Making a change gives orphans joy

Therese and Mark are helping bring a smile to the kids at the Red Cross orphanage.

TWO Coolum locals are working hard to change the lives of nearly 200 orphans and disabled children living at the Red Cross home in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Therese Higgins and Mark Witt volunteered to teach English at the orphanage through Global Volunteers, and after a month, have decided they want to do even more.

The pair have committed to staying longer and raising funds for more toilets and a soccer field for playtime.

“We were supposed to move on, and I am sure volunteers are needed everywhere, but Vietnam is where we are needed right now,” Therese said.

“Being here really opens your eyes to how tough these kids have it and the ratio of one sub-standard toilet for 200 children has been the most confronting for us.

“I really feel that it has been a huge uplift for me to know that I can make a change like this.

“Just recently, one of the boys held my hand and said thank you, and I could feel how huge that thank you was.”

Mark is a member of the popular Caf team in Coolum.

He said the children’s positive attitude and love for life despite their living conditions and disabilities was inspirational.

“To see these kids kick a soccer ball around on a tiny, broken concrete slab and to love it more than anything has certainly reminded Therese and I of how good we have it in Australia,” he said.

“It would be fantastic to make their lives just a bit more comfortable and I am sure we can make it happen.”

Therese said they hoped Sunshine Coast residents would dig deep and support their efforts in Vietnam.

“We want fellow Sunshine Coasters to rally with us and make a donation, no matter how small, to help us raise the $4200 we need to put in a new boys and girls’ bathroom and soccer field,” she said.

“This would change the lives of so many children who will use this Red Cross facility.”

Therese is a St John’s High School Nambour graduate and works at Bulli in Marcoola and Le Bon Delice in Peregian.

She said the money she took with her to Vietnam, in mid-March, covered the cost of nappies and food for the children for two months.

“I raised $900 to take with me when I first started this venture,” she said.

“I also took over some teaching tools, games, blankets, clothes and basic first-aid goods.

"The kids loved them,” she said.

Executive director of the Global Volunteer Network in Vietnam, Dang Van Quoc Viet, said the contributions made by dedicated people like Therese and Mark, and those who supported the project from Australia, were much appreciated.

“It is great that Therese and Mark want to see this project through to the end.”

To find out more visit www.theresehigginsvolunteer.blogspot.com or donate at www.gvnfoundation.org.