Letter from School Teachers of an "Understanding and Love School" in Buong Dang Dung Village

July 12, 2002

Dear Venerable Teacher, Brothers and Sisters of Plum Village,

Today I am so happy to be able to with to you and share our news with you. We live in a remote region in the mountains and forests. Our life is like that of our ancestors before us and all those who live in such remote and dangerous areas: we cut wood and harvest tea and coffee all year round. That is the economy of our village.

To be able to have contact with the Sisters and Brothers of the Understanding and Love Program is a great honor for us. Thanks to our contact with the monastics and social workers from Saigon we have been supported in our practice of mindfulness and in the work of helping society.

We are 95 families living here, not knowing anything of the outside world. The families here only seek to work to survive from day to day and do not know the basics things of life, such as good hygiene and literacy. The support from the Understanding and Love program has brought us relief. Thanks to our contact with your program we have been able to build a bridge, open a school, saving children who were hungry and giving them education. Now we have a kindergarten class and a nursery called, "The Pink Lotus."

As Buong Dang Dung Village is in a desolate area, the young children play with the earth and stay dirty because there is no well to get water from and the streams are far away. Today the Brothers from the Understanding and Love program have come to help us dig a well so the children can be bathed, cared for, and fed at lunchtime. This is very important for us in the village.

We don't know how to thank you. Today the entire village can benefit from the cement bridge, the new well, the kindergarten, the nursery and also the teachings of mindfulness. We are so happy and grateful to our teachers, sisters and brothers from Plum Village and benefactors who have a big heart to relieve the difficulties of a poor village.

Affectionately,

Your School Teachers, Dich and Ngot

(photo of school in Buong Dang Dung Village)

Touching and Helping Programs in Vietnam Sponsorship Form

Name ______

Address____City______

State__ Zip code _______ Country ________Telephone__________ e-mail___________________

l wish to sponsor  (please circle and fill in appropriate lines):

• for $6 a month or $72 a year

a preschool toddler in a daycare center or a 5-yr-old child in kindergarten to receive 2 cups of milk and lunch every day at school ___boy(s) ___girl(s) a young college student ___ boy(s) __ girl(s) or a destitute elderly or handicapped person _ male(s) _ female(s)

• for $25 a month or $300 a year

a teacher(s) who goes to remote rural areas to teach children in kindergarten through grade school levels (ages 5-12) ___ a teenager(s) to receive vocational training in traditional Vietnamese crafts: woodworking, embroidery, or tailoring, carpentry, mechanics and electricity _ boy(s) _ girl(s)

• donation amount ___(specified by you)

sponsor development programs in rural areas to build schools, build bridges, plant trees, dig wells, and make roads support victims of monsoon floods and tragedies to receive medical support and food and blankets

Please make your check payable to Unified Buddhist Church. All money will be given to the persons who need help.

No charge is deducted for administrative costs. Please send to or for more information contact Touching and Helping Committees

Europe: Plum Village, 13 Martineau 33580 Dieulivol, France

East Coast USA: Green Mountain Dharma Center, Box 182, Hart land-Four-Corners, VT 05049

West Coast USA: Deer Park Monastery, 2499 Melru Lane, Escondido, CA 92026

You are helping many people to lessen their hunger, to feel the love of humanity mu/ to improve their lives. This act will continue its way to strengthen hope, understanding, and compassion in each of us. Our way of living and relating to the world in the present is the base for social changes. We look forward to receiving support from you.

A lotus for you, Sister Chan Khong and the Touching and Helping Committees