Here, the children laid a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh and celebrated the start of a fresh academic year.
White Ao Dai for Orphaned Children
In Ho Chi Minh City, seven special shelters are sponsored by the HCMC Charity Women’s Association. Run by retired officials, these shelters have cared for more than 2,100 children, of whom 800 have grown up and started independent lives. Many of these children once had to fend for themselves by collecting scrap, carrying goods, or selling lottery tickets. However, when they were welcomed into the shelters, they found a big family where they were loved and protected. They were also given the chance to attend school, learn new things and play with friends, enabling them to regain the innocent childhood they thought had been lost.
In the September episode, the Kindness Bus delivered special gifts to 30 outstanding students representing the seven shelters. Dressed in their elegant white ao dai outfits, the children spent an unforgettable day with the Kindness Bus team.
At Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, the children, together with their caretakers and editor Ba Thang, made a floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh. This symbolic act taught the children to be grateful to the nation’s great leader and encouraged them to strive to be good students and worthy grandchildren of Uncle Ho in the new school year.
The pristine white ao dai gifted today were presents from the Kindness Bus for the new school year. Alongside the 30 children, the “Zero-cost Ao Dai” shop founded by sisters Doan Thi Nguyet and Doan Truc Linh also donated more than 100 additional ao dai to the children at the seven shelters. “This is the first time I’ve ever worn an ao dai. I feel so happy and blessed”, shared one schoolgirl from a shelter.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue, President of the HCMC Charity Women’s Association, found it both joyful and emotional to see her “children and grandchildren” in ao dai. “Usually, we just buy school uniforms or simple clothes for the children. They rarely have ao dai. Today, seeing them in these beautiful white ao dai has moved me much”, she said.
A Special Musical Journey
To mark the start of the new school year, the Kindness Bus took the children and their grandmothers and mothers on a special double-decker bus tour of Ho Chi Minh City. Along the way, they enjoyed a unique music party featuring the sweet vocals of singer Mer and guitarist Truong Hoan.
“Please give love to strangers across the world. Trees shelter birds, staying still so they can rest. Let us love without calculation...”
The pure lyrics of the viral song “Tam” were Mer’s heartfelt gift to the special audience of the day.
Participating in the Kindness Bus for the first time, Mer said: “This is a very special stage for me. I feel so happy sharing joy with the children. I hope they, along with their teachers and carers , will always be happy, peaceful, and healthy”.
The September Kindness Bus concluded with the students receiving new school supplies. It is community love and sharing that these children will carry with them as they step confidently into the new school year, filled with joy and determination.
The Kindness Bus, sponsored by THACO - Truong Hai Auto Corporation, will be broadcast in this month’s Kind Deeds program and on the Kind Deeds Fanpage. Please stay tuned!
