“Autumn, autumn,
The scent of new books
The voices in the school-year opening ceremony
Bright like the autumn…”

   The hummed lyric brought back so many memories of the exciting childhood when we went to school.  Autumn was coming! Another new school-year was coming very close; however, all of the HIV-infected children at the Hope-Orphanage had no school supplies yet.

    Our volunteers brought 40 new school-bags, 150 notebooks, 40 fountain-pens, 144 pencils, correction-pens, pencil-leads, chalks, rulers, textbooks, various clothes and toys to the children by bus. There had been 15 boxes full of school supplies, gifts and the affection of all members of our H4T Association. We hope that all of the children will try their best to study well.

    On Sunday morning July 24^th November, 16 volunteers from H4T Association set off with sheer enthusiasm. In this trip, Linh and her younger brother volunteered to carry 5 boxes by motorbike to Center 2, so that the 16-seat van could have enough space to carry everone and all the gifts.

   Everyone seemed to get closer beside the boxes of gifts. The delight appeared in the volunteer’s faces: from Mrs. Ninh, Mrs. Thoa – Thuy’s mother, Mr. Hung, Nguyet, Phuc, Dieu Linh, Phuong. Hanh, Binh, Thuy to new faces Trang, Mai Anh, Manh, Hung, Ngoc, Linh and Khanh Chi. Trang joined the H4T Association as a volunteer after this trip.

   Everything was flooded with shining sunlight; the sky was blue; the sudden rain made the atmosphere cool down. Arriving in the Hope Orphanage at 9 am, we were welcomed by the Center staff like relatives.

   In this small hall, the children gave cheerfully great performances for us. There were hip-hop-dancing and singing performances, which were so beautiful and touching. Every child receives a gift-pack. It was so wonderful to watch the children receiving their gifts eagerly.

   After that, our volunteer-group visited the smaller children and gave them gifts, toys and diapers. Currently there are seven babies in the orphanage. They were so tiny and cute. After playing with them for a while, our group had to say goodbye to them.

   Goodbye babies and children, see you soon on occasion of our next visit. We hope all of you will study well and live happily. Autumn is coming. Autumn is so bright and so you are too.

   “Autumn, autumn,
When dreams are built…”

Volunteer of H4T-association
Nguyet Nguyen