Dear benefactors and benefactresses,

            As social workers in the district Can Gio, Hochiminh City, we very happy to make acquaintance with you. We wish you happy and healthy. We hope to have your co- operation for the benefit of the unfortunate men. Following are economic situation of the district and of the handicapped children, we are looking after in a small school for with we are appealing you for help.

            Can Gio is the poorest suburban district of the Hochiminh City. The population is about 65.000 habitants living scattered in a area of 650 square meters, in mostly of which are the sea water inundated forest and rivers, only 10% of the district superficies are the land for housing and cultivating.

            The district comprises 7 villages, of which three in the North are living in agriculture, with a low productivity of about 2 tons of the rice per hectare, found other near the seaside are chosen the fisheries with a poor result due to old fishing means and environment polluted by orange agent dropped in the war time and by old escaped from sea ships in recent days. These economic conditions, most habitants must endure the poverty, the diseases and the illiteracy. The average annual income per capita is not exceeded 200 USD, so the city government and the benefactors usually give aid to many men here from starvation. From a recent statistics, there are 280 handicapped children. We have built 2 schools for them, but to now it can receive only 90 children due to our limited fund. Most of them are from poor families, fatherless or motherless, abandoned without proper care.

            The school have been opened and handled fairly good during past year by the benevolence of some benefactors in building the installation and in financing the daily feed of the children. But we have a frequent anxiety in conducting the school because there aids are not stable and durable.

            Now by this open letter, we would like to have your helping in sponsoring each children of the school. With these sponsorships, they can lived and educated better and longer. And when the conditions are available, we will widen our school for accepting the others handicapped children of the district.

            When accepted the sponsorship for the handicapped children of the school, please send your money to the person this letter

            Thank you again for kindness. May God bless you and your family

Sincerely yours

Pham Kim Diep

Vicar of the Parish

183/2 Cần Thạnh, Cần Giờ

Hồ Chí Minh City