A new kitchen at the Bot Da nursery school in Vietnam

Our community in Bot Da, in the Diocese of Vinh, serves both the parish and the local community. Following the charism of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jeanne Antide, the community of five sisters offers generous service both within the parish – teaching catechism and participating in liturgical celebrations – as well as in the healthcare sector, caring for numerous patients who seek their assistance daily, mainly through natural therapies and acupuncture. Nevertheless, the educational activities aimed at the village children are what take up most of the sisters’ efforts. Currently, the nursery school accommodates 61 children aged between 2 and 5, divided into three separate classes. In addition to teaching and sports activities, the nuns also take care of Hygiene and the catering: in all the schools, in fact, the nuns prepare both snacks and lunch for the children. Every day, approximately for 70 pupils are offered meals. The building, however, requires some renovation, because it has frequently been flooded. It is situated not far from the beach and, when the tides rise, it is often flooded and completely covered in mud. This is a major concern for the nuns, whose workload is significantly increased as they strive to ensure the hygiene and high quality of the food provided to the children. The Thouret Foundation, together with generous benefactors, is working to ensure that the kitchen facilities are restored and, most importantly, protected from future flooding, so that the children can enjoy more delicious and healthy meals.

Back to School The academic year is about to resume! For many children, it will mark the start of a new journey of growing up and learning. For others, however, attending school remains a daily challenge. In many countries around the world, social difficulties make access to education challenging. Children are forced to walk long distances to reach schools, many families can’t afford to pay school fees or buy learning materials. This sometimes forces children to drop out of school early to help support their families.

This is what we do For Children Everywhere. Everyday, we renew the commitment of Saint Jeanne Antide Thouret, whose vision was that education is a means of development, hope and dignity. For this reason, following her footsteps, we stand alongside the children of families in need by providing them with necessary resources so they can attend school and, in this way, build and secure a future for them. Discover more about the Back to School initiative. Our mission is to bring education where poverty limits opportunities for improvement. Through the Back to School initiative, we aim to provide books, learning materials and nourishing meals to children and teenagers who live in the most vulnerable areas of the country, helping them to start the new school year with everything they need. Additionally, we want to reduce one of the biggest barriers – distance – by providing transport and practical support to make it more convenient for children to get to school every day. With your contribution, you can give children in Argentina, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Italy and the Central African Republic the opportunity to access education. Together with you, we can provide them with the tools to learn, improve their lives and look to the future with greater hope.