A Journey to Muong Cha that Touched Our Family

Adeline (2nd row, 6th from left) and her family Peng and Fern with other child sponsors participating in an activity to teach the children personal hygiene in a school at Muong Cha.

When the opportunity to join a World Vision trip to Muong Cha came up, I excitedly informed my dad, Peng, and my aunt, Fern, about it. This would be my second trip with World Vision, having visited Sambour in Cambodia last February. The last trip to Cambodia had a huge impact on me, and I was also excited to meet my sponsored child in Muong Cha, a boy named A Chan. My aunt also sponsored a girl named Hang, and we both thought it would be a great chance to finally get to meet them and learn more about the good work that World Vision is doing in the area. My dad, who is retired, was also open to going on his first humanitarian trip.

My sponsorship journey with A Chan, 8, started last year. I wrote to him to let him know that I was coming to visit him and asked him about his family and interests. He replied that he has two siblings and he enjoys playing with balls. Prior to the trip, I got him and his siblings some clothes and coloured markers. I also collected some pre-loved clothes and toys in good condition from my friends to bless the other children in Muong Cha.

Before the trip began, trippers were briefed about the area in Muong Cha. It was very mountainous, and the people faced various challenges such as natural disasters, poverty, and the lack of sanitation and clean water. Upon reaching Hanoi, we took a domestic flight to Dien Bien and travelled for close to two hours to the Muong Cha Area Programme.

One of the highlights for me was visiting a primary school to learn about how the children benefitted from World Vision’s sanitation and hygiene programme. The children greeted us with vibrant smiles and welcomed us enthusiastically. They were split into different groups and quizzed about what they have learnt about personal hygiene. It was a fun way to reinforce what was taught that will help them maintain good hygiene.

Birthday celebration for the children of Muong Cha, many of whom celebrated their birthday for the first time.

We also played games with the children and had the privilege of celebrating their birthdays. The trippers presented birthday cakes to them, and it was so meaningful because for many of them, it was their first time celebrating their birthdays. Every child is precious, and I hope that this small gesture will make them feel very loved.

Adeline with her sponsored child A Chan.

Another highlight for me was meeting up with A Chan. A Chan was shy and reserved at first, so I decided to give him time to warm up by asking him if he would like to draw instead. He drew a picture of his house with his sister and his buffalo. It was interesting to have a glimpse of his world through his drawing. I then taught him how to draw a cat by following YouTube videos.

A Chan is very bright and can understand simple instructions well. I am so glad to have the chance to interact with him, and I hope that this would be a pleasant memory for him too. He told me that he wants to be a policeman when he grows up, and I hope that, given enough resources, he will be able work hard and fulfil his dream.

Adeline’s sponsored child, A Chan drawing his home.

My aunt also got to meet her sponsored child, Hang, and her mother. It was extremely heart-warming when she was gifted with a bunch of flowers and a scarf with Hang’s name and her name embroidered on it. We were very touched by Hang’s sincere gesture.

Throughout the trip, we were impacted by the dedication of the World Vision staff. The staff on the field would spend hours visiting children on their bikes in the mountainous areas and checking on them regularly to ensure that their well-being is taken care of. Many also made sacrifices to work away from their families because of their love for the children and their desire to see the lives of the villagers improve.

The locals were also very hospitable, even though they did not have much, they welcomed us with the best that they had. Simple gestures like offering us hot tea in the cold weather and ensuring our seats are sheltered from the sun made us feel so welcomed. They were also very willing to be vulnerable in sharing their challenges with us to help us understand their situation better and play a small part in contributing and making a difference.

We are also glad to meet like-minded trippers who share the desire to make a difference. Many go out of their way to make this trip memorable for the children, such as taking Polaroid photographs for the children as a keepsake and making balloon sculptures to brighten their day.

Adeline with Mr Hien, the Muong Cha Area Programme Manager (second from right) 

I am grateful we could experience this meaningful trip together as a family. Inspired by the dedication of World Vision staff and the resilience of the locals in Muong Cha, my dad decided to begin his sponsorship journey to sponsor a child in Muong Cha as well. We now look forward to returning to Muong Cha together as a family to visit our sponsored children.

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