December
2005
Taking
on plight of Vietnamese families: Locally based group helps children go
to school, get life-saving medical procedures
By Erika
Wittekind
Staff Writer
Just
a few weeks ago, Annetta De Vet was working out of her cramped home/office
in the capitol of Vietnam, overseeing everything from the distribution
of rice to malnourished families to arranging heart surgeries for dying
children.
The 28-year-old Prior Lake High School graduate returned Nov. 14 to her
hometown for a few months respite before going back to the land that has
claimed her family's attention for the past four years. She serves as
vice president of Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSVC),
a nonprofit organization created by her and her father Chuck in 2001.
It wasn't
what she planned to do, but has been grateful for the opportunity. "I
really, really enjoy the children and seeing the impact we have,"
she said.
Chuck first took Annetta to Vietnam shortly after she graduated from college
with a degree in broadcasting. Little did she know, her dad had much more
in mind than a father-daughter vacation, wanting to find out what he could
do for disadvantaged children abroad.
Chuck was in the reserves during the Vietnam War and had friends involved
in the fighting, so he felt personally connected to the country, Annetta
explained. He also always has had an interest in helping international
children; their family has adopted children from China, Colombia and El
Salvador.
"When I decided to do this, I decided I wanted to look at Vietnam,"
Chuck said. "The first time we were there, people were absolutely
wonderful. The need is overwhelming. I've wanted to do this for maybe
30 years."
With his children mostly grown and nearing retirement, Chuck was looking
for something more he could do. After another exploratory trip, the De
Vets incorporated HSVC at the end of 2001.
Since then, the organization has grown each year, now a broad range of
assistance to families and children in need. Annetta spent a few months
there in 2002 and 2003, returned for six months in 2004, and stayed for
nine months during the latest trip. Chuck also has been joining her for
a few months out of each year.
While Chuck officially runs the nonprofit, Annetta oversees the day-to-day
operations in Hanoi, Vietnam. In the past two years, she has hired two
Vietnamese employees to help her and also has another Minnesotan, Corey
Christianson, working as a volunteer.
Vietnam is experiencing an economic boom right now, but none of the wealth
has trickled down to the stagnant lower class, Annetta explained. Many
families there have difficulty affording the basic necessities of food
and clothing. For example, many kids can't afford shoes, so they walk
to school barefoot in temperatures ranging from 40 degrees in the winter
to 100 degrees in the summer.
The group provides food, clothing, shelter, schooling and medical attention
to help families get out of poverty.
"It's not designed to be a welfare state," Annetta said. "It's
designed to help people help themselves. … We try to do a lot of
prevention and find the solution at the root of the problem."
A big part of that equation is education, but in addition to giving 70
students scholarships to attend school so far, the organization helps
those children succeed. HSCV provides bicycles so children don't have
to walk several miles to school in the heat, arriving exhausted, and food
so they're not trying to learn while hungry. The organization provides
rice on a monthly basis to more than 90 families.
"A full belly helps them to learn," Annetta said. "It's
all intertwined."
This fall, HSCV completed its first "compassion home," for a
family of nine that had been living on a boat. In Vietnam, children cannot
attend school without birth certificates, and they cannot obtain birth
certificates without an address. The house was sponsored by Roxane and
Gail Svoboda of Prior Lake. The family also received two bicycles to ride
to school.
"Now four of their children are able to go to school this year because
of HSCV's efforts," Annetta said.
HSCV also has sponsored 17 heart surgeries, at a cost of $2,200 to $2,800
per child, and many orthopedic surgeries, at a cost of about $250. In
2006, the program hopes to have 100 surgeries take place.
"These are life-changing, life-saving surgeries," De Vet said.
"Unfortunately, it's an expensive program. It's a big chunk of the
budget."
While at home, De Vet will focus on fund-raising and spreading awareness,
speaking to church and youth groups and anyone else who wants to hear
about the organization's work. She said people are drawn to it because
of its grass-roots nature and personal touch, that she can actually show
people how their contributions will benefit their recipients.
For example, $35 sends a child to school for a year and $100 buys a year's
supply of rice for a family. Someone can sponsor a life-changing surgery
for $250 or build a new home for $1,400.
Through the sponsorship program, donors can develop a direct relationship
with a Vietnamese child, choosing how their money is allocated. The sponsor
receives a profile and photo of the child, and the pair are invited to
exchange letters, which are translated by HSCV employees.
The group also looks for sister schools to exchange letters and raise
money for Vietnamese schools. The money is used to purchase supplies like
blackboards, notebooks and copy machines. In past years, local schools
including Pond's Edge, St. Michael's, WestWood, Grainwood and Prior Lake
High School have participated.
"We ask schools what they're looking for, and then approve it,"
Annetta said. "We want to make sure the children are directly benefited."
While the organization has been growing, Annetta said she enjoys the small,
personal feeling it has now. She pointed out that not many nonprofits
have their vice presidents meeting with clients face to face, signing
them up for scholarships or rice distribution.
While it's exhausting, stressful work, the little things – like
the look on a child's face after receiving a bicycle – make it worthwhile
for her.
"I like that because we meet the children directly," she said.
"I can make decisions based on my direct knowledge of the situation
and not my preconceived notions."
Erika
Wittekind can be reached at ewittekind@swpub.com.
Reader
Comments
Posted:
Monday, December 05, 2005
Article comment by: Norm and Joan Erickson
True
happiness is in giving. Congratulations to Chuck and Annetta for their
belief in being a helping hand to a very needy cause. Commitment and dedication
to the fullest measure.
Posted:
Monday, December 05, 2005
Article comment by: Hau
Hey Kitty,
having known what you have been doing here, but reading this, feel so
proud of you. Cant wait to have you back in Hanoi. The children miss you,
HSCV miss you, Nga miss you and I miss you. Love.
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