By Sara Nerone | Founder and volunteer!
Dear Friends,
Thank you for supporting our art and music program. As many of you know we have three small art and music programs, one in Cam Duc, Vietnam, one in a small suburb on the outskirts of Hue city, and one in a village of minority families in Son Tan, Vietnam. We currently have about 100 students enrolled who come to class one-two days a week either after school or on the weekends.
The students have become very close to our teachers and one another, which is one of the main goals of our program. Although we teach violin and cello classes and art classes, our original goal when my daughters and I started Rock-Paper-Scissors was to provide a warm, loving, caring place where kids could meet, learn, share and grow friendships. Of course we hope to inspire the kids to continue their education and strive to instill in them that education is so important to their lives, as well as the arts! We support those in need of scholarships to go to school and college. Your donations help us do all of this - buy art supplies, hold classes and help individual kids as needed.
Speaking of individual kids in need, I want to introduce four children from Son Tan, who we are currently supporting to continue their education after 5th grade, Tram, Tham, Quyen and Sen. I think some of you may already know of them, but their village school ends at 5th grade, so in order to continue middle school, 6th-9th grade, they have to live away from home at a boarding school. Although it seems like a hard decision to support a child to move away from their family at 12 years old, the only alternative for them is to stop going to school and start going to work. Anyway, our four kids have almost made it through the 6th grade, with only a few months to go and they are all doing great! All of them have been able to travel back to the village on the weekends and take part in our art class and meet with our teachers, and all seem to be doing very well!
Finally, this week I had a conversation with a colleague who had just taken a trip to Nepal. She was describing to me the poverty that she experienced there and how she plans to support a girl there to go to school, but she wasn’t sure in the bigger picture of things, with such poverty, is this really what’s needed, and how her small contribution to this one girl could make a difference…We struggle with this as well, but I’m convinced after seeing the changes in the few kids who started in our program five years ago, and who we are now supporting through college, the tremendous difference this has made in their lives and the confidence they now have in themselves. Although it takes time, it’s an amazing transformation to watch. So please know that no matter the size of your donation, what it is going to is well worthwhile. That one girl who my friend will support, may be able to finish school, go on to get a better paying job, and help herself and her family to slowly climb out of poverty…
Thank you again—we can only do these things for the kids because of your support!
Best to you all,
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