Vietnam volunteers support local orphans
During the Tet holidays - the Vietnamese New Year - our Fonterra Brands Vietnam team visited a girls’ home, bringing cakes specially prepared by the Anchor Food Professionals chefs and checking in on the girls’ needs.
This is part of our ongoing initiative where we’ve been providing two glasses of Anchor milk each day to orphan girls aged from five who live in the Ba Chieu home in Ho Chi Minh City.
People from our Vietnam team regularly volunteer their time during holidays such as New Year, Children’s Day and Mid-autumn Festival to spend time with the girls, providing them with cooking classes or inviting them to join their families at the water puppet theatre – a famous landmark in the city.
General Manager Arnaud Renard says Fonterra Brands Vietnam is committed to the long-term well-being of the girls in the Ba Chieu home.
“It has been a privilege to contribute to these girls’ nutrition and education and we hope to continue making a difference in their lives.
“The girls stay in the home until they graduate vocational school or college, so we have been working with the home’s teachers to see how we can help with their education. Every year, we raise funds amongst staff to contribute a part of their school fees and help to improve furniture around the house, but we’re also helping them get access to English lessons and providing employment opportunities where possible, such as store nutrition advisors,” says Arnaud.
It has been a privilege to contribute to these girls’ nutrition and education and we hope to continue making a difference in their lives.
Ba Chieu home has long had ties with New Zealand businesses and people, and was originally started and financially supported by previous Consul General and Trade Commissioner to Vietnam Celia Caughey.