing, painting, pottery, fabric design, collage, mask making and clothes design. Due to the growing popularity of these classes, the weekly timetable now incorporates both beginner and advanced classes.

Education Support Program

Every year, CNCF are approached by children who are due to start, or are currently enrolled in mainstream public schools whose families are unable to afford the school maintenance fees and necessary school supplies. These children are either at risk of having to leave school or have approached CNCF requesting to enroll at the Sunshine School.

In 2001, the Education Support Program was established with the express purpose of providing short-term assistance to children with the educational talent who could not be accommodated in the Sunshine School. The estimated cost of supporting one child in public school is 400,000 VND (approximately $25 US). This annual fee is compulsory for all children enrolling in public school, as a contribution to the maintenance & operational costs of the school. It may also meet their transport costs to school and allows them to purchase books and stationary. Once CNCF have identified the family’s legitimate need for support and the child’s desire to continue school, fees are paid directly to the school by CNCF. Where children need longer-term financial support to continue their education, assistance is made available through the Foundation’s Sponsorship Program.

The program’s budget is flexible and any additional donations we receive from our supporters, can be immediately used to make a life changing difference for a child who requires support to continue their schooling.

Sponsorship Program

The CNCF Sponsorship Program was established in Vietnam in 1996 to assist and encourage young street children to gain an education and continue in the mainstream schooling system. Most of these children are at high risk of dropping out due to the extreme poverty in which they live, and the subsequent pressures they face to earn a living to help support their families.

For just $24 USD per month, sponsors play a pivotal role in granting a child living in poverty a decent education, access to emergency medical assistance and an improved quality of life at home. These goals are achieved within the context of the child’s family and community. As such, the needs of each individual child and family are different and there is not a set 'package of benefits' for all. For example, a child working on the streets needs to be able to access a special alternative education program to enable them to attend school at flexible hours, while older children need meaningful vocational training, health care, family life education and job placement assistance.

CNCF strongly believes in the importance of helping people change their own lives. When an older child completes training and is able to become self-supporting or a child leaves the program for some other reason, sponsors are invited to transfer their support to another child in need.

The Sunshine Music and Arts Project

The Sunshine Sports Program

Sport and play have always been an important part of childhood. Through play children learn social skills, gain confidence and crucially, the ability to work alongside others with a common goal in mind.

"Once you feed a child’s stomach you then need to feed their spirit". - Christina Noble

In July 1998, Christina established the Sunshine Sports Program to offer a full timetable of football, tennis, gym, dance, Tae Kwon Do and swimming lessons. And in 2002 the Project was expanded to include a full-time Social Worker, to provide social services to the children. The Sports Project has succeeded in guiding many children away from the dangers they face on the street and back into school, or into vocational training initiatives. As well as encouraging fitness and social interaction these sports sessions are used to educate children about nutrition and exercise.

By maintaining its philosophy of maximizing the potential of each child through the Sport's Project, the Foundation has witnessed great progress in the children's health, fitness and most importantly their confidence and social skills. In May 2005, children from various CNCF projects came together to compete in two teams for the Foundation at a local tournament for disadvantaged children. Both teams easily progressed through each round to eventual victory in the finals, which is a testament to the Sports Program and the boys’ skill and dedication.

Medical Assistance Program

Due to the extreme poverty in which thousands of Vietnamese children and their families live, many are very susceptible to illnesses or accidents and yet don’t have the financial means to access even the most basic medical attention.

For most of Vietnam’s very poor, medical care is inaccessible as a result of the prohibitive cost of medical insurance, which is prioritized well below other basic daily needs. An additional factor which prevents many street children, and children from very poor families, receiving even the most basic medical care is their lack of legal residency status in their region. Children with out resident’s papers are not eligible for free medical treatment.

In 1999, The Christina Noble Children’s Foundation established The Medical Assistance Program to provide medical support on a case-by-case basis for children requiring medical treatment, who would otherwise be unable to access the necessary care. Each year, we are able to provide such life changing, and in many cases lifesaving, treatment to over 150 children.

In July 1999, CNCF offered medical assistance to a little girl whose family was unable to pay for her treatment. As a result of this intervention she was discharged from hospital well and the Medical Assistance Program was born. Since its inception, the Medical Assistance Program has helped children with cases ranging from severe malnutrition to major heart surgery.

Two full-time local Vietnamese staff members administer the Medical Assistance Program from Ho Chi Minh City. The program assists children residing in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a significant number of children from Vietnam’s rural provinces, where medical care is often scarce and medical facilities heavily under resourced. Much of the success of this project can be attributed to the Foundation's existing relationship with several leading local medical facilities here in Ho Chi Minh City: Pediatric Hospital’s Number I & II, The Heart Institute of HCM City, The Eye Hospital of HCM City and The Orthopedic Rehabilitation Centre to name a few.

It is apparent that there is a growing need for expansion of this program. There are many children we are currently unable to help and therefore we would welcome any additional sponsorship. If you would be interested in assisting with this project, please contact the Vietnam office directly.

The Boy's Residential Shelter

Christina first opened the Boys’ Shelter in October 1994 to provide a safe and loving home environment for children previously living on the street.

The shelter provides nutritional meals, clean clothing, and accommodation for up to 25 children aged between six and eighteen years old. To help each new child settle into his new home, the Shelter assigns a “big brother” who has been in the Shelter for some time, to be with the child and show them their way around for the first few weeks. The children are assisted with education and vocational training and have the opportunity to choose from a range of apprenticeship courses to prepare them for the future. Classes are also offered in English, Art, Music, Graphic Design and the boys are avid participants in the Sunshine Sports Project.

At the end of 2004, the boys were relocated to a newly constructed Shelter. The new purpose built facility includes spacious bedrooms equipped with new bedding and furniture; two training rooms for study and recreation activities; fully equipped kitchen, dining and recreation rooms and all new furniture and equipment.

The Girl's Residential Shelter

The Girls’ Shelter opened in February 1998 and provides meals, clothing, education, vocational training and most importantly, security and a caring environment for up to 30 girls at a time, ranging in age from 6 years to 18 years. There are five full-time staff at the shelter who work very closely with each of the girls, sharing daily chores and providing education and vocational support, while helping the girls overcome the experiences they have endured and assisting to re-instil the love, respect and dignity each of the girls deserve.

All the girls attend school and participate in extra classes in the shelter. They also enjoy weekly English classes and are encouraged to participate in various activities such as art, music, tennis, swimming and a number of social events and excursions.

At the end of 2004, the girls were relocated to a newly constructed Shelter. The new purpose built facility includes spacious bedrooms equipped with new bedding and furniture, classrooms and recreational rooms for study and play, fully equipped kitchen and dining room with all new furniture and equipment.

Phat Huy Social And Educational Centre

Phat Huy is located in District 1 of Ho Chi Minh City, along the Thi Nghe Canal. In 1997 the Vietnamese authorities conducted a slum clearance in this area, but shortly after many families were unable to find accommodation elsewhere and returned once more. As a direct result of the extreme poverty in this area, few of the children go to school and are at daily risk of becoming involved in child prostitution, organised crime and drug abuse.

Christina pledged to support the Phat Huy Centre for four years in 1994. However, as a result of the Centre’s excellent record, which includes a Recognition Award from the Ho Chi Minh City Police Department for its role in the prevention of criminal activity amongst minors in the area, CNCF agreed to continue its association with the Centre for the future.

The Phat Huy centre provides a refuge to over 50 children who are educated at the centre, and are also provided with nutritional meals, clothes and can stay throughout the day, from early morning until their parents have finished work in the evening. The children are also involved in various activities including gym, dance, football, and art and music lessons that are held in the centre.

Families are encouraged to join their children on special occasions at the centre and are welcome to go and discuss their family problems and difficulties with the staff.

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