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News and Events
December 8, 2009: October 13, 2009: October 5, 2009:
Nonetheless, Tran Bich Thuy, TDH's senior staff person in Vietnam, managed to speak with Sisters Juliana and Jane at the Vinh Son 2 (VS2) orphanage. Thuy learned that everything is very dirty from the flooding and everywhere it smells awful. One of our contacts who has been to the area wrote the following: "When I have look at their skin some old people and children have problem with it for the mud and the water still remain there within 5 days and they had been eating the meat from the dead animal too. Some kids in the village whom I used to teach them Bible come and talk to me. Teacher look at my face. I eat noodles everyday so I feel sick, my face is swollen. I'm not beautiful anymore. I feel so broken heart."
Rice is available in Kontum, as well as water, some market products and medicines but the prices are high. Sister Jane said they need anti-fever and anti-diarrhea medicine plus 70kg of rice per day for VS2. She also needs clothes, uniforms for the kids going to school, shoes, mosquito nets and blankets.They were only able to save some of the clothing. Sister Juliana told Thuy she doesn't know what to ask for: she says the villagers are coming to ask for help and they don't have anything to give them.
Rice is $400/ton. We are having 10 tons delivered today, one to VS1, one to VS2, and eight to the convent. I think if they use five tons to answer the needs of the villagers and the rest for the children and the sisters, it should last them one month. We will also try to raise $6000 for the other needs, including food, medicine and mosquito nets. Thuy will go there around October 25. I also have someone else there who is willing to go for a few days next weekend to help with the cleanup.
For more information on the orphanages and Catholic sisters of Kontum, go to Articles + Archives. To donate to the Kontum typhoon relief efforts, please make cheques payable to TDH Canada (indicate Kontum orphanage fund on the cheque) and send to TDH Ontario, 116 Main Street East, P.O Box 963, Vankleek Hill, Ontario K0B 1R0. Any amount will help and your generosity in this time of exceptional need would be greatly appreciated. October 1, 2009: "It has been disastrous for Kontum which became cut-off because landslides have closed the roads leading northwards and because the Dakbla River has burst its banks, rising above the level of the bridge leading to the south. Crops have been wiped-out. The rice crop was about to be harvested. Animals washed away and drowned. Water supplies contaminated. Villages abandoned. Vinh Son 2 orphanage also. Many people have now moved to the seminary, wooden church and convent. Food scarce. Much has been damaged by flooding in shops and stores. Petrol prices have risen sharply already. People are scared and a little hungry and thirsty. Many families buy their food fresh daily; they don't carry food stocks as such. Many cannot afford to buy rice in larger amounts. There is no electricity in the village and the only food that they have had today is some instant noodles. I fear that things in the countryside will be much worse than in the town, which already seems devastated." Dorinda states, "The sisters at Vinh Son 2 barely make do with their meagre harvest in feeding the children. To have lost a rice harvest is awful. And I can only imagine what it is in the villages further out." We are hoping that by the generosity of TDH supporters, including those of you for whom Vietnam has become part of your own family through adoption, we can send money and aid supplies -- whatever can most effectively and readily reach our friends in need. Any amount will help. To donate, please make cheques payable to TDH Canada (indicate Kontum orphanage fund on the cheque) and send to TDH Ontario, 116 Main Street East, P.O Box 963, Vankleek Hill, Ontario K0B 1R0. July 9, 2009:
June 30, 2009: June 8, 2009: Your help is urgently needed to show members of Parliament that the Bill of NDP MP Olivia Chow (C-397) is of utmost urgency and concern to the adoptive community. We have set up an online petition that we ask you to sign and encourage signature by your family, friends, and associates. The current law provides that "second generation Canadians" will NOT have the right to pass on their Canadian citizenship to their children if they are born outside of Canada. This is clearly discriminatory, and must be changed. Olivia Chow has introduced a private members bill (Bill C-397) which if passed will correct the problems created by the new Citizenship Act which came into force in April 2009. Ms. Chow's website contains a great deal of information on this topic: http://oliviachow.ca/mp/?cat=27. If you want to see this law changed in regard to the citizenship of your children, please sign the online petition. Please pass this information on to everyone who might be willing to sign the petition or get involved, and feel free to send it to other forums or adoptive parent groups. May 5 , 2009: March 21 , 2009 : That being said, adoption costs are always unpredictable, and the financial crisis has affected Vietnam as elsewhere. There are always unexpected contingencies, which we have up to this point absorbed. We cannot continue to do this and run a viable program. We would also point out that our program costs are still considerably lower than other Ontario and British Columbia agencies working in Vietnam. Thus in order to keep the program operating, we are obliged to raise costs by $2000 Cdn for all clients, effective immediately. This applies to all clients who have not paid their final fees. We are very, very sorry to have to do this, particularly in these difficult economic times, but we must emphasize that if we are to keep this program going, and continue to receive child proposals from our partner orphanages, and even enter into new agreements, we must take this action. The office staff, to their enormous credit, have done their share in taking what we hope will be a temporary cut in salary/hours, and we have looked into all other options that we thought feasible. This increase was reviewed and approved by our Board of Directors. We regret that we are forced to do this, and we hope for your understanding and cooperation. At the same time, if this is truly an unbearable financial burden, please contact us, and we will attempt to make alternative arrangements for your particular situation. We certainly do not want anyone to be forced to withdraw from the program for reasons of financial hardship. We hope that this measure will result in more referrals, and will keep you informed on this subject. January 13, 2009 : Toronto TDH Fundraising Dinner We have some great prizes already donated, and two newspapers will be writing articles on the event. We are hoping that it will be a huge success and can become a TDH annual community event, but we need your help. What can you do? Contact organizers Christine and Sebastian at torontotdhfundraiser@gmail.com to purchase tickets or ask how you can help. Archived News and Events In Vietnam many orphanages receive significant ongoing support from adoptive parents in certain countries, both before and after the parents adopt. Because these orphanages feel assured of continuing support they may feel more motivated to place children in those countries, since they can then better care for the children who remain behind. One such country is France, with its parent-run assocation Pour les Enfants des Rizières. We strongly encourage you to think about ways that you can do similar things. Even small fundraisers among your families, among your friends, can have an impact, providing not only help to the children, but also an improved image of Canadians who want to adopt. Small amounts collected by one person or by several persons in concert can make a big difference. As an example, a Toronto couple is organizing a dinner dance in April, with the goal that it will become a annual community event. The success of this event and similar ones rests on each of us and our ability to support and encourage each other, and to particpate when we can. Toronto TDH Fundraising Dinner, April 24th, 2009 For more information or to offer any support you can, contact Christine Morra by phone (416) 999-9145 or e-mail christine.morra@gmail.com. One of the things people value about the United Way Campaign is that their gifts are put to work close to home, in the community where they live and work. Moreover, individuals can designate their gifts to any registered Canadian charity. To direct your donation to TDH, specify TDH Canada Inc., business/charity registration number 119208940RR0001. By doing so, the TDH community will have the opportunity to support an organization that is dear to our hearts while contributing to the United Way Campaign at the same time. For a list of all registered charities visit the Canada Revenue Agency web site. You might also consider creating a unique fundraising event during the United Way Campaign. For example, TDH Ontario supporter, Philippe Richer, is hosting a wine tasting event at his work place. Guests pay $30 each to taste six different rare wines from Spain and Portugal, with all revenue being donated to TDH. Philippe is donating the wines, for which he will receive a tax receipt. What a wonderful way to enjoy some good wines and good company and benefit a great charity! "For years now, our little Vietnam Connection group has been celebrating Tet Trung Thu, the moon festival, on the beach each year. It's really fun. Because its simpler and quieter than the excitement of Tet - I find it always a chance to feel really touched by the growing and changing of our kids and our group of families. We have expanded in the years we've known each other (hmm, including my waistline, but that's another story). Waiting parents are starting to befriend our circle. And there are sibs now - both bios, and sibs adopted from other countries than Vietnam - we celebrated yet another, a gorgeous little guy from Thailand, at our moon party. "The connectedness between the kids is palpable, and has steadily grown. In hindsight, it was kind of abstract at first, and really all about the thrill of finding other parents - new beginings on a shared and little known path. But in years since, I have seen in action the way this connection bolsters our kids, and I am so so glad we've cultivated it. I am proud at their comfort and belonging together, and the way it has taught them to be proud of who they are. The big round moon rises, the kids build forts on the beach, we eat and chat. When it gets dark we have a lantern parade and send our wishes out to sea on the moonlight trail. My daughter Tien's foster mother, Mme Le Thi Le, said once that because we live in Vancouver, on the Pacific, Tien will always be connected by water with her birthplace and those who first loved her in Ha Long Bay on the South China Sea. I always remember this, at the moon festival. I tell the kids that here and in Vietnam, when you look up, it's the exact same moon." September 30, 2008: Our sincerest thanks go out to Jackie and Doug Walker and those who contributed to their August 21st, 2008 fundraising event. Their goal was to raise enough money to purchase water buffaloes for two families (approximately $1000) but their final tally was $3312, meaning that at least six families will benefit. Well done! According to the Weather Network for Picton, there is an 80% chance of scattered showers on Saturday. Sunday, on the other hand, promises to be mainly sunny and 22. Since we can ONLY have the group campsite for Saturday night (and not for next weekend), we have decided to postpone the picnic to Sunday, September 7. This will allow those who wish to still come on Saturday and camp overnight to do so, and meet the rest of the group on Sunday (starting at 11 for the picnic). If Saturday turns out to be a very nice day after all, it is also probable that a number of us will already be at the group campsite, and could meet on the beach for about 2pm. For those who might be interested in this, but are not camping, please call Dorinda’s cell at (514) 919-0205 starting from about 10am Saturday and we will confirm. Meeting point: Look for the purple dragonfly! Posted August 15, 2008: Please bring food for your own family, beach toys, chairs, sunscreen, hats, umbrellas (for shade!) and smiles. The cost for the picnic is $5.00 per family, payable to TDH Ontario, plus the day use admission fee at Sandbanks, which is $8.90, payable at the park gate. We have also reserved a group campsite for the night of Sept 6 for any families who want to stay overnight. The site can accommodate 15 tents so please e-mail Carolyn if you would like to have a spot on the group campsite. Spots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The cost per family for the group campsite is $2.95 per vehicle + $3.95 per adult + $.95 per child 6-17, payable on arrival at the park, plus $10 per family, payable to TDH Ontario, to cover the cost of the group site reservation. E-mail Carolyn as soon as possible if you are interested in attending the picnic and/or joining the group campsite. Cheques need to arrive at TDH Ontario by Thurs. Aug. 28. Please make your cheque payable to TDH Ontario Inc. and mail it to our office address at the foot of this page. We hope you can join us! August 7 , 2008: Jackie and Doug Walker, who have adopted through TDH Ontario, are generously hosting a fundraiser with the goal of raising enough money to purchase two water buffaloes for two families in Vietnam. The event will be held Thursday August 21st, 2008 at the West Haven Golf Course, just west of London, ON. Please contact them directly to participate or to make a donation: atmerithot@aim.com The recent slow down in child proposals from Vietnam and the country's perception that Canadians are very particular about the children they will consider for adoption has led TDH to take several initiatives. Read full letter. May 8, 2008:
May 7, 2008: A well written article that desribes the current state of international adoption more objectively than most. Read the article on The Washington Indepdendent web site. Every year, CUA alumni nominate fellow graduates to receive the honour of CUA’s Alumni Achievement Award. Nominees are those who have a national reputation in their fields and have helped make their community and country a better place. This year Dorinda Cavanaugh was one of the few chosen. Read about her honour on the CUA web site. April 17, 2008: Please refer to our Programs Overview section for the availability of Vietnamese special needs children and the Vietnam Program section for updates to processing times. February 18, 2008: Income tax receipts for adoptions completed in 2007 will be sent out by
the end of February. If you have any questions or have not received your
receipt by mid-March please contact Jose Garcia in our Montreal office
at 514-933-7125 or e-mail info@tdh.ca. Today we received an update on adoptions from Ukraine through the Intercountry Adoption Services in Ottawa. Ukraine has seen many changes in the area of adoption in the recent past and more changes are anticipated. Previous attempts to limit the number of foreign adoptions from Ukraine by way of introducing a quota system by country and age groups were not successful. Instead, Ukraine established an overall quota of 1453 cases available for international adoptions for 2008, removing any breakdown by age and country. The current system is a first-come, first-serve process where prospective parents must first have their files reviewed by the SDAPRC in the Ukraine. Despite the overall change in the quota system, children with serious medical conditions and certain categories of children, such as step-children, will continue to be able to be adopted outside of the overall quota. On February 4, 2008, the SDAPRC resumed reviewing cases and already have more than filled the 1453 cases of the 2008 quota. It is not clear at this stage whether any applications that do not make this year's quota will remain in the queue or whether the adoptive parents will have to start again from the beginning. Given that the backlog of cases for review by the SDAPRC is several months long, prospective parents must first reserve a place in the queue by submitting a complete file containing all the required documents. The documents must be valid both at the of submission and at the time of review by the SDAPRC. As the SDAPRC considers documents valid only for six months, prospective adoptive parents must renew all their documents prior to the review by the SDAPRC or risk having their applications dismissed out of hand. Though the age breakdown within the quota has been removed, the SDAPRC has made it clear that they will continue restricting the numbers of children under the age of 6 available for adoption. Ukraine seems to be moving forward with plans to agree to the Hague Convention in 2008. However, there is no certainty whether the new legislation will be passed by the current government and how long it might take. January 2008: The Government of Canada is introducing a new procedure to expedite Canadian citizenship for children adopted internationally. For the latest information contact TDH Ontario or check the Citizenship and Immigration Canada web site. |
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