Elizabethtown College and Brittany's Hope Journey to Vietnam

“Reflections on Vietnam”
by Alex Sahd, Elizabethtown College student and Brittany’s Hope volunteer

First, In order to deliver an effective reflection article I must express my sincere appreciation to Brittany's Hope Foundation for making this extraordinary experience possible. It is an honor to write an account detailing my journey aboard in the beautiful country of Vietnam. Within this piece I strive to encompass three objectives. First, to demonstrate the work of Brittany's Hope through there mission in action; second, to introduce all readers to the lives of orphaned children in developing nations and third, my personal life changing knowledge in which my travel has provided.

Traveling through various cities, towns, and villages in the south and central regions of Vietnam I discovered the lives of orphaned children. My transforming experience encompassed a two week journey where I was blessed to aid, assist, and interact with such beautiful and loving children. Performing projects such as: planting fruits and vegetables (which help sustain the lives of the children), as well as painting and refurbishing down-trodden centers I was part of the solution.

I use the term solution in the preceding sentence for that is truly what needs to occur. With over 143 million children waiting in orphanages nothing less than a global child outreach solution will suffice. Peering into the eyes of these young children not only could one see pain and disparity but simultaneously hope, compassion, joy, and love; for two weeks I had fulfilled the latter mentioned. All the children I met longed to be embraced with a hug, held by the hand, and shown through action that they where loved. These children have not and are not living the life of an average child in a developed country; instead they suffer from years of hardships. I have held the hands of children who were/are: prospective sex slaves, projects of failed suicide attempts, given a fifty dollar price tag, and dying of treatable tropical diseases.

Now, months after my return back to the United States, I have made it my personal mission to continue to help and aid the lives of these and all orphaned children worldwide. My travel has transformed me into a more knowledge and worldly individual; I am no longer oblivious to the appalling yet treatable and or preventable occurrences throughout our world. Through the Vietnamese children I have met, I have developed a passion to continue assisting their pursuit of a brighter future. I am proud to proclaim that I have joined the team of dedicated and concerned individuals at Brittany's Hope Foundation; there I volunteer my time and talent in anticipation of providing a more opportune future for the less providential children of our world.

Best Regards,
Alexander P. Sahd