Here is my latest report:

The project is going along really well. I've been working in Thailand, Tibet, Cambodia and Vietnam the last few months and I've seen some extremely poor people and provided whatever assistance I could provide. So more stories to tell - here are three.

1. I met a number of Tibetan students living in my friend's village. If they do not receive a scholarship ($150 for middle school; $200 for high school - that's for one year tuition and fees) then they will have to herd sheep or be farmers for the rest of their lives. The students who received scholarships looked so happy and relieved, almost as if they had won the lottery. Great feeling to see the looks on the eyes of the parents and children. To s three photos attached of me with one of the scholarship students see link below.

2. Just 2 days ago I met with a woman living one hour from Hanoi. Two weeks ago, her husband (a poor rice farmer) saw a man beating a woman. He came to her aid (he didn't even know her), brought her to the hospital and then left. The man who had been beating the woman hired two thugs who beat the man with a huge piece of wood, resulting in his death. The police are looking for the attackers but they have disappeared. I am told the police are sure to find them.

We arrived (after a one hour drive in the pouring rain) at their simple house unannounced - since they had no phone. The widow was there, along with her 5 year old daughter, twin sons (10 months old) and her late husband's parents. After a long discussion (assisted by my translator and guide of course) they expressed what they needed: $50 for milk powder - this will last for 8 months, enabling her to work while her in-laws watch the kids so that she can work to support the family. 

She also requested $150 to start a vegetable selling business. This done, we left, and the widow looked amazed at this unexpected visit from us. Too see photos of the widow and her husband's memorial altar see link below.

3. Ms. Vu Tra Giang - 33 years old
      Giang is an accountant for a private company. She is smart and able. Also, she is probably one of the most unlucky people in Vietnam.
        On March 23, 2009 on the way to work in Giai Phong Street, near Linh Dam residential area, Giang was caught in a horrible accident: a container truck hit her, ran over her body and crushed her two legs. The doctor could save her life, but not her two legs. They had to be removed. It was a difficult truth to accept but her family was always with her to help her overcome the pain. 
This woman has an unhappy personal life. She and her husband were separated. They have a daughter, who is now living with her grandparents, the husband's parents. Giang has to stay with her father and a younger sister. After the accident, their lives became more difficult. Her legs have been under operation five times to make it not be necrosis. The cost for these operations is about 150,000,000 VND (USD 8,500) much more than the family can possibly afford. However, the driver of the truck paid some for her treatment. Giang always hopes that one day she would have two artificial legs or a wheelchair to reduce the burden for her family in taking care of her.
      When Giang heard that she was one of the people to receive a wheelchair from 100 Friends, she was extremely happy. Coming to the ceremony very early, she felt very nervous: She said it was just like a dream! Giang told us with joy, “I really want to give many thanks to 100 Friends for their help”. With this wheelchair, from now on, Ms Giang can move around on her own. Life has just become a bit easier.
With a new wheelchair, her life will be less difficult and her family will have an easier time. Now funds have been set aside for her to have two prosthetic legs and some physical therapy for helping her to adjust to them. After she had adjusted to her new legs, she will be provided assistance to start a small coffee business utilizing a small cart with funds provided by 100 Friends. Photo of Giang: see link below.

To see the photos referred to in this email go here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/marcgold/TibetanScholarshipGirlHanoiWidowVuTraGiang?pli=1#

Marc