Bridges to Learning provides education, health, and social development to empower impoverished Vietnamese children to change their world. We believe that:
o Every Child is Sacred
o Every Child Deserves Dignity
o Every Child Needs to Dream
o Every Child Needs Something to Believe In
o Every Child Needs the Opportunity to Receive an Education to Survive and to Thrive
Bridges to Learning, partnering with Anh Linh Free School in Ho Chi Minh City/Saigon, Vietnam and the Viet Anh Primary School, provides impoverished and at-risk children with free education, meals, a safe haven, love and hope for the future. The school offers a nurturing environment which protects at-risk kids from the lure of ever-present crime, drugs and the s*x trade. Anh Linh was started in 1990 by the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame for children of prostitutes. Since 2005, Bridges to Learning has contributed over $700,000 to Anh Linh which has helped it to build two new schools that now serve nearly 400 kids from 1st grade through college. Anh Linh provides free education to children who have no access to state supported schools because of age, poverty or lack of appropriate documents. Many of the students are street kids or have been orphaned or abandoned. There is a dormitory at Anh Linh for up to 40 children who are homeless. Although Anh Linh is run by the sisters, the teachers are lay teachers and no religion is taught. All children are welcome but expanding the outreach and expanding programs requires increasing resources. In 2017, we extended our reach to the Viet Anh Primary School in rural Vietnam. The purpose, and mission, of the school is similar to Anh Linh, and serves the impoverished children in the rural area. As of 2019, Bridges to Learning sponsors have funded over 1,000 "student years" of education for the children. In 2020, Vietnam was one of the first countries to lock down, and take the hit of the pandemic. While they kept the infection rates low, it took a negative economic toll on the families and children. At the same time, B2L cancelled plans for our golf tournament and wine tasting. In 2021, B2L was fortunate to host a record breaking golf tournament, but as Covid rates rose due to the Delta variant, additional fundraising events were cancelled. At the same time, Vietnam was hit hard by Covid-19, and the educational system and economy were severely disrupted, resulting in strict internal lock downs and crippling poverty. The bottom line: YOUR DONATION IS MORE VALUABLE NOW THAN EVER! Would you join us by making a donation to Bridges to Learning? Every dollar means so much. YOU really can make a difference in these children's lives. Visit our website for more information: www.bridges2learning.org
