I don’t use THCB much to point out what good we all can do—I keep that for my year-end letter—but my favorite charity (Saigon’s Childrens Charity) is at its financial year end and just sent me the reports for the kids I support. I’ve asked people who want to talk to me in the past to “buy a kid a bike.” And as it’s late on a Friday and I’m about to go out and take my wife to dinner, I thought you might all think about alternate uses for the $100 I’m about to spend (Yes, she’s a cheap date). Here’s what $100 buys for a very, very poor kid in Vietnam (and because of the recession donations are off this year, so they need more help).
Every child receives:
- 10 kilos of rice per month during the school year. In the academic school year 2008-2009, the scholarship programme provided 278 tonnes of rice.
- All text and exercise books and pens needed for the year
- A school uniform
- Extra aid in case of emergency or special needs:
- Assistive Devices: glasses, hearing aids, supportive devices
- Bicycles: for students living more than 5km from their school
- Tuition Fee/Reference Books: payment for extra lessons or training for students who need additional support
- School Fees: provided for children in particularly difficult circumstances
- Health Care: health and nutritional support including general health, eye and ear examination and treatment, dental care, health insurance, etc.
- Emergency/Relief support: assistance provided in cases where the child or their family has a sudden or major accident including the death of a mother or father, a house fire, traffic or work accident, natural calamity (flooding, hurricane), etc.
And with the ability to go to school they have a shot at breaking out of the cycle of poverty their parents are trapped in.
No preaching from me, but the web site is here if you want to find out more or donate.
Categories: Matthew Holt
to diaperstain,
Are you paying for 100% of the medical services you and your family receive or are you paying co-pay thru a medical plan you have?
man life was given to us all, but through our disbelief in god and our fear of death, we have come to this mess, I so not believe I am responsible for the life of any other, if I choose to be responsible, then it is a choice, to mandate this choice is wrong, the people mandating this choice are very rich and insurance is not even a concern for them, the problem is greed and profit, and greed, (sounded so nice said it twice), yes I have children, and I have taught them that life is in the hands of the lord, If I go to a doctor, I am the one who is paying, I am buying their service, they do nothing without my understanding of the matter at hand, I am in control, but I must admit, I find myself at a crossroad, as to how we as a race of intelligent, caring , beings , would prosper off of another ones ill health, that is what it comes down to, profit from fear, and to have a government that by definition is here for the protection of its people, would mandate its people to pay into a system of greed and deceit. I too will soon die, yes I am scared, but I will deny this system, and take my death as I received my life.
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis THIS YEAR. My injections cost over $2000 MONTHLY. Now that I have a PRE-EXISTING CONDITION, – will you, the PROTESTERS, PAY for the medicine I will NEED for the REST OF MY LIFE if I want to further my career at a different company?!!
Private insurance penalizes those with chronic health conditions!!! I pay taxes. Why should I not be able to get health insurance?!? If YOU will not help me pay for my lifelong medical condition, then you should keep your insurance as Obama has said SEVERAL TIMES, and I should be able to get help through the reform Obama is pushing.
YOU PROTESTERS are basically saying that anyone with a chronic condition has to stay at the job they currently are with. I shouldn’t be punished into staying at my current job just because IF I LEAVE IT I WONT BE ABLE TO GET HEALTH INSURANCE BECAUSE NOW I HAVE A PRE-EXISTING CONDTION.
YOU PROTESTERS ARE SELFISH!!!
Is your wife a cheap date or are you a cheapskate?
Matthew,
After ObamaCare takes that $100 (and much more), you won’t be able to eat or help anyone else.