Even charities are corrupted!

[tranhungdao]

Just read this story today.  I'm sure not all Charities are corrupted; even the USA has stories of management pilfering funds meant for their wards but this kinda upsets me.

www.thanhniennews.com/index/pages/20131227-vietnamese-arrested-for-eating-into-charity-for-disabled-kids.aspx

I've seen many disabled kids in Việt Nam and essentially they can't take care of themselves.  The managers have to do it.  But often I don't like how they manage things and want to assist in "fixing" things.  I like to be hands-on before I donate funds to a charity...but it's hard because charities in Việt Nam expect you to just give money.  It's the "foreigner's curse".  Come visit, give money, then please go away.  I bet that international organization that gave this charity money is peeved. 

[jakejas]

There might be a problem with the link. When I clicked it, it couldn't find the page, but when I copied and pasted it into the browser, it worked.

It takes a special kind of jack ass to be able to steal from handicapped children. I agree with your philosophy on donating money to organizations that you have worked with before. It also gives you more edification to physically see your money at work.

[tranhungdao]

Thanks. It appears there was an extra space after the ".aspx" that messed up the auto-link.

[mia2013]

THD,

Have you thought about opening up a charity and managing it yourself w/volunteers? Maybe you can canvas some of the colleges and look for interns.

[tranhungdao]

Dec 31, 2013 21:38:07 GMT 7 mia2013 said:

THD,

Have you thought about opening up a charity and managing it yourself w/volunteers? Maybe you can canvas some of the colleges and look for interns.

Interesting that you mentioned it:  It's called Convoy For Babies  , a D.I.Y. Foreign Aid project .   Most NGOs (non-governmental organizations...similar to the US non-profit organizations) are based out of Hà Nội and have a ton of requirements...probably about the same red tape as required to have a 501c in the USA.  The reporting alone would require a whole accounting department.  So I just do stuff on a small scale.

From my time here, I've feel a calling to work with orphans and abandoned children.  I've been to the Đồng Nai province about nine times and I really see a need for rescuing abandoned babies.  Also my teaching English to children has made me think that they need a focus more on usage/application than memorization. 

I might return to the USA for a few years to work and squirrel away the bucko bucks since I didn't intend initially on doing charity work when I first came to Việt Nam.  I think I'll return and open an orphanage....quietly...in the mountains somewhere far from prying eyes...and coffee-fund seeking officials.  At least that's the idea.  I gotta find a wife first though, otherwise I'll forget all about Việt Nam when I'm stateside and forget my purpose.  You see my dilemma already?  How to find a wife who just doesn't use me as a free airplane ticket to America but one who can see my vision for a brighter tomorrow for those who live in darkness?    

For now, I am getting good experience with CFB runs and teaching English for free at the Buddhist temple. 

[mia2013]

 Does she have to be VN? What about an American who would like to live in VN and shares the same vision you do?  

[mia2013]

 Let me clarify myself, American women other than myself!

[tranhungdao]

Dec 31, 2013 22:51:50 GMT 7 mia2013 said:

 Does she have to be VN? What about an American who would like to live in VN and shares the same vision you do?  

No..I guess if I was an Expat living in Ecuador, I'd be looking for an Ecuadorian wife.  You know an American girl who wants to live in Việt Nam and help orphans...and wants to marry me? 

I'm just afraid if I return to the USA, I'll be in an atmosphere of superficialness.     

When I hear "the disabled" over there, I just envisioned people who are too obese to go to work and just collect disability...but over here, it's mutated people, people with 90kg tumors, cripples crawling on the road, war veterans with arms chopped off, kids with bloated heads...etc.  This guy:



I actually saw a guy just like this begging at the Phà Vàm Cống ferry in Miền Tây once.     

I don't want to forget this experience.  Maybe I figured if I had a Vietnamese wife, I'll be reminded of it everyday and my wanting to return here with "supply and reinforcements".