Last March 4, 2009, Sr. Ma. Victoria Sta. Ana, Laura Vicuña Foundation (LVF) Executive Director, visited Laura Vicuña Women Development and Training Center, Malihao, Negros Occidental with Ms. Hoa Tu Duong, the Program Officer of Global Fund for Children for East and Southeast Asia. They dropped by Cuaycong Elementary school for the Program Director to meet some of the scholars their foundation is supporting. Due to lack of time, she did not have the chance to visit the other scholars in Alfonso Sta. Ana Memorial High School, Nanca Elementary School, and Victorias National High School. They had lunch with the community of Sisters wherein Ms. Hoa Tu Duong had the chance to evaluate the other components of the program that they are funding. She was happy to know how much their fund was put to good use and how it effected change in the community.
To express their gratitude, the trainees presented two dance numbers and a declamation from Ryan Azucena from the Garment Trade class. She shared her story to the trainees when they asked her why she joined the organization which gives support to programs for children. She was of Chinese descent and was herself a migrant in Vietnam, then in the United States. She experienced all kinds of discrimination and insecurities in foreign lands. These experiences influenced her decision to work with the Global Fund for Children.
After the program, she had the chance to meet the PES (Parent Effectiveness Seminar) volunteers. Even in their simple English, they were able to express how much they have been helped by PES and are glad that they are now empowered not only to give seminars but also to be active advocates of human rights especially of children.
Ms. Hoa Tu Duong was very much satisfied with the proper implementation of the program in Malihao and she promised to look for other funding agencies to help support the LVF program in Malihao.
- Sr. Theda Dela Rosa, FMA
