MY Houng Le’s connection to the Great Lakes starts with artist and Heart 2 Heart charity founder Donna Rankin.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From there it spreads to the young women who have been changed by visiting her orphanage in Vietnam and the hundreds who have donated thousands to improve the lives of the orphanage’s children.
My Houng Le will be visiting Forster on Saturday, July 22 for a luncheon and talk at Reef Bar and Grill from 11.30 to 3pm.
She will share her story of overcoming adversity as an Operation Babylift child during the Vietnam war.
She is a strong, energetic woman with a clear direction, that direction is to support the 300 children in her care.
- Donna Rankin
As well as her return to Vietnam in her 30s where she now runs an orphanage in Vung Tau.
My Houng’s story has featured on ABC’s Foreign Correspondent and the Australian Women’s Weekly.
Donna was visiting Vietnam with friend Trude Yen when she met My Houng Le.
“As soon as I met My Houng I was awestruck by her presence,” Donna said.
“She is a strong, energetic woman with a clear direction, that direction is to support the 300 children in her care.
“I could see instantly her devotion and love for these children. I could also see the love all the children had for My Houng.”
Donna said her life was changed by that meeting.
“I had fallen in love with the beautiful children in her care and I had found a kindred spirit in My Houng, a woman who had overcome adversity by helping others,” she said.
Donna returned to Australia with a vision to take young people in the Heart to Heart program on a life changing journey to meet My Houng and the children.
“Since that meeting we have taken two groups of 10 young women and 26 Mothers and Daughters to Vung Tau,” Donna said.
“The community of the Great Lakes has been overwhelmingly supportive of our fundraising efforts to support My Houng Le, we have donated a $30,000 towards much needed infrastructure changes to the orphanage.
“My Houng is here to say thank you to the Great Lakes Community for their support. I want all who have supported us take this opportunity to finally meet My Houng Le.”
Lunch will be traditional style Vietnamese cuisine. Tickets are $60 per head, $10 of each ticket will be generously donated to My Houng and the Vung Tau Orphanage children by Joni and Darren McDonagh owners of the Reef. Book at the Reef 6555 7092.