New Hope meet Van Nguyen; 6-3-15

Continuing in our series of meet the GIBTK team, todays note is from Van Nguyen. It has been a joy watching her to make often difficult choices and make changes in her life. Here is Van's note;

  "GIVING IT BACK TO KIDS - "NEW HOPE"

   It is said that there is a huge difference between "hope" and "wish" in which "hope" is something that requires attempts to achieve with actions, while "wish" is not that way. Giving It Back to Kids is where I have been nourishing my hope for a positive change of Vietnamese children's fates.

Van is 2nd from left, top row

   Working as a staff member for nearly two years, I've experienced a lot of unfortunate lives and impoverished countryside. Many people are still struggling with deprivation of basic human needs such as food, water, clothing, shelter and health care that I couldn't even imagine before. However GIBTKs and its team don't wish, but hope to make it different, change the situation, transform a nation and change a culture.

  Nothing is happier than seeing a child with his/her new face of happiness and confidence after an orthopedic surgery or heart surgery is done. Nothing is more encouraging than hearing kids sharing their achievements at school or in life.

  It's true that hope will never exist without taking actions. So we keep doing our utmost to actively connect with many yet-to-be-reached areas to connect with people who are in need of help. Many life-changing surgeries have been made possible, which helps build up confidence and self-esteem in people. It brings hope and changes not only the ones we helped, but to their family members as well.

   Through the outreaches, I became friends with some little boys and girls. There was a reserved boy named Long, with elbow-joint misalignments, who I met on my first medical outreach to a remote area in Quang Nam province.He turned out to be a confident boy with strong arms after one year of his corrective surgery. His bright face and cute smile lights up the happiness in me and reminds me of the great vision we are heading to.

   Lives of many heart patients have been saved spectacularly. A 17-year- old girl named Tuyet is an example of our effort of transforming more lives. She was supported to have her surgery the same time I started working for GIBTKs. When being asked about her dream, she shared: "I wish to have a job to feed myself. In fact, I didn't dare to think of what I would do because of my poor health". After her surgery, I looked for a two-year Hotel and Restaurant course in another Organization that promises her a new independent life when she graduates. The life-saving surgery enables her to think differently and hope for a better future. To Tuyet, having a job to feed herself used to be a big dream but it is no longer a dream to her, as she is taking actions and strives to make it come true.

  It is in building relationships with people we help that is the shortest and most effective way that I learn. We are able to come into their life, accompany them and encourage them. GIBTKs is providing comprehensive care to the kids. They are not only physically being taken care of, but also emotionally. I also realized how important it is that the kid's feelings and wishes are heard. We are doing whatever we can do to give hope to individual less fortunate children we are responsible for.

   For myself, I was literally given more chances to try at many different positions. That's my challenge, but also the opportunity for me to deeply understand the vision I'm heading for. It's only when we understand "Why we do, what we do," that we have the self-motivation to continue. GIBTKs team is carrying the responsibility to transform the less fortunate children's lives, one child at a time. I am proud to be ableto be a part of it. Whatever my responsibility is, I am contributing my little bit to the possible changing of a nation. We hope for the best things that are possible and make a huge effort to make it happen. I have the right to hope for a better future for my country.

Thanks for always watching over us."

Sincerely

 Van Nguyen