Todays note is written by the girl I mentioned a bit ago. I called her Always! She always hung to the back of the crowd of kids all getting their hugs. I "always" had to look for her. Last trip she came up to me (first time) and said "you remember me? I've been transformed. You call me always, my name is Vui." And then leaned over to give me a big hug. This was a first for this lovely lady.
Please enjoy her note. As usual I will pass any words of encouragement you might be led to write.
Vui's journal
"I was born in an unhappy family compared to other children, not receiving the affection and education from my parents. My father passed away and my grandparents did not like my mother, my sister and me; so my mother decided to take me and my sister to Danang city to start a new life here.
We had to sell lottery tickets, tasting every hunger and the coldness of life every day. In 2009, my sister and I were admitted to the organization sponsored by the Italians. At the end of 2011, my sister left the organization and returned home to help my mother to sell the lottery tickets. Currently, she has three children, a child raised by her grandmother, the other two children, my sister and her husband are living together in Phu Yen.
In 2013, the Italian organization withdrew from the project, at that time my friends and I had to live in the protection of the Charity within 2 years. During this period, we did not have any nannies, teachers, and instructors and relied on the boys' house (Hal's Home) cooked by mother-Minh. We were together to overcome all challenges in the shortage of both physical and mental conditions.
Fortunately, it is mother Minh whom we always confide in and share everything with her. In 2015, Giving It Back To Kids organization supported and nurtured us. That organization has not only changed my life completely but also brought joy and opportunities to many disadvantaged children like me at that time.
When living together under the second roof, I was taught many things such as life skills, soft skills, learning English, learning mental health. I have never known these subjects before and these valuable things have nurtured my soul and are precious assets for me to step into later life. I fully enjoyed the warmth of many mother's caregivers who treated me like their children, took care of me when I was sick as well as helped me realize that taekwondo is my forte.
In my heart, I always remember the love of the house moms, especially the staff and the home leader who always be beside me, share, listen, encourage me and answer any question if I asked her about the life, study, the family. I am so grateful the home leader and the Giving It Back To Kids all everything they did for my life. They changed my life becoming more beautiful. Thanks to special care and love, I can grow up healthy now.
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| Vui teaching kids at our home martial arts, giving back! |
Up to now, it has been 5 years since I studied martial arts, I have achieved two black belt certifications, which is my boundless pride for myself. When learning martial arts, or in the competition, it helps me to be myself, to do more optimistic things in life. For nearly 10 years, I go to school with a happy, lively and active mind every day. I have been doing the best and improving myself better day by day.
My starting point was 5 years later than my friends, sometimes I felt tired and wanted to give up studying then went home quickly to help my mother, or sometimes people looked down on me but the organization helped me to overcome all difficulties. I am aware that only pursuing education can help me have a better life then have good conditions to support more poor people. The later starting point compared to other people has not completely been lost, I always tell myself to learn more and more in order to live up to the expectations of people who loved and trusted me for the whole last time.
Honestly, I was very scared of the crowd, not good at communicating with other people. Everyone around me was good and I did not have anything special so I was very afraid of opening my heart to receive affection from everyone. I thought I was as normal as many others, but no, I realized how different I was one day when father-Robert gave me a name called "Always" 2 years ago and I really love that name. It means that I still exist and there are many people who always care and love me.
Two years has gone, I have changed a lot, no longer a little girl standing behind other people's shadow who often run to talk and hug the father and the guests. I am more confident to the achievements I have achieved at school as well as at the martial arts club. I feel proud and more confident in life. Every day, I want to learn English very well so that I can stand in front of father Robert, communicate to him and tell him about what I have experienced and express infinite gratitude to him for contributing to the change of myself in the end. Thank you for helping me realize my values and motivating me to progress every day.
During a long period of time, I should continue doing the utmost, striving to learn more and affirm to everyone that I can do it. The organizational experiences will be a valuable asset in my life. I will never forget the place nurturing me and winging my dream of flying higher and higher.
Best regards,
Vui
