LOVINGKINDNESS VIETNAM

At one and a half hours distance from Nha Trang, this peaceful orphanage in the countryside receives fewer visitors than most of our other causes. Founded in 1996 by Sister Nguyen Thi Bao Quyen, it resides behind the Giao Xu Phu Nhon Catholic Church. They house approximately 90 orphans in this wonderfully tranquil home.

Founded in 2004, the Thien Tam Orphanage lies just 20 minutes south of Nha Trang’s city center, in Phuoc Dong ward. The orphanage is run by Nguyen Dinh Chi and his wife Nguyen Thi Kim Lien. A former orphan himself, Chi set up the orphanage is his home as a place of love and sanctuary for orphans of Nha Trang. As the facilities are very small, they care for only 13 children at the time, currently all aged 3 to 6. The orphanage is recognized by the local government, but is entirely funded through donations. The children are lovingly cared for, and school-aged children attend local public schools.

Founded in 2006, the Lac Thien Orphanage is part of the Phat Buu pagoda, and lies north of Nha Trang in Ninh Hoa district, not far from the Mai Am Anh Dao Orphanage. The pagoda is housed by Buddhist nuns, and the orphanage’s origins are endearing. On a peaceful day in 2006, a baby was left at the gates of the pagoda. The nuns cared for him, and from that day on they have taken in orphan children from the area. The orphanage is run by the head nun, Chon Minh, and currently cares for 27 orphans, from newborns to teenagers. They also care for 3 adults who suffer from mental handicaps.

This wonderful organization offers free primary school education at their charity school, plus free sewing skills training at their free Vocational School for those who live in the area of Vinh Luong ward, 15 kilometers north of Nha Trang. Founded at the Kim Son Pagoda in 1994 by the Buddhist nun Thich Nu Dieu Phuc, it has long been a loving home for local youngsters. At the charity school there are classrooms which grades 1 to 5 split in morning and afternoon shifts, and another room with donated sewing machines for those wishing to learn tailoring skills.

The Loc Tho Pagoda has had a charity school since 1991, though it has only recently experienced rapid expansion under the care of its founder, Sister Thich Nu Dieu Y. At just 15 minutes drive from the center of Nha Trang, this is one of the easiest places to visit for those in Nha Trang. There are over 100 children from poor families studying at this primary school, some of whom also live here. There are several orphans being cared for by the Loc Tho Pagoda who also attend the school.

Founded in the year 2000 by Sister Le Thi Hoe, this loving home rests in the tranquil country setting behind the Hoa Yen Catholic Church, south of Nha Trang. Most of the 30 children being cared for here were born with cerebral palsy or severe learning disabilities, and they live year round at this home. There are also several deaf children being cared for and educated by the nuns here. While not specifically an orphanage, there are several orphans living here, as well as several children from impoverished homes who are cared for during the week.

The Dai An Orphanage is located in Cam Ranh district, south of Nha Trang, and cares for 28 children from newborns to 10 years of age in a tranquil countryside locale.

Formed in 2012, Song Lo cares for about 10 orphans, all under 8 years of age. Located adjacent the Son Lo pagoda, it’s a small facility deep in the countryside west of Nha Trang. The orphanage is run by the nuns of Son Lo and the head nun, Sister Cat, and is not owned or operated by Lovingkindness Vietnam. They rely entirely upon donations, most of which come from people in the community.

The history of the orphanage’s beginnings is heartwarming. As the story goes, a Buddhist monk was travelling in the countryside when he encountered a woman who said she could not care for her 2 children. She left the babies with the monk and fled. Not expecting to have 2 babies to care for, the monk made his way to the Song Lo pagoda, and Sister Cat agreed to care for the children. From that point on, orphans have been either brought to the pagoda, or abandoned at their gates.

Far from the city lights of Nha Trang are many poor communities in rural areas. Families in these communities are in abject poverty, and struggle to put food on the table and ensure their children receive an education. Our mission when working with poor communities is twofold: Education and Poverty Relief.

At the beginning of the school year, poor families struggle to buy the necessary supplies for their child’s education, including school uniforms, textbooks, backpacks, and school supplies.

Our charity partners have identified poor communities, most of which are to the west of Nha Trang, where every day is a struggle. When we visit a poor community, we always contact the local government for permission, and establish a clear process of allocating the donations to those most needy. We provide basic sustenance to poor families, and have provided disaster relief in the past as well.