making a home

A little goes a long way in a Ho Chi Minh City orphanage, as Jetstar staff are discovering

WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY MARISSA WILLIAMS & ZANA MOSS

The children receive early Christmas
presents from Jetstar staff and crew

Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) holds a wealth of treasures for the visitor to uncover. Rich in traditional and colonial history, you can also find designer handbags, new-release DVDs and gifted tailors who can whip up a summer wardrobe in no time. But the true beauty of this Asian country is its people.

Jetstar’s international flight attendants are fortunate to visit HCMC on a regular basis. You may see us haggling in Ben Thanh Markets or trying Vietnamese spring rolls at a street-side café, however there are some of us you won’t find in the tourist centre. Instead, we’re visiting the home of Ms Don, a local woman who has opened her house to 45 orphans, from infants to young adults. The orphanage receives no government funding and relies solely on the generosity of others. This scenario sounds bleak but the home is filled with enough love, laughter and kindness to inspire us all.

Marissa Williams and child

As a Sydney-based flight attendant, I’ve been visiting HCMC since crewing Jetstar’s inaugural flight in 2006, and was inspired to “do something” when I came across the Huong Lai Restaurant. Huong Lai employs former street-kids and gives them the opportunity to learn hospitality and English skills so they can make a brighter future for themselves. The owner Mr Jin is a strong supporter of Ms Don’s house, providing monthly food donations for the children. As a former pre-school teacher, I was eager to meet the children at Ms Don’s. Joined by Zana Moss, a Melbourne-based customer service manager, I was inspired by the children from our very first visit.

learning to play and just be kidsMy colleagues and I have been collecting toys and gifts such as a large jungle-gym, colouring books and play-doh from Qantas and Jetstar staff and delivering them to Ms Don’s. Recently a very special package was taken to the children. Inside were 60 Jetstar blankets which had been embroidered by a group of Sydney women.

Inspired by the joy and spirit of these children, we are determined to do more. Jetstar crew are now planning a working bee to renovate the children’s home before sitting down together to a Christmas feast. In the longer term, we aim to raise funds to establish and maintain ways to improve the health and education of these children.

a sweet to make the day sweeterSo enjoy the hospitality and generosity of the Vietnamese people, and remember the poorer children of HCMC are not tourist attractions and do not need our pity, rather they need our support and respect. Let Ho Chi Minh City inspire you, as it inspires us.

Lend a hand
If you would like to help the children at Ms Don’s (and are travelling to HCMC), please visit the Huong Lai Restaurant (38 Ly Tu Trong St, District 1, HCMC, tel: +84 (8) 822 6814) and speak with Mr Jin and his staff.