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7 September 2015

Friends of the Underprivileged (FOU) members and supporters traveled at our own expense to remote areas in Vietnam last June. We assessed current educational, social, and health-care projects, as well as evaluated new projects to benefit the underprivileged. We also extended our support to typhoon victims in the Philippines, and underprivileged workers in Malaysia.

FOU appreciate the sincere support from educational institutes. United World College of Southeast Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore provided scholarships to K-12 students and selected college students in our pilot program. Students from UWCSEA also raised funds though an art exhibition and finished their spring break projects working with children in DiLinh leprosy community (Fig. 1). From half way around the globe, students and teachers from Cardinal Newman High School (CNHS) in California also worked with the DiLinh project. The CNHS group not only raised funds for scholarships but also brightened the New Year at DiLinh by distributing gifts to all patients and playing with the kids at this community (Fig. 2).

Supporting underprivileged students through education is the main focus of FOU. We provided 329 scholarships to underprivileged students last year. We visited DiLinh to celebrate the success of our scholarship program at this site and distributed gifts to the patients (Figs. 3 and 4). Nearly 40% of scholarship recipients received honor certificates last year and three students completed their college degrees. At another leprosy community in Ben San, we awarded the outstanding students and discussed with the Sisters how to effectively expand the program to other poor children in the region (Figs. 5 and 6). At Bu Dang and Long Dien in Binh Phuoc province, we visited some tribes and opened a new library for the minority students. FOU donated five new computers with voltage stabilizers, textbooks and reference books, a multi-system DVD player and a large monitor, and various educational videos and software (Figs. 7-10). The library is to fulfill the pressing needs of those Montagnard students who have no computer and books to learn and keep up with their school work. We also started the nutrition programs at these sites in late 2014 (Fig. 11). Due to the overwhelming success, we donated additional funds for weekly milk to the growing children at these dormitories where the Catholic Sisters have been struggling to provide free room and board to poor minority students. Our group then visited the Nhan Ai center where AIDS patients are being treated. We cheered the terminally ill patients by spending time listening /talking to them, attending Mass and praying with them, and offering favorite foods that they normally don't receive. We shadowed the care-giving Sisters and helped to feed those patients who were too ill to help themselves (Fig. 12).

Many of our relief efforts and long-term projects were to support the Montagnards in DaTong. We supplied medicine throughout the year for free distribution by Catholic Sisters who have professional qualification and experiences. While monitoring conditions of eight water systems that FOU sponsored two years ago, we distributed 600 pairs of slippers to bare footed children, and cheered them with donated clothes, candies, and toys. We also supported summer classes where minority college students volunteered to help children and teach adults in literacy classes at their own tribes. We then provided school supplies and gifts to all teachers and students (Figs. 13-18) before leaving DaTong. At the coastal town Phan Rang, we spent quality time with handicapped and minority children. We pledged scholarships to the minority students and hearing devices to deaf students at this site (Figs. 19-22). At the leprosy clinic in Quy Hoa, we distributed 145 nutritious packages to the elders and patients (Figs 23-24), then donated five wheelchairs to DongTam handicapped center in Quy Nhon (Fig. 25), and then distributed gifts to children at the Tam Duc orphanage in Saigon. FOU also help underprivileged people elsewhere. Financial support was rushed to a Vietnamese laborer who lost his right hand in an industrial accident in Malaysia, but received no support from his employer (Fig. 26). After the devastating typhoon Haiyan hitting Philippines, FOU sent relieving fund to the victims though World Renew in late 2013. FOU has been following up on our current projects while carefully evaluating new projects to maximize the donation impact. On behalf of all the underprivileged, we would like to thank all sponsors and supporters for your trust and tireless support.

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Fig. 1: Students from United World College with children of lepers during project weeks

in 2014 (left) and 2015 (right). DiLinh.

Fig. 2: Mr. Scharfen (*), colleagues and students from Cardinal Newman High School with

children of lepers on new year days in 2014 and 2015. DiLinh.

Fig. 3: Mr. Hung (*) congratulates the outstanding students.

DiLinh.

Fig. 4: Khoa (*) distributes gifts to lepers.

DiLinh.

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Fig. 5: FOU scholarship recipients and their honor certificates.

Ben San.

Fig. 6: Tuan with his honor certificate

and family. Ben San.

Fig. 7: Smiley children and their new toys.

Phuoc Binh.

Fig. 8: May-Thu (*) and some minority students in donated

uniform. Phuoc Binh.

Fig. 9: Minority students at the new FOU-funded library. Phuoc Binh.

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Fig. 10: Students enjoying new facility and resources at their library. Phuoc Binh.

Fig. 11: Children thanks their sponsors at their first milk sessions

in Long Dien (left) and Bu Dang (right)

Fig. 12: Khoa (*) and May-Thu (+) feed patients at Nhan Ai AIDS hospital. Binh Phuoc.

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Fig. 13: May-Thu and Khoa entertain and give toys/ slippers to barefooted children. Da Tong.

Fig. 14: May-Thu helps to distribute free medicine to

minority patients. Da Tong.

Fig. 15: Khoa makes friends with curious kids.

Da Tong.

Fig. 16: Children participating in a game. Da Tong.

Fig. 17: An FOU-funded water system. Da Tong.

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Fig. 18: Few among FOU-funded water systems. Da Tong.

Fig. 19: Minority kids enjoying their new toys.

Phan Rang.

Fig. 20: A light moment of May-Thu and minority children.

Phan Rang.

Fig. 21: Special children enjoying their toys and ice-cream

treat on a hot summer day. Phan Rang.

Fig. 22: Sister Nga (*) and some minority kids.

Phan Rang.

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Fig. 23: My-Anh (*) and the appreciative lepers. Quy Hoa.

Fig. 24: Sister Khanh (*) and Mr. Tien (+) with a patient.

Quy Hoa.

Fig. 25: Donated wheelchairs at Dong Tam

handicapped center. Quy Nhon.

Fig. 26a: Mr. Loc lost his hand in an

industrial accident. Malaysia.

Fig. 26b: Mr. Loc (*) with the FOU representative Ms. Chau (+).

Malaysia.

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+ *

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT We sincerely thank the following groups on behalf of all the underprivileged in Vietnam:

- The Vietnamese community in Singapore - Empowered Children of Vietnam, United World College

of Southeast Asia, Singapore - Linklaters Pte. Ltd., Singapore - OPV Pharmaceutical, Vietnam - Surya Inc., Indonesia and USA - El Paso Energy Corp., Texas, USA - ExxonMobil Foundation, USA - Chevron, Texas, USA - Sonoma Vietnamese Association, California, USA

- Cardinal Newman High School, California, USA - Bừng Sống group, Texas, USA - Capital Group Charitable Foundation, USA - Houston Baptist High School, Texas, USA - Hewlett Packard Corp., Texas, USA - Penn Virginia Corp., Texas, USA - Second Baptist Church, Texas, USA - Luance LLC, Texas, USA - JustLNC LLC, Texas, USA

FOU supporters in 2014 and 2015

- Dieu Anh & Lam Nguyen, Vu tien Vy, Bich Thuy & Charles Vo, Michael & July Thu Nguyen, Kim Chau & Han Vo

Ta. - Luis & Gloria SanAndres, Ching King Chieng & Jason & Barney Maier, Tammy Ha, John Thacker, Amanda

Borg. - Hanifar Maricar & Minh Dieu Nguyen, Minh Dieu’s mother, Nguyen An, Nguyen Y, Van Du Nguyen, Sheila Tran,

Ngoc Dieu Vo, Hien Truong CPA. - Hung Minh Dinh & Nguyet Thuyen Vu, David Dinh, Ryan Dinh, Thomas & Hoang Yen Pham, Thanh Ostheimer,

William Heyman, Victoria Heyman Timothy & Thuy Tran Griesser. - Tuong & Vang Nguyen, Hoang & Tu Anh Nguyen, Khanh S. Hoang & Thuy T. Do, Xuan Lan Manson, Alexandra

Manson, Edwin Manson, Kim Huyen Nguyen, To Loan Vu. - Christine Phuong Ha Nguyen, David Starkey & Cam-Sa Do-Thi, Thang Dao & Thu Ha Hoang, Van Bich Dao &

Quoc Vinh Tran, Quang & Trang Nguyen, Hung Ngoc Nguyen, Cuong & Sam Nguyen, Quoc Hung Tran, Tuyet Bach Nguyen, Dan & May Thu & Lien Ha, Trish Bui, Thuy Nhat & Tuong Bui, Kim Khanh Dao, Dennis Ke & Jennifer Ly, Trang Shawn Nguyen, Byron Nicholas, Dien Nguyen & Trang Bui, Hong Mai Nguyen, Anonymous person, Thuy Tran, Lan Tran, Quy & Thu Hong Dang.

- Le & Thanh Dan, Kim Chi Sides, Long & Nho Vo, Hung-Viet Truong-Cao & My-Hiep Thi Tran, Liem & Lisa Nguyen, Huong Nghiem & Hung Tran, Deana Dam Trang Nguyen, Kim Phuong Le, Hong Nhung Le, Anonymous person, Khoi & Linh Tran, Dr Phung Dinh Nguyen & Thuy Thanh Tran, Kim Chau Phan, Thu Van & Hung Nguyen, Thanh Nguyen, Thanh Tung Le, Thao Vu, Luong Nguyen, Hai & Jacqueline, Tim Luong.

- Tuong & Nhung Do, Quy & Danh Nguyen, Vivien Thao Nguyen, Tuan & Nhan Pham, Tu & Phu Nguyen. - Ly & Chu Nguyen, Mai Nguyen, Dam Nguyen & Robert Huck, Kim-Bao & Dien Duong, Cam Van & Quyen

Nguyen, Minh & Tuong Van Pham, Terry Che, Xuan Hong & Phuc Nguyen, Nhu Mai Tran, Van Dong & Dang, Hiep & Anna, Thuy Nguyen.

- Harry & Kim Chi Le, Kim & Thuy Le, Tim & Lan Zinsky, Cau Tran, Kim Thinh Ha, Toan Ha, Nam Ha, Henley Ha, Robert Le, Andrea Le.