"Giving better education and perspective
to disadvantaged ethnic children in Vietnam"
Project: Investment in Kitchen and Dining Room
Before: Open kitchen
After: Closed kitchen
protected from rain
After: Dining room
with community feeling
Before: No dining room
Project summary and background
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Where: Vinh Son Orphanage-6, February-April 2015
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Total investment amount: 95,000,000 VND (nearly 4,500 USD)
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Impact: Clean and healthy meals can be prepared in a hygienic kitchen and dining environment
Vinh Son Orphanages are located in Kontum Province (central highland area) of Vietnam. There are 6 facilities that provide care for over 900 ethnic children. The orphanages are supported by the Catholic Sisters of the Miraculous Medal.
Children are taught key life skills to ensure they become self-sufficient. They are given a safe environment, food, clothing, shelter and medical care regardless of their religious background. Children here are not good in communication in Vietnamese (the official dialect), so they struggle much with their studies, especially those in primary school.
Reason for investment
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The old kitchen was unhygienic and had unpleasant smell. It was often flooded with water, especially during the rain seasons
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There was no dining room so the children could only have their meals in the kitchen. On top of the unhygenic and unpleasant smell issues, the kitchen offered very limited space. This space limitation forced the children to take turns with the few available sitting places
Impact of investment
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Hygienic environment: Sisters and older kids can prepare meals in a hygienic environment to ensure food safety
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True sense of community: Kids have a safe and hygienic place to enjoy their meals in a social way. It is simply more fun to eat with other kids sitting at the same table than holding bowls and being scattered
Project timeline
“We love new dining room, so we can eat at the table.”
Kids at Vinh Son Orphange-6
“We are very delighted to have new kitchen and dining room. So cooking food for kids now is more hygienic and faster. Not to mention that rainy days do not scare us any more.”
Head Sister Nhuong
