CHAIRMAN'S LETTER
EDITOR’S WORDS Welcome to the 22nd issue of the AHHA newsletter: a non-profit charity newsletter brought to you by our volunteer contributors. After a challenging two years from the COVID pandemic, 2022 was an exciting year for AHHA with the first international field trip to Vietnam and Cambodia undertaken by our volunteers since 2019. This year also marked the return of our first in-person fundraising event in Freedom Plaza, Cabramatta since pre-COVID times. In this issue, you will hear from our Chairman, Dr. William Trinh, who details the progress AHHA has made amidst the pandemic thanks to the support from our donors and volunteers. Further, you will read a detailed account of the September field trip to Vietnam and Cambodia followed by updates on the Tinh Thuong Community School, the Mai Am Cao Nguyen Orphanage, and the Hue Community Centre. We also provide updates on our humanitarian projects including flood relief support for affected communities in NSW and QLD, and our Ukraine UNICEF appeal. Finally, we are pleased to feature the personal stories of two dedicated volunteers, Peter Kandasamy and Dr. Michael Stefanescu, who share their journeys with AHHA and what motivates them to make a difference. Special thanks to all our newsletter contributors especially Ted Mylnarz, Dr Hien Tran, Michael Luong and Dr William Trinh.Your valuable insights and efforts have made this newsletter possible. We also would like to express our gratitude to all AHHA volunteers and supporters who enable us to assist impoverished communities in humanitarian need.
Dear supporters, As we reflect on the resilience AHHA demonstrated throughout the COVID pandemic, I am grateful for the commitment and support from each and every one of our supporters. Together, we have navigated through challenging times, and I want to express my appreciation for your continued dedication. In 2022, AHHA remained committed to our mission to make a difference in the lives of the underprivileged, despite the global hardships we faced. With the help of our generous donors and the dedication of our incredible volunteers, we were able to sustain our humanitarian projects and disaster relief appeals. One of our standout moments of the year was the inauguration of the new AHHA community centre at Pho Nam temple in Vietnam. During our visit, we were able to facilitate general medical checkups, distribute essential medicines, conduct eye checks, and extend our support to 600 underprivileged families who sought refuge at the centre over two days. Additionally, through the generous sponsorship of Dr. Juliana Chong, we were able to donate a motorised aluminium boat that will assist with rescuing people during flood emergencies. Furthermore, our trip to Vietnam provided us with the opportunity to witness the impact of the Truong Hoc Tinh Thuong evening community school, situated on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City. This evening school, supported by AHHA, has been instrumental in providing education to underprivileged children whose families cannot afford regular day school tuition. In Cambodia, we reconnected with our local collaborators to discuss the resumption of our mission. Together, we are determined to address the severe backlog of cataract surgeries and dental treatments that have accumulated due to the pandemic. We thank the generous support of our volunteers, donors, and AHHA management committee who have made this field trip possible. For more information on past and upcoming projects please visit: https://www.ahha.org.au/, or alternatively please stay connected via our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ AustralianHealthHumanitarianAid! Kind regards, Dr. William Trinh OAM, Chairman
Happy reading, Will C.
2 | Australian Health Humanitarian Aid (AHHA)
