Carrie Hesekth - second Vietnam donation

It had been almost 1 year since my last visit to the Tam Ky baby orphanage (and last Baby Teresa donation!) and I was ridiculously excited to be going back there. Having been working with this orphanage now for over 6 years I was greeted by a swarm of children and some very excited orphanage staff – I am glad I am not one who is in need of too much personal space! It was about 35 degrees and incredibly humid . . .and I was in my element.

The orphanage is looking great! There are new buildings been built to house the increasing number of children arriving, the new water purification system seems to be having a great impact, and the volunteers have been doing a great job in keeping smiles on the children’s faces.

It didn’t take long for me to make my way to the two baby rooms to deliver the Baby Teresa outfits. When I pulled the first one out the ‘mothers’ (staff) got huge grins on their faces – they remembered them from last year and the LOVE them! There were lots of babies to clothe this year – a set of twins only 4 months old, a tiny 6 month old little one with down syndrome, a 6 month old blind baby girl, Son, a little boy now over 12 months who has severe hydrocephalus and brain damage, a baby only a few days old and another 10 ranging from 1 month to 1 year. Luckily we had plenty of outfits to go around!

Being right at the peak of the hot season, the staff were so happy to have the short onesies and they quickly changed them into their new outfits and paraded them in front of me. One of the mothers popped Son, the baby with brain damage into one and started to cry saying how handsome he looked.

The children are doing well – we do have a problem with the children getting boils in the heat, we have a problem with malnutrition as good baby formula is expensive in Vietnam and sadly, not in the budget, and we have continuing problems with impetigo – an incredibly infectious, painful skin condition, all of which the staff and volunteers try to combat on a daily basis.

Bay Teresa not only gave these beautiful babies new outfits this year, but they also provided some very much needed baby formula – a gesture that was welcomed with cheers from the staff, including the orphanage director. Good nutrition is a great start to helping these little babies get started in life.

Thanks so much Baby Teresa for your help in improving the lives of these children and all of the others that you are helping around the world!

Ben West - Nepal Donation

Do not let her small stature confuse you, Nada Kulu is a force to be reckoned with. I first met Nanda in April 2010 on my first visit to Nepal, I was walking through the main tourist area of Thamel in Kathmandu and somehow found myself inside a music shop drinking tea and speaking with Nanda about her orphanage ‘Mitrata’ which she started in 2000. The Mitrata, which means friends in Nepalese started by housing and schooling just four children but today has expanded to care for over one hundred underprivileged Nepalese children. Since meeting Nanda I have been sneaking out-dated laptops under the sensitive Nepalese goods import tax radar with friends. These laptops have been gratefully received and used by the children of Mitrata. I was very excited about the prospect of taking twenty Baby Teresa outfits to Nanda.

I had just finished a climb in Nepal and wandered to the same music shop where I first met Nanda. There she was, bubbly and bright as ever, offering me tea and speaking passionately about her new organization; Mountain Sisters. No, Nanda is not happy just housing and raising the children, she also wants to provide a job path for them once they grow old enough to seek work. The Mountain Sisters is a trekking and adventure business which trains and employs the very same children who grow up at Mitrata.

Nanda gladly accepted my donation of twenty long, warm Baby Teresa suits, Nanda then smoothly convinced me to spend the next few days editing the English on her numerous charitable websites, drunk her tea with me and excitedly spoke about how helpful the Baby Teresa suits will be for the infants to wear over these cold Nepalese nights, it was great to have these suit go to such a worthy organization.

If you are ever lucky enough to visit this amazing country and want a guide for either one day in the city or ten days trekking contact Nanda at www.mountainsisternepal.com not only will you ensure a great trip but you will be helping an orphan to help themselves. Mitrata Nepal also offer flexible volunteering visits where you can teach the children in English, arts or any area which you may specialize in.