REPORT ANNUAL. east meets west foundation news. what a difference a year can make T H E E M W meet the vietnam staff. the faces of spell

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1 a l s o i n t h i s i s s u e : the faces of spell meet the vietnam staff dental outreach east meets west foundation news T H E E M W ANNUAL REPORT what a difference a year can make SPRING 2005

2 THE EAST MEETS WEST FOUNDATION WORKS WITH THE PEOPLE OF VIETNAM TO BUILD A PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE. board CHAIRMAN Peter A. Singer, M.D. TREASURER Lawrence S. Connolly VICE-CHAIRMAN / SECRETARY Brian P. Dolan, M.D., M.P.H. MEMBERS Robert Bard Hang Le Bourque Stephen Gunther Eric Hemel Jonathan Lewis Linda Meier, R.N., C.N.P. Brenda Ringwald Students at a Quang Tri kindergarten built by EMW. See the full details of EMW s accomplishments during 2004 in our Annual Report of this issue, beginning on page 4. on the cover staff U.S. OFFICE John Anner executive director Annie Fong administrative assistant Craig Fox finance director Lusine Ghevondyan office manager Kim Kvarda associate director Can Nguyen liaison officer Dee Dee Nguyen development officer Minh-Huyen Nguyen publications coordinator Thuy Linh Tran events coordinator Diep Vuong program director VIETNAM OFFICES DA NANG Mark Conroy overseas director Hoang Thi Hang Tam overseas vice-director ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Ho Thi Y Nhi office manager Nguyen Hiep finance manager Nguyen Thi Kim Vui accountant Phan Thi Hong Thoi interpreter/receptionist HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS Tran Thanh An project coordinator Truong Thi Huong senior program assistant Nguyen Van Linh program assistant Hoang Ngoc Tung SPELL national program coordinator Nguyen Thi Kim Hong SPELL program assistant Nguyen Dinh Kien SPELL program assistant Tran Trung Quang SPELL program assistant Hoang Ngoc Anh project coordinator Nguyen Quy water projects site supervisor (quang nam) Duong Cong Tuan site supervisor (quang ngai, binh dinh, phu yen) CONSTRUCTION TEAM Pham Quoc Hung field operation manager Clive Jones m & e project manager Vo Van Hoang m & e assistant project manager Duong Thih Thanh Thuy senior administrative assistant/interpreter Nguyen Van Quang assistant project manager Nguyen Van Tien assistant project manager Phan Minh Tan site supervisor Vo Le Phu An site supervisor Nguyen Phi Hung site supervisor DENTAL CLINIC Dr. Charles F. Craft dental program director fcraft80@hotmail.com Ngo Huy Tuong chief dentist Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Hoa staff dentist Hoang Thi Thu Ha staff dentist Ho Thuy Truc senior dental nurse Tran Thi Thanh Nga clinic nurse Nguyen Thi Thu Hien dental nurse QUANG TRI PROVINCE John Ward project coordinator Tran Thi Khanh Van social worker/interpreter Le Le Thi Quynh Chau accountant THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE Ron Smith project manager Nguyen Van Bi assistant project manager Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan administrative assistant HO CHI MINH CITY Robin King Austin development officer contact credits U.S. OFFICE P.O. Box Oakland, CA Tel Toll Free Fax VIETNAM OFFICE 32 Pasteur Street Da Nang, Vietnam Tel Fax NEWSLETTER STAFF Minh-Huyen Nguyen editor Rachelle Galloway Moon art direction/design Minh-Huyen Nguyen cover photograph photographers David M. Allen EMW Vietnam Staff Kim Kvarda Dee Dee Nguyen Minh-Huyen Nguyen Vanessa Phuong Rick Rocamora Hai-Ho Tran Diep Vuong We welcome feedback. To send comments, corrections, or to sign up for our mailing list, at info@eastmeetswest.org.

3 in this issue 17 donor spotlight Donors Lead the Way Meet EMW supporters like Jack Wells (seen here in Vietnam in 1968), who are donating time, energy and finances to support EMW s projects. features 10 people & places who is east meets west? meet our vietnam staff departments message from the executive 2 director 11 special event celebrating tet: ringing in the year of the rooster 18 the east meets west community p. 11: EMW s Tet celebration 15 program update a triple-bill of EMW s smiles Dental Team combines forces with 2 NGOs to bring widespread dental care in Vietnam 16 Known language & culture the meaning of as the essence of all life, water holds many special meanings for the people of Vietnam emw annual report 4 5 Expenditures 9 The Highlights of the Year 2004 and Beneficiaries 2004 Financial Report a look back at 12 project spotlight the faces of SPELL Meet students like Ngo Thi Thanh (right) who are benefiting from EMW s innovative new education program.

4 director smessage 2 b y j o h n a n n e r, e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r like vietnam itself, east meets west is in transition. Vietnam has emerged from decades of war and isolation to become a peaceful, fast-growing and rapidly modernizing country eager to integrate with the rest of the world. Nothing quite so dramatic is happening at East Meets West, but there are some significant changes. When I was hired as Executive Director just over two years ago, East Meets West was on the cusp of a major life change. Program budgets had grown quite rapidly over the previous four years, rising from just a few hundred thousand dollars at the end of the 1990s to over $5 million in 2001, thanks to the support of our most generous donor, Atlantic Philanthropies (AP). While most AP funds were designated for specific large projects such as the Da Nang University Library, AP also provided the funds to increase EMW s grassroots programs. This allowed, for example, a rapid expansion of the school construction program. EMW built two dozen or so schools in the second half of the 1990s, but in 2001 alone we built 48 schools. By the time I joined the EMW team in February 2003, the budget was nearing $10 million a year, with 95% of these funds coming from Atlantic Philanthropies. The funds from AP allowed EMW to grow rapidly, but in the process the organization became somewhat unbalanced. No organization that gets 95% of its funding from one source can be considered sustainable over the long term. In addition, there was an urgent need to upgrade managements systems to cope with the expanding staff and budgets. Programs and staffing had grown so rapidly that the organization did not have time to build the necessary systems. In just the past two years, the number of staff employed full-time by EMW has more than doubled, from 22 to 55. I ve spent the past two years working closely with the board of directors and the staff to invest in the future of East Meets West. Our goals are to diversify and increase our sources of support, increase EMW s capacities in all areas, and prepare the organization to stand on its own two feet when AP starts to reduce their funding for East Meets West. To accomplish these goals, we have undertaken an ambitious renovation of all parts of the organization. program changes fundraising. A fundraising department was created and staff hired two development officers, an events planner, a publications coordinator and an administrative assistant. Three fundraising events have been held so far, most recently a banquet in San Francisco that attracted 300 guests. A direct mail campaign has been launched, new brochures and materials have been developed, and we are now registered to raise funds in every state. The results have been impressive. In 2002, we only had 200 or so donors to East Meets West; at present we have over 1,200. In 2002, we raised $225,000 from all sources other than Atlantic Philanthropies. In 2004, we raised over $1.2 million. Our goal is to reach about 10,000 individual donors and about $5 million a year in funding from them by 2008 or administration. In accordance with new California employment laws, we have all new personnel policies and staff employment agreements. left: students at a kindergarten in Quang Tri

5 director smessage A staff position was created to supervise human resources policy, and a human resources audit was conducted. finance. We have now completed our first audit in over a decade (we passed with flying colors), and the financial and accounting systems have been completely re-built from the ground up. New staff positions for finance director and bookkeeper have been created. We have dramatically enhanced our ability to provide accurate financial reporting on our programs and projects. publications. A new logo was created and brand-new materials developed such as the newsletter, letterhead and envelopes, the web site, this annual report, brochures and a calendar. Unlike many other international development non-profits, EMW only works in Vietnam. We believe that this tight focus on one country allows us to build closer relationships with our supporters. above: EMW s Hoang Ngoc Tung leads a training session with local residents to bring tin roofs to rural communities in Da Nang programs. We are starting to put a lot more attention on program development, seeking to build innovative programs that can have measurable effects on a larger scale. In 2004, we launched the Scholarship Program to Enhance Literacy and Learning (SPELL). This highly innovative program is designed to help low-income students avoid dropping out of school by providing school fees and uniforms and mandating after-school tutoring. We launched it simultaneously in 64 schools in 6 provinces with 1,500 children. In 2005, we will add another 1,000 children. as we grow Taken together, these changes mean that East Meets West is a much different organization than it was just a few years ago. Our budgets are much bigger and there are lot more new staff so many, in fact, that we had to move to larger office space in both Oakland and Da Nang. There are now eight staff working from the Oakland office and almost 50 in Vietnam in the three offices there. We now have the systems in place to manage all these people and the solid, durable funding base is difficult, expensive and time-consuming with no guarantees of success. Vietnam is changing rapidly, and this may make some of our most-cherished programs obsolete or ineffective. Rapid staff hiring and program development can cause organizational difficulties. As we grow, we don t want to lose the things that make East Meets West special. Unlike many other international development non-profits, for example, we only work in Vietnam. We believe that this tight focus on one country allows us to build closer relationships with our supporters particularly Vietnam veterans and Vietnamese Americans and to create and manage better programs. East Meets West is also very welcoming of supporters who want a closer connection. All of the staff are easily accessible, and donors are welcome to visit us in Oakland or Da Nang. Keeping what works while building for the future is perhaps the biggest challenge we face, but I think it is one we are now prepared to address. I m looking forward to it, and I hope you are too. h 3 budgets, and so are confident that we can continue to grow over the next period. East Meets West still faces many challenges. While the early results have been impressive, building a

6 a look back at w h a t a d i f f e r e n c e a y e a r c a n m a k e! 4 highlights: New in 2004, the Scholarship Program to Enhance Literacy and Learning (SPELL) helped over 1,500 primary school students stay in school. 132 children stricken with heart disease received life-saving surgeries through the Healthy Heart Program. The first Vietnamese American Non-Governmental Organization (VA-NGO) Conference brought together more than 30 nonprofits to promote collaboration and a more prominent role for overseas Vietnamese in the development of Vietnam s future. EMW constructed a school and vocational center for the blind in Da Nang, bringing education, training, and skill-building workshops to more than 80 people. 168 poor rural families received income-generating assistance through EMW s micro-loan and livestock lending programs. The East Meets West Pediatric Dental Program in Da Nang celebrated its 25,000th patient in 2004 since it opened in The Village of Hope Graduate Program helped 21 students continue their post-high school education and vocational training by providing financial aid for university fees, lodging, food, and other expenses. 12 self-sustainable water systems were constructed in 2004, giving over 13,000 residents of central Vietnam access to water that is free of water-borne diseases, sewage, chemicals, and other pollutants. 53 poor families in Vietnam live in new homes and another 54 ethnic minority families received waterproof roofs for their homes. The Veterans Circle and the Veterans Circle of Honor was created in 2004 to recognize veterans who served their country and who now want to help the people of Vietnam.

7 a look back at c o m p i l e d b y c r a i g f o x a n d h o t h i y n h i programs and projects: 2004 expenditures and beneficiaries COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURES IN US DOLLARS School Construction $744,890 7,941 In 2004, EMW constructed 45 schools. These kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools are built with restrooms, electricity, clean water wells and furnishings. Improved educational facilities improve learning, teacher retention and school enrollment. Water System Construction $270,683 13,164 In 2004, EMW constructed 12 water systems to bring clean water to over thirteen thousand people. Having access to clean water improves the health of the entire family. Potable water is free of water-borne diseases, sewage, chemicals and other pollutants. Vocational Training Centers $162, EMW vocational centers provide classes in administrative and computer education, sewing, and woodworking. In 2004, a vocational center for the blind was constructed that provides 50 blind people with training and skill building workshops. The Son Tra Vocational Center and the Tam Ky Vocational Center were also built in BENEFICIARIES IN Blind School $127, In 2004, EMW constructed Nguyen Dinh Chieu Blind School in Da Nang. The school includes 8 dormitories and a cafeteria. 80 visually impaired children from the ages of 3 through 14 currently live at the school. In addition, EMW equipped the school with 70 bunk beds, 7 tables, 70 chairs and outfitted the kitchen. Compassion Homes $72, In 2004, EMW constructed 53 houses for impoverished families. Old dilapidated dwellings with leaky thatch roofs and dirt floors were replaced with brick houses with solid tile roofs and elevated concrete foundations that keep out the rains. Providing a family with a new home that can never be sold, mortgaged or given away provides a family with a safe and sanitary place to live. The Tin Roof Project provided 54 ethnic minority families with waterproof roofs for their homes. Bridges $61,444 6,200 Seven sturdy rural bridges were constructed in 2004 to permit children to safely cross dangerous rivers on their way to school and to allow farmers to get their crops to market. One dam was built to enhance the agricultural potential of a commune. Additional Community Development Projects $63,188 35,788 Other Community Development programs include the following: Irrigation projects, Duy Xuyen Hospital, Micro Credit Program, Duc Pho Health Clinic, Piglet Program, Da Nang Rehab Hospital, and a library. TOTAL FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT $1,501,789 64,267

8 a look back at DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES EXPENDITURES IN US DOLLARS BENEFICIARIES IN 2004 SPELL- Scholarship Program to Enhance Learning and Literacy $207,512 1,502 New in 2004, SPELL (Scholarship Program to Enhance Learning and Literacy) assists poor students with funds for school books, fees, uniforms and supplies. Developed as a drop-out prevention program, SPELL follows students from grade 3 through the end of high school. 1,502 children who may have been forced to drop out of school to work, are now able to continue in school. Village of Hope Disadvantaged Children s Center $81, orphaned, abandoned and at-risk children lived at the Da Nang Village of Hope in There is also an on-site deaf education program, which provides services to hearing-impaired children. Child sponsors from throughout the world provide financial support for Village of Hope children. Sister Projects (Home For Unwed Mothers) $27,967 - Breaking ground in April 2005, this is a home for unwed mothers done in collaboration with the Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Ho Chi Minh and Saigon Children s Charities. Funds provided by Rotary Clubs of Arcata, CA and Downtown Gainesville, FL. Tien Phuoc Home For Disadvantaged Children $16, Located in a rural mountainous region of central Vietnam, the Tien Phuoc Home for Disadvantaged Children provides a caring refuge for the 32 children who live there. Family Sponsorship Program $9, This program is a flexible income support program for very poor families that benefited over 25 families in EMW social workers determine the most effective approach for participants to help them get out of poverty, keep their children in school or improve their health. 6 Village of Hope Graduate Program $2, The VOH Graduate Program provided 21 former Village of Hope students with financial aid vocational training and/or college. 10 college third years, 2 second years, 6 first years, and 3 college prep students all received funding for university fees, lodging, food, and other expenses associated with attaining a university & trade degree. TOTAL FOR DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES $345,570 1,809 HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMS Dental Program $189,039 5,272 The EMW Da Nang Dental Program provides free dental care to disadvantaged children who otherwise would not have access to a dentist. In 2004, the clinic treated 5,272 patients. The dental team provides preventative education, routine cleanings, cavity fillings, root canals, tooth extractions and topical fluoride applications. Aided by volunteer dentists from around the world, the dental team also travels to remote villages to provide dental services to children who cannot afford to travel to the clinic. Healthy Heart Surgery Program $88, The Healthy Heart program provides transportation, medical evaluation, and surgery costs to children who have heart defects and whose families cannot afford to pay for the requisite treatments. In 2004, 294 patients were helped and 132 of them received lifesaving open or closed heart operations. National Hospital of Pediatrics $49,037 Preliminary work on the master plan for a complete re-build of the National Hospital of Pediatrics in Hanoi. Health Capacity Development $33,329 Funding and operation expenses of the Project Office at Hue Central Hospital to help manage the design, building and furnishing of the Hue Cardiovascular Center.

9 a look back at EXPENDITURES IN US DOLLARS BENEFICIARIES IN 2004 Children s Psychiatric Center $30,793 4,000 Construction of the Pediatric Ward at Da Nang Psychiatric Hospital to provide medical services to about 4,000 mentally disabled children per year. Medical Equipment and Supplies $28,464 14,039 Feasibility study and medical equipment procurement for the Da Nang Rehabilitation Center. Furniture for the Duy Xuyen Hospital. Operational costs of 3 Centers for Disabled Children in Tien Phuoc. Family Emergency Relief Fund (FERF) $20, In 2004, the FERF program provided 362 individuals with emergency surgeries and medical care that they otherwise could not afford. Types of medical care provided include emergency treatment for burn victims, surgery to repair broken bones, and medicine to treat a variety of conditions. The FERF program also provides relief aid when natural disasters strike. Other Health and Well-Being Programs $6, Other Health and Well-Being programs include the Public Health Office in Da Nang and an English Lab. TOTAL FOR HEALTH AND WELL-BEING PROGRAMS $446,686 25,967 PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS VA-NGO Conference $52, A historic first gathering of all the Vietnamese American Non-Governmental (VA-NGO) organizations involved in development and humanitarian work in Vietnam. Over 120 Vietnamese Americans from 32 NGOs attended the highly successful event. EMW was one of the conference conveners with the Pacific Links Foundation and others. 7 Clean Water Documentary $31,715 - Made by Emmy-award winning director, Stephen Olsson, Clean Water: For the Health of a Nation is a 19-minute documentary of EMW s safe water projects. It will premiere on LINKTV in April Other Public Education Programs $10,197 - The non-fundraising portions of the newsletter, website and other materials. TOTAL FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS $94, LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS Hue Cardiovascular Center $1,025,296 - The Hue Cardiovascular Center is a 6-level, 107,000 square feet building that will provide cardiac services to a population of about one million. Slated for completion in 2006, the facility will offer heart examinations, heart operations, emergency care, training, and a full pharmacy. The center will house 4 state-of-the-art operating theatres, an aquatic therapy pool, 200 beds, and a 300-seat lecture hall. Da Nang Learning Resource Center (LRC) $869,613 - The LRC is a 4-level, 60,000 square feet building that serves as the center for information resources for the Teachers and Technical Colleges of the University of Da Nang. The building will contain multi-media labs, seminar room, conference/meeting rooms, a state-of-the-art IT computer system, offices, and training facilities. The LRC will be connected and integrated with a network of 4 other universities throughout Vietnam. The center will provide ongoing services to more than 22,000 students, staff, and professionals yearly.

10 a look back at LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CONTINUED EXPENDITURES IN US DOLLARS BENEFICIARIES IN 2004 Da Nang English Language Institute (ELI) $796,859 - Started in 2004, the ELI will be completed in 2006 and provide a high quality English language program to University of Da Nang campus. The 12-story, 107,000 square feet building will house classrooms, offices, multi-media labs, and a 300-seat auditorium. Da Nang Hospital -Emergency Center $791,401 - A six-story building about 64,500 square feet in total area, the new Emergency Hospital in Da Nang includes a roof-top helicopter pad and full services for ear, nose, and throat care, an emergency ward, OB-GYN, general examinations, and a pharmacy. The center also includes x-ray rooms, CT scans and an MIR machine.. Thai Nguyen University Dorms $573,598 1,750 To be completed at the end of 2005, these multi-level dorms measure close to 64,500 square feet in total area. Consisting of 7 dorms and 1 food center, the buildings function as live/work spaces with separate sleeping quarters and dining/study areas.. 8 Da Nang Eye Hospital $471,904 - The Da Nang Eye Hospital is a two-phase project that will house a general patient ward and be equipped with more than $1 million worth of medical eye equipment. The hospital will have a Phaco machine, Bausch and Lomb Exicimar laser, ultra-sound scanner and more. Currently in the design stage, construction will finish in early Hue Learning Resource Center (LRC) $449,024 45,000 The Hue Learning Resource Center is a four-story library done in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. The state-of-the art facility can accommodate 1,500 students. It was completed in February Hue Guesthouse $203, A 3-story building with about 19,000 square feet in total area that is designed to accommodate visiting international students and teachers. The Guesthouse is equipped with living spaces, kitchen, laundry, recreation rooms, dining areas, and teaching lounges. Da Nang University Sports Center $79,012 20,000 Completed in 2004, the Sports Center at the University of Da Nang is a 2-story building equipped with the first retracting bleachers and basketball hoops in Vietnam. The Sports Center also has a modern rubberized playing surface and is designed to be naturally cooled and ventilated with limited air-conditioning to lower maintenance costs. Hue Pediatric Hospital $64,244 - The Hue Pediatric Center is a 4-level building designed and built to meet the highest standards. The building houses multiple departments, play areas for young patients, 2 elevator lifts, and a large teaching facility. This project has the potential to provide services to more than 1 million local residents, staff, and professionals each year in the central region of Vietnam. Da Nang Multipurpose Hospital $62,449 - A 6-story, 107,000 square feet building. Currently in its design stage, the building will be composed of 5 departments, 8 operating rooms, a 25-bed ICU and 250 total beds. The building has central air-conditioning and 3 elevator lifts. Other Large Infrastructure and Construction Projects $121,806 27,360 Other large infrastructure and construction projects include the following: Hue University Dormitories, Da Nang Hospital, Quang Tri Hospitals, and Da Nang University Dormitories. TOTAL FOR LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS $5,509,149 94,310 GRAND TOTAL FOR 2004 $7,897, ,485 Numbers reflect actual expenditure in the year 2004 only, not the total cost of the completed projects or programs. Expenditures include both direct costs and indirect costs, such as program management and common charges.

11 a look back at FINANCIAL REPORT 2004 FOR TH E EAST M EETS WEST FOU N DATION AN D REACH VI ETNAM ( A SU BSI DIARY ) highlights In 2004, EMW spent $2.4 million on grassroots programs in Vietnam. In 2004, EMW spent $5.5 million on large infrastructure projects. EMW s program costs were 90.3% of total spending in EMW s management & general costs were 5.0% of total spending in EMW s fundraising costs were 4.7% of total spending in consolidated statement of activities FOR TH E YEAR EN DED DECEM BER 31, 2004 Support and Revenue unrestricted temporarily total restricted Donations 36, , ,630 Foundation Grants 1,099,353 7,539,472 8,638,825 Special Events (net of expenses) 13,455-13,455 Other Income 95,300 23, ,758 In-kind Donations 157, ,423 Net Assets Released from Restrictions 7,613,659 (7,613,659) - Total Support and Revenue 9,015, ,536 9,707,091 Expenses Program Services 7,897,255-7,897,255 Management and General 438, ,902 Fundraising 409, ,726 Total Expenses 8,745,883-8,745,883 Changes in Net Assets 269, , ,208 Net Assets at Beginning of Year 1,614,583 20,954,908 22,569,491 consolidated statement of net assets AS OF DECEM BER 31, 2004 assets Cash (including interest bearing accounts) 2,292,280 Micro-loan Receivables 36,975 Accrued Interest 2,860 Pre-Paid Expenses 72,716 Grants Receivable 16,175,000 Investments at Fair Value 5,032,423 Property & Equipment Net 12,514 Total Assets 23,624,768 liabilities and net assets Accounts Payable and Accrued Expense 40,776 Accrued Payroll and Other Benefits 33,793 Deferred Revenue 19,500 Total Liabilities 94,069 net assets Unrestricted Net Assets 1,884,255 Temporarily Restricted Net Assets 21,646,444 Total Net Assets 23,530,699 9 Net Assets at End of Year 1,884,255 21,646,444 23,530,699 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $23,624,768 Income and expenses are for both the East Meets West Foundation and its subsidiary Reach Vietnam. Restricted funds are designed for specific programs or projects, unrestricted funds can be used for any purpose.

12 people&places Who is East Meets West? Meet our Vietnam staff! The East Meets West Foundation is run by a professional staff who put in countless hours to bring programs and projects to help the children and families of Vietnam. Meet below a few of our 50 employees who work in Da Nang and throughout central Vietnam. Hoang Thi Hang Tam Vice Country Director Tam came to work for East Meets West as a translator in 1993 and now serves as the Vice Country Director. Ever since she was a small child, Tam has wanted to help the less fortunate. She finds great reward and satisfaction in doing her part to contribute to the good of society and the future of Vietnam. She says the best thing about working for EMW is that it has done a lot of good for her country and finds the staff to be very energetic and devoted. During her spare time, Tam enjoys spending time with family and friends and likes to travel and shop. Ho Thi Y Nhi Office Manager Oliver Stone s adaptation of Le Ly Hayslip s (EMW founder) story, Heaven and Earth, left quite an impression on Nhi her interest in working with the poor and helping lift Vietnam out of poverty eventually lead to a job at EMW in Nhi is greatly motivated by the results she has seen with EMW s school construction, water projects, compassion homes, healthy heart program, and large construction projects. When she sees the smiling face of a who has received a life-saving heart surgery or the joy of a poor family when they enter their new Compassion Home, she knows her work is worthwhile. Nhi relaxes by reading books and magazines and enjoys visiting new places. Pham Quoc Hung Field Operations Manager Hung joined the EMW team after learning about the organization in a Peace Corps newsletter. With a background in architecture, Hung has applied his skills in design and construction on a humanitarian development level. From working with donors in the early discussion stages to conducting feasibility studies, concept and detail design, to final construction and fitout stages, Hung is charged with overseeing the building of all EMW large-scale building projects. He says the best thing about his job is having the opportunity to return to the country where [he] immigrated from and be involved in the development process of its future. Hoang Ngoc Tung SPELL National Program Coordinator After working at the Village of Hope Children s Center as a social worker, Tung joined EMW when it expanded its grassroots projects in Tung is passionate about working with disadvantaged youth to create opportunities for a better future and wants to contribute as much as he can to bringing happiness and comfort to underprivileged children. He currently manages the Scholarship Program to Enhance Literacy and Learning (SPELL), which extends over six provinces in Vietnam and serves over 1500 young students. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, going to soccer games, and learning English. Truong Thi Huong Senior Program Assistant Huong was introduced to EMW in 1994 when she came to Village of Hope in search of a teaching job. It became clear that VOH was in great need of more social workers to manage and supervise the children. Huong signed on and worked for 5 years as a social worker at the Village of Hope before transferring to the Da Nang Office as a Program Assistant. She is the current senior social worker for the Healthy Heart Program, in addition to working with other sponsorship and health programs. Huong has always had a desire to help underprivileged people, especially children. She is proud to be a part of an organization that helps improve the living conditions of the poor in Vietnam. During her free time, she likes to spend time with her family and children and learn English. Tran Thi Khanh Van Social Worker, Quang Tri Office After graduating from Hue University of Science in 1999, Van spent a year helping the ethnic minority people of Huong Linh incorporate modern farming methods to improve their economic conditions. She returned to her hometown of Dong Ha and was introduced to EMW by a former EMW employee. Van enjoys working for EMW because of its mission to help the disadvantaged people of Vietnam and her work allows her to improve her English skills, a personal and professional goal of hers. Van currently manages the Healthy Heart and FERF (Family Emergency Relief Fund) programs in the Quang Tri area and also works as a translator.

13 specialevents 1 2 Event highlights included EMW s founder, Le Ly Hayslip and the chairman of the EMW Board, Peter A. Singer being honored by the City of San Francisco for their dedication and commitment to helping the people of Vietnam tet celebration Ringing in the Year of the Rooster b y d e e d e e n g u y e n p h o t o s b y r i c k r o c a m o r a & h a i - h o t r a n O N S A T U R D A Y, F E B R U A R Y 5 the East Meets West Foundation welcomed guests to its 2nd Annual Tet Celebration: A Feast of Fortune to ring in the Year of the Rooster. Co-presented by United Airlines, guests arrived at the beautiful Hotel Nikko in San Francisco to attend EMW s annual fundraiser to promote safe drinking water in Vietnam. Guests from all over the U.S. arrived to celebrate the Lunar New Year, or Tet, in the Bay Area, and this year s event, the Year of the Rooster was truly something to crow about. Together, community and civic leaders, partners in our Vietnamese-American NGO network, corporate sponsors, volunteers from Asian Americans for Community Outreach, and our donors helped raise over $50,000 to provide safe, clean water to poor children and families in Vietnam. The evening began with a gourmet reception sponsored by Heineken and Windsor Vineyards combined with a visually tempting silent auction. Guests were met with an amazing display of arts and crafts from Vietnam, including lacquerware, drawings, paintings, photographs, and other special items. The festive spirit continued later in the evening as artwork featuring Vietnamese American and Vietnamese artists provided by Galerie Quynh of Vietnam were presented in our live auction. Event highlights included our founder, Le Ly Hayslip and our board chair, Peter A. Singer being honored by the City of San Francisco for their dedication and commitment to helping the people of Vietnam. Guests also watched the premiere presentation of Clean Water: For the Health of a Nation a documentary produced by LinkTV and East Meets West to educate folks on the importance of safe drinking water in Vietnam. We would like to thank our title sponsor, United Airlines, and our platinum sponsors Galerie Quynh and Wells Fargo in helping make this event such a resounding success. And to all the EMW community, thank you so much for your support! h 11 From left to right: 1. Jenny Do and husband Dan Do 2. Hong Nguyen Phuong poses with his Live Auction purchase. 3. Sonya Jackson (United Airlines) and Andrew Lam. 4. Brothers James and Khiem Do. 5. Amy Labandelo (United Airlines) and Margie Singer. circle photo above right: Le Ly Hayslip (EMW Founder) and SF City Administrator, William Lee.

14 projectspotlight SPELL helps students like nguyen thi ngoc no by giving her a chance at a brighter future through providing the opportunity to stay in school 12 the faces of meet some of the recipients of emw s new innovative education programspell the scholarship program to enhance literacy and learning (spell) is EMW s newest program. A highly innovative program designed to prevent poor Vietnamese students from dropping out of school, SPELL targets the poorest ten percent of students in Vietnam. In this group, no more than 30% ever graduate high school. In modern Vietnam, a high school degree is essential to getting ahead. SPELL provides poor students with funding for school fees, books, uniforms and other expenses. It also mandates and pays for after-school tutoring. The program starts with children in the third grade (although the first year of the program included some Grade 4 and 5 students). Each student in the program is guaranteed that if they stay in school, the scholarship will follow them for ten years or until they graduate from high school. The program launched at the start of the 2004/2005 school year with 1,500 children in six provinces in central Vietnam. Each school with SPELL scholarships gets 20 to 30 scholarships, and a similar amount with each new school year. By providing a substantial number of scholarships in each school, the SPELL team led in Vietnam by Hoang Tung can build strong relations with each school, engaging teachers, administrators and the local community in a common effort to help keep these children in school. above Nguyen Thi Ngoc No Born 1995 Grade 4 Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, Binh Tri, Thang Binh, Quang Nam Province c o m p i l e d b y d i e p v u o n g p h o t o s b y t h e s p e l l t e a m i n v i e t n a m

15 binh dinh quang binh projectspotlight Dinh Thi Thu Hien Born 1995 Grade 4 Tan Kieu Primary School Yen Hoa, Minh Hoa Quang Binh Dang Truong An Born 1996 Grade 3 My Phong Primary School Phu My, Binh Dinh Pham Van Thai Born 1995 Grade 4 Xuan Trach 2 Primary School Bo Trach, Quang Binh Nguyen Van Dinh Born 1993 Grade 5 Hung Thuy Primary School Le Thuy, Quang Binh Nguyen Thi Bich Ly Born 1995 Grade 4 Academics: Excellent My Phong Primary School Phu My, Binh Dinh Le Thi Hoai Nhung Born 1994 Grade 4 Phuc Trach 1 Primary School Bo Trach, Quang Binh SPELL targets the poorest 10% of students in Vietnam, 70% of whom will otherwise not finish high school. quang ngai 13 Huynh Van Lanh Born 1995 Grade 4 My Thang Primary School Phu My, Binh Dinh Dinh Quang Trung Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Excellent Hung Thuy Primary School Le Thuy, Quang Binh Vo Thi My Duyen Born 1995 Grade 4 Academics: Excellent Binh Chanh 1 Primary School Binh Son, Quang Ngai Ngo Thi Tam Born 1996 Grade 4 Academics: Above-Average Binh Chanh 2 Primary School Binh Son, Quang Ngai Tran Cong Hung Born 1996 Grade 3 Tinh Binh 2 Primary School Son Tinh, Quang Ngai Tran Thanh Hai Born 1996 Grade 4 My Thang Primary School Phu My, Binh Dinh Nguyen Van Tuan Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Good Phuc Trach 1 Primary School Bo Trach, Quang Binh Dang The Born 1995 Grade 3 Academics: Excellent Tinh Ky Primary School Son Tinh, Quang Ngai Ngo Thi Thanh Born 1994 Grade 4 Academics: Excellent Tinh Ky Primary School Son Tinh, Quang Ngai Pham Thi Hong Duyen Born 1995 Grade 4 Academics: Excellent Binh An Primary School Binh Son, Quang Ngai

16 [faces of spell cont d] da nang Le Thi Bich Ngoc Born 1994 Grade 5 Academics: Excellent Hoa Son 1 Primary School Hoa Vang, Da Nang Le Duc Luong Born 1994 Grade 4 Phuc Trach 3 Primary School Bo Trach, Quang Binh 14 Le Duy Tan Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Excellent Hoa Nhon 2 Primary School Hoa Vang, Da Nang Le Van Dong Born 1994 Grade 4 Academics: Good Hoa Nhon 1 Primary School Hoa Vang, Da Nang Do Huu Dung Born 1995 Grade 4 Academics: Good Hoa Nhon 2 Primary School Hoa Vang, Da Nang Pham Thi Lai Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Excellent Phu Tho Primary School Que Son, Quang Nam Nguyen Thanh Dat Born 1996 Grade 3 Hoa Nhon 2 Primary School Hoa Vang, Da Nang Each SPELL student, like Le Duc Luong, (above) is guaranteed that if they stay in school, the scholarship will continue until they graduate from high school. quang nam Tran Thi Thuy Van Born 1994 Grade 4 Academics: Good Que An Primary School Que Son, Quang Nam Le Van Trung Born 1996 Grade 3 Nguyen Van Troi Primary School, Binh Tri Thang Binh, Quang Nam Nguyen Phuoc Nhat Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Excellent Phu Tho Primary School Que Son, Quang Nam Tran Thi Linh Born 1994 Grade 3 Que An Primary School Que Son, Quang Nam Vo Thi Thuy Trang Born 1996 Grade 3 Academics: Good Phu Tho Primary School Que Son, Quang Nam

17 a right: wish you were here! The Dental Outreach Group in Hoa Lien programupdate of When EMW s Dental Program partnered with Himalayan Dental Relief Project and Global Humanitarian Expeditions, they were together able to provide the largest dental outreach program in EMW history. b y k i m k v a r d a & c h a r l e s f. c r a f t duri ng two hugely succ essful dental outreac h tri ps, the East Meets West Dental Program collaborated with the Himalayan Dental Relief Project (HDRP) and Global Humanitarian Expeditions (GHE) to provide modern quality dental care to poor children living in central Vietnam. Both HDRP and GHE are American based non-profit organizations that focus on placing international dental volunteers overseas. Although EMW has conducted over 30 outreach trips in the past 10 years, this partnership marked the first time that such a large group has been mobilized on one outreach trip. This huge exchange effort allowed the three organizations to cooperate together as a cohesive professional team that was able to offer dental care to 2,166 disadvantaged rural children. The first outreach trip took place in November 2004 in the village of Hoa Lien. The team consisted of 6 dentists, 2 hygienists, 3 dental assistants and 10 non-medical volunteers who offered modern dental services to 1,140 children over a five-day period. Oral examinations, cleanings, fillings, extractions, fluoride treatments, preventive sealants, medications and patient educational services were provided. This teamwork proved to be so effective that a second outreach trip was quickly scheduled in March That team consisted of 7 dentists, 2 hygienists, 6 dental assistants and 7 non-medical volunteers. They traveled to Hoa Tien village and treated 1,026 children in five days. The total treatment resulted in 2,166 children receiving dental services worth an estimated US $329,650. Outreach trips require EMW Vietnamese staff to pack up portable dental equipment and supplies from our clinic location in Da Nang, and travel by van to school centers and village locations. This enables the team to reach children that have very limited access to proper dental treatment. Many children suffer from acute dental pain or chronic infections caused by neglected dental disease. Often, these children cannot afford dental care, may never have received treatment, or been taught the correct methods of tooth brushing. The EMW dental team will set up their outreach clinic in a local school and work with teachers and officials to schedule the children in an orderly manner for their dental exams. They also organize a large volume of instruments and materials. Careful attention is given to ensure proper infection control and compassionate care for the children. Dentists work closely with their assistants to form a highly skilled team that can see hundreds of patients a day. Each child receives detailed instructions in Vietnamese on proper oral hygiene along with complimentary toothbrushes and toothpaste. These two dental outreaches were the largest in EMW history and there are plans for more exchanges in the future. Kim Balazs, GHE Director, stated, The EMW team worked tirelessly to ensure the success of the clinic and to maximize the number of children the team could treat. It was a spectacular partnership. Dr. Tuong, EMW Chief Dentist, said, These large outreach trips are very successful because the emergency care provided relieves so many children from suffering and pain. The children, along with their parents, learn the importance of proper dental care to prevent future infections, through our educational sessions. It is important to care for the poor people because without EMW, they would be unable to access these services. The EMW Dental Program is funded entirely by generous donations and volunteer participation from individuals around the world. EMW would like to thank Kim Balazs, GHE Director and Laurie Mathews, HCRP Director, for their great teamwork and dedication to the children of Vietnam. h 15 how you can help If you are interested in joining a team dental outreach trip (one is set for January 2006), contact Kim Balazs at kim@ humanitariantours.com. To volunteer directly with the EMW Dental Team, contact EMW s Dental Director Dr. Charles F. Craft at fcraft80@hotmail.com. If you would like to donate to EMW s Dental Program contact Kim Kvarda at kim@eastmeetswest.org.

18 language&culture Known as the essence of all life, water holds many special meanings for the people of Vietnam by bac hoai tran an d courtn ey norris 16 If you ask farmers in Vietnam about the The second meaning of nü c is something importance of water or nü c, they will else that is at the forefront of Vietnamese life, almost invariably cite the adage NhÃt country. nü c, nhì phân, tam càn, tù gióng yêu + nü c = PATRIOTIC (Water first; fertilizer second; labor third; and love + country seeds fourth). And if you have time to sit down and chat with them over a cup of fragrant green tea to nü c + nhà = HOMELAND discuss it further, you may hear some folk poetry, country + house/home such as this popular rhyme: nü c + ngoài = FOREIGN LÆy tr i müa xuóng, Pray that it rains, country + outside COUNTRY LÃy nü c tôi uóng, So that I have water to drink, This double meaning water and country LÃy ru ng tôi cày, And I can plow my paddy, often creates a play on words. For some idioms, LÃy ÇÀy bát cöm, And fill my bowl with rice, two very different interpretations are possible, LÃy röm Çun b p. And have straw for my stove. creating opportunities for pun-making and doubleentendres. For rural Vietnamese, water whether capturing, hauling, or controlling it can be For example, bán means to sell, so bán nü c can mean sell water, or more gravely, to all-consuming. Idioms containing nü c are numerous, both poetic and practical: khát + nü c = THIRSTY thirsty + water nü c + hoa = PERFUME water + flower nü c + b t = SALIVA water + foam nü c + m m = FISH SAUCE water + fermented fish/shrimp nü c + m t = TEAR water + eye nü c + cam = ORANGE JUICE water + orange betray one s country. Similarly mãt is to lose, so mãt nü c either means having no water or even worse, losing one s country. The most interesting idioms containing the word nü c are those that rely on the juxtaposition of two images that, when blended together, create the abstract concept of nation, country or homeland. For instance, when nü c (water) is combined with non (mountains), the result is nü c non or non nü c signifying country or nation, while the basic, discrete meaning of each element still remains intact. Another example is the coupling of nü c (water) and ÇÃt (land, soil) to again mean country or nation. For Vietnamese, word pairings make perfect sense, as water, mountains and land combine to make up their whole environs. h The elements of water and land are not always in harmony, and their jealousy and rage are the themes of this well-known mythological tale. A long, long time ago there was a Mountain God and a Water God. They became mortal enemies when they rivaled each other for the hand of a young and beautiful princess. The Mountain God and the Water God each came to the King to ask for his beautiful daughter s hand on the same day. Since they were of equal renown and power across the land, the King was unable to make up his mind as to which of them was more suited to become his son-in-law. He finally decided that whoever arrived first the next day with all the required gifts would be allowed to marry his daughter. When the sun had just beamed its first golden rays over the kingdom, the Mountain God arrived with his precious presents and was thus permitted to carry the bride away. The Water God showed up at the King s court later, only to realize that he was too late. In a great rage, he chased after the Mountain God to challenge him to fight to the finish. In the wake of his thunderous pursuit came raging floods that cut a destructive swath across the land. But the Mountain God knew his foe s tricks all too well, and calmly ordered the mountains to rise higher and higher until the Water God grew very weary in both limb and spirit and had no choice but to halt his floods. To this very day it is said that the Water God still hasn t given up his fight, sending his floods inland each year to drown his arch enemy and reclaim the lovely bride. To appease his fury, farmers set up altars and earnestly pray to him, pleading with him each year for a reprieve.

19 Donors Lead the Way Without the generosity and commitment of EMW s supporters to our mission, we would never be able to serve the hundreds of thousands of individuals we help each year in Vietnam. The following inspirational stories exemplify the leadership that our donors take in supporting the people of Vietnam. Marine Corps Basic Class 6-67 Returns to Vietnam to Help Local Children On November 1, 1967, 498 Marine lieutenants graduated from Marine Corps Basic Class During the war, 43 in the class were killed and 200 wounded more than any Basic School Class since the Korean War. Almost 37 years later, family members, friends and fellow classmates are memorializing their brethren by supporting the construction of a primary school in Vietnam. Led by classmates Jack Wells and Steve Colwell, over $25,000 has been raised to build a 9-room primary school in Quang Nam Province. Mary Abbott s brother, Richard W. Kapp, Jr, was killed in Vietnam in above: Jack Wells of Marine Corps Basic Class 6-67 in Quang Nam Province, As a retired primary school teacher, she understands the need for a quality education. Participation in the project was not an easy decision for her. As Mary puts it, being a school teacher and always dealing with young children, I was torn [by my brother s loss and the needs of the children] but Dickie would have wanted me to do this for the young children of Vietnam. For others, the idea that they could somehow help the local children and families affected by the war was too good to be true. The Marine Corps was one the finest things that ever happened to me. When I heard about the project, it seemed like the right thing to do. It just felt right to have my spirit memorialized with a great group of guys my brothers, says Sky Page, who lost four friends in Vietnam. The primary school will benefit close to 250 b y d e e d e e n g u y e n above: These fellow Marine Veterans and friends returned to Vietnam to help build a primary school in Quang Nam. From left: Bob O Connor, Ed Kliewer, Dick Wilkerson, Tom Constantino, Rich Lowder, Ray Dito children from grades K-5 by replacing aging, unsafe, overcrowded buildings. Local officials are so thrilled about the possibility of the new school that they too are planning to raise funds to help make the school a reality for the children. The school is slated to open in August or September 2005 and some supporters are already planning to attend the opening. Jack Wells plans on bringing his wife and 10 year-old daughter to Vietnam to attend the opening. I think that it would be a great opportunity to have my family see how important this is to me [as a Veteran] and also see how important this is to the local Vietnamese community. Meet Jack McCombs It feels like only yesterday that Jack McCombs introduced himself to the East Meets West Foundation. As an active Rotarian in Gainesville, Florida, Jack has helped bring international aid to communities throughout the world. But it wasn t until Sue McKinney, a fellow Rotarian from Oakland, California, approached him on supporting a project in Vietnam did he learn about East Meets West. Having served in the Vietnam War, he saw first hand the needs of poor children and families in Vietnam and knew he wanted to help. Over the years Jack has facilitated numerous relationships between East Meets West and Rotary Clubs throughout the United States. Most donorspotlight Veterans Circle and Veterans Circle of Honor The year 2004 marked the inaugural year for the East Meets West Foundation s Veterans Circle and Veterans Circle of Honor. The exclusive membership in the Veterans Circle is an opportunity for Veterans, their family members and EMW supporters to honor the thousands of individuals who have served in the military during times of war and peace and help the people of Vietnam. The Veterans Circle and Veterans Circle of Honor is proud to recognize the following individuals for joining the elite membership: Veterans Circle Lawrence S. Connolly Travis Combs Charles Gilreath LZ Russell Association Vietnam Veterans of California, Inc. Veterans Circle of Honor Richard Gariepy Dr. Peter A. Singer Marine Corps Basic Class 6-67 Vietnam Veterans Restoration Project EMW is hoping to bring together a tour of Vietnam in 2005 that will be specifically organized for our Veterans Circle members. For more information or to join the Veterans Circle call EMW at or deedee@eastmeetwest.org. recently, Jack is helping hundreds of families throughout Vietnam by providing safe drinking water to their homes. Worldwide, over 6,000 people mostly children are dying each day because of lack of water or due to unsanitary conditions. My involvement with East Meets West made it a natural fit to help those poor families that I saw in Vietnam and promote Rotary s work internationally. Jack s dedication is evident in the excitement in his voice, I have always wanted to help Vietnam, so when I learned about East Meets West and its mission, I had to get Rotary involved I knew [East Meets West] was just going to take off and I had to do something. h 17