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The Miracle of Helping People in Need in Đắk Lắk Province, Vietnam.

A typical country home in the commune of Ea R’Bin

On a recent post on a Facebook group in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam we noticed a post by one of its members (Tiếp Nguyễn) where she asked for volunteer help and donations on an upcoming trip to the inland province of Dak Lak, Vietnam. The post caught our eyes, as we had an interest in joining forces with a group during these uncertain times. Also, we had never visited the Đắk Lắk Province before.

Residents from the commune of Ea R’Bin lining up to receive donations

On the mentioned post, we had learned that the trip would be quite exhausting, as we had to travel seven hours from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to the village of Ea R’Bin. The good news was that we could choose to ride our own motorcycle or take a hired van for a fee of 360,000 Vietnamese Dong per person (USD $ 15.00) for a round-trip and not worry about traffic, feeling tired, and stressing out. Due that our motorcycle is not new and had given us plenty of mechanical issues, plus 14 hours of riding within two days was a lot for us, we chose to take the van.

Food and clothing donations at the local community center

As it had been planned, we meet at 3::45 am on Saturday, September 12th with about 10 other volunteers and left around 4:15 am from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) to our destination. During the trip, we had the opportunity to stop for breakfast and lunch as a group, where we had the opportunity to mingle with the other volunteers. We were the only foreigners in the group, but we did not care about that and felt quite welcomed by the majority of the members.

Children lining up to receive school supplies

We arrived at the village of Ea R’Bin at around 3:00 pm and after taking a little break, where I spotted a group of local children playing football (soccer) in front of a house near the community building, I had to join them. It was quite fun, but I have to say that the kid with the number 7 shirt (see picture below) gave me a hard time. I think he has the potential to be a future football star if discovered by a club.

Playing football with the commune’s star # 7 and other local children

After replenishing a bit of energy, all had been organized to distribute the dozens of bags of food that had been prepared for the most needed families in the village. Each bag included the basics, such as rice, oil, instant noodles, fish sauce, and other essentials. Also, there had been a lot of clothing that had been donated to these families. On our side, we had come up with the idea of buying one notebook, a pencil, and an eraser for up to 120 children. We had purchased the mentioned in an office store in Ho Chi Min City and as we had mentioned to them that our purchase was for charity purposes, they had helped us our with a discount and had gladly offered to individually package them for each child.

Food bags for the locals

After distributing all the donations, we had the opportunity to share time with them at a local bonfire, where we also distributed a lantern for each young child (due to the upcoming Mid Autumn Festival), a moon cake, and more notebooks and school supplies. The huge fire had lit up the entire area as the kids enjoyed some activities and we distributed the mentioned. By eight o’clock and after all the gifts had been given out, an unexpected rain began to fall and everyone slowly made their way back to their homes. Perhaps the activities could have continued without the rain. We had returned to the community home that had been our sleeping area for the night for a group dinner until late hours of the night.

Commune officials calling for the families that received a ticket to claim their donations

The next morning, we had ventured out to walk around the village, take pictures, and just enjoy observing the everyday quiet life of the locals. We loved the peace around us and the many smiles and hand waves we had been given by the locals. Soon after we had jumped back in the van on our way back to Ho Chi Min City. We had not slept much for the past 24 hours, but being there to help and in exchange receiving so many thanks for our labor, along with a simple smile had filled our hearts with joy, a very rewarding miracle that made us feel good about our deeds.

Keep traveling, keep learning!

Volunteer assisting locals

If you are interested in joining this great cause on one of their future trips, please contact Ms. Tiếp Nguyễn on her volunteer group TỪ THIỆN TRÁI TIM VIỆT NAM (VIETNAM HEART CHARITY) on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/369939963211972/?ref=share

If you would like to purchase notebooks or any school supplies for donations, visit the Văn Phòng Phẩm 238 office supplies store: https://www.facebook.com/vanphongpham238

The following day taking pictures with local children

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Preparing the Mid Autumn lanterns for young children

El milagro de ayudar a los necesitados en la provincia de Đắk Lắk, Vietnam.

En una publicación reciente en un grupo de Facebook en la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, vimos una publicación de uno de sus miembros (Tiếp Nguyễn) en la que solicitaba ayuda voluntaria y donaciones para un próximo viaje a la provincia interior de Dak Lak, Vietnam. La publicación nos llamó la atención ya que teníamos interés en unir fuerzas con un grupo de voluntarios durante estos tiempos inciertos. Además, nunca habíamos visitado la provincia de Đắk Lắk. 

Volunteer stylists providing free haircuts to children and adults

En la publicación mencionada, sabíamos que el viaje sería bastante agotador, ya que teníamos que viajar siete horas desde la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh (Saigón) hasta la villa de Ea R’Bin. La buena noticia fue que podíamos elegir conducir nuestra propia motocicleta o viajar en una camioneta por una tarifa de 360.000 dong vietnamitas por persona (USD $ 15.00) por el viaje de ida y vuelta, sin preocuparnos por el tráfico, el cansancio ​​y el estrés. Debido a que nuestra motocicleta no es nueva y nos ha dado muchos problemas mecánicos, además de 14 horas a bordo de ella en dos días era mucho para nosotros, decidimos tomar la camioneta.

Local children from the commune of Ea R’Bin

Como había sido planeado, nos reunimos a las 3: 45 am el sábado 12 de septiembre con otros 10 voluntarios y salimos alrededor de las 4:15 am desde la ciudad de Ho Chi Min (Saigón) hacia nuestro destino. Durante el viaje tuvimos la oportunidad de parar a desayunar y almorzar en grupo, donde pudimos relacionarnos con los demás voluntarios. Éramos los únicos extranjeros en el grupo, pero eso no nos importó y nos sentimos bastante bienvenidos por la mayoría de los otros miembros.

A cute grandma waiting for her ride back home

Llegamos al pueblo de Ea R’Bin alrededor de las 3:00 pm y después de tomar un pequeño descanso, vi a un grupo de niños locales jugando al fútbol frente a una casa cerca del edificio de la comunidad; tuve que unirme a ellos. Fue bastante divertido, pero tengo que decir que ese chico con la camiseta número 7 (ver foto) me dio una batalla increíble. Creo que este chico tiene el potencial de convertirse en una futura estrella del fútbol si lo llega a descubrir algún club.

Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin

Después de reponer un poco de energía, todo estaba organizado para distribuir las decenas de bolsas de comida que se habían preparado para las familias mas necesitadas de la comuna. Cada bolsa incluía lo básico, como arroz, aceite, fideos instantáneos, salsa de pescado y otros elementos esenciales. Además, se había donado mucha ropa a estas familias. Por nuestra parte, se nos ocurrió la idea de comprar un cuaderno, un lápiz y una goma de borrar para 120 niños de la comuna. Habíamos comprado estos en una tienda de oficinas en la ciudad de Ho Chi Minh y, como les habíamos mencionado que nuestra compra era para fines benéficos, nos ayudaron con un descuento y con mucho gusto se ofrecieron a empaquetarlos individualmente para cada niño.

Life in the commune of Ea R’Bin

Después de distribuir todas las donaciones, tuvimos la oportunidad de compartir tiempo con ellos en una hoguera local, donde también distribuimos una lámpara de juguete para cada niño pequeño (debido al próximo Festival del Medio Otoño), un pastel de luna y más cuadernos y suministros escolares. El enorme fuego había iluminado toda el área mientras los niños disfrutaban de algunas actividades y recibían mas regalos. A las ocho en punto y después de que se repartieron todos los regalos, una lluvia inesperada comenzó a caer y todos regresaron lentamente a sus hogares. Quizás las actividades podrían haber continuado sin la lluvia. Habíamos regresado a la casa comunitaria que seria donde dormiríamos después de una cena grupal hasta altas horas de la noche.

Grandmother and mother with twin babies in Ea R’Bin

A la mañana siguiente, nos habíamos aventurado a caminar por el pueblo, tomar fotografías y simplemente disfrutar observando la tranquila vida cotidiana de los lugareños en la villa de Ea R’Bin. Nos encantó la paz que nos rodeaba y las muchas sonrisas y saludos de los lugareños. Poco después, subimos a la camioneta de regreso a la ciudad de Ho Chi Min. No habíamos dormido mucho durante las últimas 24 horas, pero estar ahí para ayudar y recibir a cambio tantas gracias por nuestro trabajo junto con una simple sonrisa había llenado nuestros corazones de alegría; este había sido un milagro muy enriquecedor que nos hizo sentir muy bien con nuestras obras.

¡Sigue viajando, sigue aprendiendo!

A shy boy in the commune of Ea R’Bin

Si está interesado en unirse a esta gran causa en uno de sus viajes futuros, comuníquese con la Sra. Tiếp Nguyễn en su grupo de voluntarios TỪ THIỆN TRÁI TIM VIỆT NAM (VIETNAM HEART CHARITY) en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/369939963211972/?ref=share

Si desea comprar cuadernos o cualquier material escolar para donaciones, visite la tienda de material de oficina Văn Phòng Phẩm 238: https://www.facebook.com/vanphongpham238


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School supplies for the children in Ea R’Bin
A local store in Ea R’Bin
Handing out one notebook, pencil and eraser to children in Ea R’Bin
A football star in the making at the commune of Ea R’Bin
A view from the commune of Ea R’Bin
Life in Ea R’Bin
A local family in the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Enjoying a game with kids in the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Distributing moon cakes to children (photo by Hoai An)
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
Dirt road in the commune of Ea R’Bin
Faces of the commune of Ea R’Bin
A suspended bridge in the commune of Ea R’Bin
Morning fog
Say cheese!
Life in the commune of Ea R’Bin
Night bonfire (photo by Hoai An)
Children with their school supplies (photo by Hoai An)
Distributing school supplies to children (photo by Hoai An)
Evening activity with local children (photo by Hoai An)
A local receiving food donations (photo by Hoai An)
Grandma and her grandchild
Not happy about his new hairstyle
Girl getting a free haircut from a local volunteer
Off to work
Some of the volunteers (photo by Hoai An)
A photo with people receiving food donations (photo by Hoai An)
Distributing moon cakes to children (photo by Hoai An)
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