Blue Dragon, a grassroots Australian charity working with kids in crisis throughout Vietnam, is calling for more donations to open two new centres for the rising number of children coming to them for help.
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| Kids playing in Blue Dragon's drop-in centre. |
So many kids are coming to them for assistance that their space is just too small. The only way to help more children now is to close the current centre and open two new spaces in two locations.
The first new centre, The Dragon’s Eye, is a 7-floor building which will be used as a headquarters, for classrooms, a large play space, an eating area and dormitories that can house 18 children. They have found a building to rent on a 10 year lease and are preparing to renovate and furnish it, with hopes of moving in this September.
The second new centre is House 52, which they are currently using for accommodation and parking. It will be converted to include a drop-in centre for children aged 6-12 and semi-independent accommodation for 16 teenagers.
James Murdoch, Blue Dragon's Communications Manager says that these two new centres will enable them to provide comfortable space for over 160 children per day to visit them, accommodation for 34 children and teens, and an increase in the range of services they offer.
In order to get both new centres up and running they will need $150,000 before August. Currently they have received $109,960, but extra funds will be needed for their plans.
Operating in Vietnam since 2004, Blue Dragon has helped support many children in need throughout the country through a variety of projects. Their achievements include sending 2,398 kids back to school or training, providing accommodation to 114 girls and boys, serving 268,220 meals as well as building or repairing 52 homes for families.
For more information about this and other projects being carried out by Blue Dragon, visit their site at: www.streetkidsinvietnam.com.
