Story of Two Citizen Diplomats

Our stories campaign often brings in stories from overlapping experiences. Dawn Saunders worked as a citizen diplomat and volunteer for the organization, Kids Without Borders in Vietnam. Son Michael Pham, the founder of the organization as well as HumaniTours also submitted his story to our campaign. Son Michael Pham, a Vietnamese refugee, began the organization to connect people from the United States and as well as in 30 other countries in an effort to encourage to children to help other children in their communities and globally.

Dawn Sanders traveled on a goodwill trip (HumaniTours) to Vietnam to bring clothing and other necessities to children in orphanages and in the hospital. Her stories of connecting with the children in Vietnam are inspiring and shed light on the work Pham and Kids Without Borders is doing around the world and in Vietnam.

Please read her story below.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to travel twice with Kids Without Borders to Vietnam. These goodwill trips (called HumaniTours) have opened my eyes to the wonderful people of Vietnam, their colorful history and most importantly, their respect and compassion for the US and our citizens. Lead by Son Michael Pham, the HumaniTours bring together youth, business owners and leaders, teachers and retiree's to visit with children in orphanages, patients in hospitals; and because Son is so well known there are usually a few "official" visits during this trips with local government and businesses.

Those of us who take the trip are asked to bring along with us gifts for the children and those who are hospitalized. We are asked to bring only one bag of our own, and we then lug heavy suitcases full of clothing, toiletry's, gifts, book, toys and even occasionally a computer. The gifts are distributed along the way, greatly lightening our load.

The incredible smiles of joy on the faces of the children and the families who are caring for those who are ill are the highlight of the trip. Many remembered me on my second trip and we enjoyed catching up and sharing photos.

I was especially touched by Son's work to help many of the children who have "graduated" from the orphanages. Once turning 18, they are asked to leave to make room for another younger child. Many have lived in the orphanage their entire life and have nowhere to go. Son helps by providing scholarships for these young people so that they can get an apprenticeship or go on to school. Even more importantly, he encourages the kids to stay connected with each other so that they have someone to turn to in case they need help. This ever expanding new generation of Vietnamese youth look to the US as an example of caring, concern and generosity.

Not only do the hundreds of people who visit this beautiful country with Son, return with new respect for these hard working people, but the lives that are touched by the generosity and caring of the visitors say much about who we are and what our values are.

These visits have truly changed my life, even more so that I was able to share this time with my family by bringing along my own children. We have made many incredible friends of our travel partners from all over the US and even the world.

~Dawn Sanders

Posted Wednesday, July 21, 2010