Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Consider philanthropy in Vietnam

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Like most conflicts, the Vietnam War was not fought against its people but against a government, though the people are the ones who sacrifice and suffer.

American Vietnam veterans suffered both in country, and at home, for participating in an unpopular war. Hindsight has corrected the notion that the soldiers were to blame.

There are dozens of veteran organizations in the U.S. including some that work with the people of Vietnam for humanitarian purposes.

One such organization is the non-profit LOTUS Humanitarian Aid Foundation, founded in 2006, by several veterans including Ketchum residents Dick Gariepy and Mark Stewart, the former CEO of the East Meets West Foundation.

Washington resident Dick Hunter, the board vice-president and also a vet, will present an illustrated overview of LOTUS programs, accomplishments and projects now underway in Vietnam at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 27 at the American Legion Hall in Ketchum.

"We'd like to familiarize the locals with what's going on and if they have an interest in helping out we'd be happy to accommodate them," Gariepy said.

Based in Dong Ha, and run by director John Ward, LOTUS provides humanitarian aid to needy individuals, families, and small communities in Vietnam. The organizations gives financial aid for heart surgeries which are done at the Hue Medical University, builds homes and schools, awards scholarships for children below the poverty line and supports a sewing cooperative for disabled and disadvantaged youth to help them develop vocational skills.

The new sewing class has students 24, half of whom are deaf, two are physically handicapped, and 10 are from families that are below the poverty line, Gariepy said.

"We work through the local government organization, who is open to the involvement, he said. "They recognize we're helping the poor people. It's a lot different (from Myanmar)."

For information on the organization visit lhaf.org.