Jan 24 7:45 AM (VIETNAM) EYEGLASSES- QUANG PHU & HUONG VAN COMMUNES

I anticipated that Monday would be a busy day and wasn't disappointed. I will divide the blog detailing our eyeglass program to make things easier to follow. This post will involve the 210 school kids that received their new glasses, while the next will focus on the 200 pairs of reading glasses provided by Copper River Basin Lions Club (Alaska). 

 Khanh picked me up at 7 AM, after which we worked our way through Hue traffic, into the countryside, and to Quang Phu and Huong Van Schools. At both locations, we were greeted warmly.

With Khanh and Quang Phu School Officials

 


On arrival at Quang Phu the ceremony preceding the school day was about to begin. Pretty impressive.

Quang Phu School




                                                     Quang Phu School

Then we set to work distributing 210 pairs of eyeglasses with Quang Phu in the morning and Huong Van in the afternoon.


With the children waiting on their new glasses, there was no time wasted in getting started.  Dr. Trien, the optometrist, and his staff were set up and ready to go. As I handed each child his/her glasses, Dr. Trien would perform an eye-chart test to ensure that the lenses were accurate to the prescription.

Receiving New Glasses

Confirmation Eye Chart Exam

Smiles Abound


What a Cutie


Precious Children

 

 

 


 
With student, Dr. Trien, and Khanh


 

If there was any doubt as to accuracy, Dr. Trien would perform another exam and, if necessary, have a new pair of glasses produced. I was thoroughly impressed with his professionalism and patience with the children.


 



This girl couldn't make it to the original screening and exams, so Dr. Trien's staff dropped everything to accommodate her. The little child is battling cancer and my heart went out to her. Her mother stands behind her.


 

 

 

She Selected Her Glasses Frame

The lady standing beside the little girl is an official in the Vietnam Women's Union, which represents and defends the legal and legitimate rights of women in Vietnam. Founded in 1930, the highest body of the the union is the National Women's Congress.

With Students, Khanh, and a Representative from Vietnam Women's Union

Recess at Quang Phu School

                                                                Interview with Student

Between Quang Phu School in the morning and Huong Van School in the afternoon, a delicious lunch was enjoyed at Khanh's house.

Lunch with Khanh, wife Trang, and Sisters in Law
 

This post is heavy with photos and videos, but they tell the story better than I.  Chomping at the bit, I'm ready to get this post live. Heartfelt thanks to everyone whose contributions make it all possible. We're helping, healing, and making a difference. And that's what it's all about.💗

 

What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others. – Pericles

 


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Jan 1, 2024 11:30 AM (Alaska) 2024 Humanitarian Program Preview

Image
Well, in a couple weeks I'll be on my way back to Vietnam to implement our 2024 humanitarian program. Many details have been worked out, but there will always be spontaneous undertakings. On landing at 8:30 AM Jan 18th, the smiling face of Thong (aka Damn Guide) will be waiting.   The first order of business will be to visit two 196th Light Infantry Brigade veterans, Duong, and Thua. Thong and I will assess their needs and react accordingly.  I also intend to visit the graves of Son and her mother, Lady The. Such history... The vision program is well underway, thanks to the efforts of Khanh, Chairman of Hearts for Hue. Preliminary vision screening has been accomplished in the rural schools of Quang Phu and Huong Van in order to determine which students are most in need of eyeglasses. The 200 selected children have been given comprehensive visual examinations and have selected their frames. Currently, the eyeglasses are in production and will be ready when I a...
Read more

FEB 25 5:30 PM (ALASKA) FEB 3- EYEGLASS/DENTAL PROGRAM AT HONG HA SCHOOL

Image
Just before 7:00 AM, Khanh, Dr. Trang (Khanh's wife), and I departed Hue with a destination of Hong Ha. This is the same village where we attended the Rotary Club latrine project closing ceremony on January 26. The route, actually the old Ho Chi Minh Trail, leads to a very mountainous region. Visible is Hamburger Hill, which was the site of a May 13-20 battle between US/South Vietnamese Forces and North Vietnamese Forces. The drive is rather slow, with continuous sharp turns. The mountain scenery, though, is beautiful. If time permitted, I would have liked to do some hiking there.     Eventually we made it to Hong Ha, where students and faculty were waiting at the school.    Road to Hong Ha With Khanh at Hong Ha School   Dr. Trien and his staff were already set up and ready to begin eyeglass distribution. Recall that it was just five days prior that we first contacted Dr. Trien about the possibility of screening 300  Hong Ha children, selecting the 100...
Read more