LookAtVietnam – Teacher Phan Van Thong doesn’t worry about bad behaviour during the computer science lesson at Kon Tum Orphanage because of the respect he commands from his students.

Betty Tisdale visits the computer lab she helped set up at Kon Tum Orphanage.

As an orphan himself, Thong came to the school in second grade. He went on to study at the College of General Economy and on graduation, returned to the orphanage to teach his young contemporaries.

“Now that computer science is on the school curriculum, it’s good the centre have a computer lab for our kids to get some practice, says director of the orphanage Pham Chau Tue.

“Having a computer to practice on at home is just a dream for many of the kids here, 80 per cent of them from poor minority groups,” says Tue.

Sponsors

But the dream came true for the orphanage with a visit from Betty Tisdale, founder of HALO (Helping and Loving Orphans), a charity dedicated to making life better for orphans in developing countries.

“I still remember when I first realised how a computer could change my life and I was already over 70 back then,” says Betty Tisdale, now 86. “It’s now the 21st century, and everybody needs a computer. I don’t want these children to be left behind.”

Tisdale has been actively helping orphanages in the central and southern parts of Viet Nam since 1961 and came to Kon Tum in 2003. Her charitable repertoire is long – she’s adopted five Vietnamese daughters, helped the centre build a new bathroom and toilet compound, a vegetable garden, a library and the computer lab. She also bought a van, books and toys for the children.

After her first visit, she came back to the orphanage every two years to see what else the centre needs.

“Her help is always very practical,” says Tue. “She cares most about the development of the children, their education and their spiritual life.”

Tisdale came back to the orphanage last week to check up on the kids. “These children are so well-behaved and lovely,” she says. “I could only hope for the best for them.”

Spreading their wings

HALO also supports a similar project in Vinh Son, where 206 kids are looked after at the local orphanage, run by director Sister Imelda, a nun, and volunteers Y Bil and Y Him.

“What’s special about Vinh Son is that it is just behind the wooden church, one of the most famous tourism spots in Kon Tum, so we get a lot of tourists visiting,” says Sister Imelda.

“A lot of them stay and spend some time with the children, talking to them and teaching them English songs. The children learn them by heart, and that helps improve their English,” she says.

Victoria Warkander, a Swedish tourist who found Vinh Son in the Lonely Planet, spent five hours of her second afternoon in Kon Tum playing with the children.

“I’ve always loved children,” she says. “When I found Vinh Son Orphanage in the book, I thought it’d be really nice to have a chance to see a different side to Viet Nam, away from all the resorts.”

Betty Tisdale was treated to a special performance by the children at Vinh Son, which ended with all the children singing a chorus of the most popular English children songs.

“Look at these children,” she says. “They have so much potential.”

“Every time I look at my daughters, I believe more strongly that every child, no matter who they are or what situation they are in, has the right to reach their fullest potential.”

It’s an ambition both she and teacher Phan Van Thong are determined to realise.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News