ANNUAL UPDATE 2014

from

MAI TAM HOUSE OF HOPE

 MAI TAM HOUSE OF HOPE

ACHIEVES ZERO MORTALITY IN 2014.

A GREAT RESULT!!

By the end of 2014 there were 76 children living at Mai Tam House of Hope, including 66 infected with HIV/AIDS and 10 'affected', i.e. a family member is HIV/AIDS positive; and there were 22 HIV/AIDS positive widowed mothers.

Additionally there are 275 HIV/AIDS positive children in the community, receiving appropriate Mai Tam care (breakfast and milk, free school, learning tools, hospital fees as needed). These children receive their medications directly from the public health service. Three new children entered the program in 2014. The total number of persons receiving care and services is 373.

To accommodate the different needs for growth and development of the children reaching puberty, a separate residence was established with individual rooms for the young adolescents to live in and care for themselves independently under the full time supervision of a female Mai Tam staff member. Currently, there are 8 children living in this residence. Having the opportunity to take care of themselves is a first step for developing skills for an independent life. In 2014 one adolescent left to attend the first year of medical school, and one adolescent was able to work independently in the work place.

The Mai Tam Sewing Center is where job opportunities are created, and accommodation provided for 12 widowed mothers and their children. Having a job has given them confidence to achieve a better life. At the sewing center, all mothers and children are provided with complete medical care including medicines, treatment, and the opportunity to be gainfully employed. Revenue from Mai Tam Sewing Center is critical in ensuring all the widowed mothers have some income to take care of themselves with some independence.

The education provided at Mai Tam is based on a foundation of love and sympathy. There is a nursery room for 20 infants, and kindergarten classes for young children. These classes are conducted by our volunteers who are brothers and sisters at local churches and who have been with us for a long time. For those children of school age, there are 56 attending public schools in the district. There are 4 children attending classes at the Charity Center as they have passed the age to go to public schools.

Keeping to the academic program at public school for 9 months can be a challenge for some children, as the the side effects of the medicines often have a negative impact on their ability to memorize or focus on their studies.

All 66 infected children at the Mai Tam House are take antiretroviral drugs (ARV), sponsored and paid for by CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta Georgia USA). This program sponsorship will come to an end in the next couple of years.

With the increasing needs to support and care for the 76 residential children and 22 mothers living at Mai Tam shelter as well as 275 children in the community, the operational cost--which amounts to some $US 170,000 annually--is a great challenge for the management of Mai Tam.

Education is especially important for these children; after they return from school there are additional teacher volunteers to help them with homework. There are several support staff to help daily--5 for education, 2 for social work, 3 for the nursery, and 2 sisters working in administration. Additionally, there are occasional visits by 2 Camillian priests and some Camillian brothers who come to Mai Tam to work in the summer or when they have the free time.

Years 2015-2016 provide a new challenge, – the construction of a new home for Mai Tam to assure the best possible care can be provided in this setting. The projected costs are some US $300,000. These funds need to be generated through some large fundraisers as well as local generous Vietnamese.

In 2014, this web site was able to transfer US $24,563.00 through online donations and Boston fund raisers.

CONSIDER DONATING NOW ON THE DONATE PAGE!!

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NEW ARRIVAL 2015