Our Story
It all started in 2005 with our founder, Lam ‘Chop’s’ visit home to Saigon, Vietnam….
“My mum told me about her desperate work to support a local HIV/AIDS hospice and orphanage (Mai Hoa Centre), an HIV outpatient’s clinic (Tieng Vong Group), and a children’s disability centre (Thien Phouc Centre). Not long after my visit, it was my birthday, so rather than my friends giving me gifts, I asked if they would auction gifts or unwanted items to raise a few dollars for the three centres back in Saigon. We raised AU$750! By 2010 we had our inaugural annual fundraiser with close to AU$20,000 raised.
In 2005, the centres were treating just over 100 people. Unfortunately, today we support over 3,000 patients with numbers increasing each year. Medical costs in Vietnam have increased, there is no free health care system and there continues to be a stigma associated with HIV/AIDS as well as disabilities.
My aim with Chop Vietnam is raise as much as we can for those that need it most, and I bring the funds directly to the centres.”
Ways you can help
As a grass roots not-for-profit organisation, we literarily take the money raised directly to the centres ourselves. We assess the needs of each centre at the time and distribute funds accordingly. There are several ways to help us raise funds for the centres...
- Direct donations
- Create sponsored activities
- Host fundraising dinners / drinks
- Donate stationery, children’s school books & light children’s clothing (it’s hot all year in Saigon).
Contact us directly if you have any questions
Buy organic cotton pyjamas from Awakind a social enterprise supporting Chop Vietnam, created by our friend Vanessa in Sydney, with a focus on creating contemporary children’s sleepwear designed for their bodies, not their gender, using 100% organic cotton and 100% made in Australia supporting local manufacturers and industry.
Awakind donates 100% of their profits to funding life changing projects that help less fortunate children, with Chop Vietnam being a previous recipient of these funds.
They’ve also produced three beautiful children’s audio bedtime stories inspired by the Mai Hoa and Then Phouc Centres, available as podcasts from a QR code on the pyjamas or their website
Direct Bank Transfers - to our Chop Vietnam Australian bank account, details are as follows:
- Bank: Westpac Bank, 547 Crown Street, Surry Hills, Sydney NSW 2010
- Account Name: Chop Vietnam Incorporated
- BSB: 032 023
- Account Number: 281200
Please use your name as a reference and advise us of your payment so we can email you a receipt.