Even though 2013 New Year Celebrations have come to and end and many of us have returned to the routine of daily life and keeping up with resolutions, VNHELP is actually already at work planning another new year celebration. Tet, or Lunar New Year, will be celebrated in Vietnam on February 10th this year. Although Vietnam also uses the Gregorian calendar officially, Tet is still considered the most significant holiday in Vietnam. Many celebrate the holiday for a full two weeks, and the streets are awash in lucky red and gold. It’s a time for families to get together, friends to hang out leisurely, and children to gleefully hold their hands out in anticipation of receiving li xi (red envelopes filled with lucky money.)
For children without families or a stable home situation, however, Tet may not be the fun and boisterous holiday it is for others. Rather, seeing so many other children blessed with family and good fortune, orphans and street children in Vietnam can feel lonely or excluded. We don’t want to let this happen. That’s why we’ve been planning celebrations for the orphans and former street children who reside in the orphanages we partner with for our Sponsor a Child program. We’re going to make sure each child gets their own li xi, a delicious holiday meal, and a new set of clothes to look good for the new year.
But we’re going to need your help to ensure that all this is going to happen.
Will you pitch in $10 or more to help a child feel included and loved on Tet? Many of the generous donors who are part of the Sponsor a Child program have already pledged their support for Tet, and we’re extremely grateful, but we’ll need additional help to make it a truly memorable occasion for the children. Although February 10 may seem like a long ways from now, donating early will help us plan ahead and ensure that each child gets a fair share for the holiday. We really appreciate any support you can give. Thanks friends!
Donate now through PayPal by clicking on the button below; you can specify that you want your donation to be used for Tet in the comments section of the donation form.
Tags: holidays, orphans & street children, tet