Over 15 days, five countries and countless encounters, Huyen from the Thien Chi Center travelled across Europe on a mission for Mekong Plus. His goal was simple: to bring the realities of rural communities in Vietnam and Cambodia closer to the people who help support them.
For nearly nine years, Huyen has worked alongside disadvantaged families through Thien Chi, a local partner of Mekong Plus in Vietnam. He has seen firsthand how a scholarship, a small loan or regular support can help families overcome difficult circumstances.
But while his daily work takes place in rural communities, much of the support that makes these projects possible comes from thousands of kilometres away.
This year, Huyen had the opportunity to travel to Europe to meet the people and organisations behind that generosity.
His journey took him through Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Switzerland and France, combining fundraising events, meetings with partners and meaningful personal encounters.
It was an opportunity to strengthen relationships, explore new partnerships and, above all, connect two sides of the same mission.
Bringing the Stories of Vietnam to Europe
The main purpose of Huyen’s visit was to show European supporters what their contributions make possible.
Rather than focusing only on figures and project reports, he wanted to share the everyday realities of the families supported by Thien Chi and Mekong Plus.
“I wanted supporters to understand what happens after a donation reaches Vietnam: how it can help a child stay in school or give a family the opportunity to earn a more stable income.”
For Huyen, this was also an opportunity to express his gratitude personally.
Behind every project are people who organise fundraising activities, make donations, volunteer their time and continue supporting communities they may never have visited.
Meeting them face-to-face was an important part of the mission.
Five Countries, Fifteen Days and Many Encounters
During his 15-day journey, Huyen travelled across five European countries, participating in five events and meeting numerous supporters, associations and potential partners.
In Belgium, discussions with Femmes d’Europe focused on strengthening existing cooperation and exploring future opportunities. Representatives expressed interest in visiting projects in Cambodia and programmes supported by Anh Duong in Vietnam.
They also discussed the possibility of purchasing additional Mekong Quilts products for fundraising activities.
In the Netherlands, Huyen met members of the Vietnamese community living abroad.
These encounters were particularly meaningful. They gave him the opportunity to share stories from his home country with people who, despite living thousands of kilometres away, still maintain strong connections with Vietnam.
In Switzerland, Huyen met with FdnF, the Swiss NGO supporting an eyesight programme for children in Cambodia. He also highlighted the important contribution of Marie-Claude from FAET, whose support through FdnF helps make this work possible.
The final stage of his journey brought him to Paris, where events organised by Pari’s Bamboo and Mekong Plus combined presentations, performances and fundraising activities.
These gatherings allowed Huyen to introduce Mekong Plus projects, answer questions and encourage supporters to discover the communities themselves through solidarity cycling tours in Vietnam and Cambodia.
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The Family That Changed His Perspective
Throughout his presentations, Huyen relied on photographs, videos and personal stories to explain the work of Thien Chi and Mekong Plus.
One story was particularly important to him.
Almost nine years ago, during his probation period, he visited a family living in extremely difficult circumstances.
An elderly mother was collecting plastic bottles to earn a little money, while several family members were struggling with serious health problems.
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At the time, Huyen had initially joined the organisation because the working schedule suited him.
That visit changed everything.
Seeing the family’s situation helped him understand the deeper meaning of his work and the importance of supporting people facing poverty.
It was this experience that he shared with European audiences to explain why scholarships, microcredit and long-term support matter.
Families are already making tremendous efforts to improve their lives. Mekong Plus and its local partners work alongside them, helping remove obstacles and create opportunities.
For Huyen, telling these stories is about recognising people’s determination and showing how the right support can make a lasting difference.
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The People Behind the Support
Beyond the formal meetings and fundraising events, some of Huyen’s strongest memories came from personal encounters.
He was particularly touched by the hospitality of the families who welcomed him into their homes.
One memorable experience was spending time with Philippe’s family.
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Speaking Vietnamese while being so far from home brought him unexpected happiness. He was also amazed to discover that the family’s two children spoke Vietnamese fluently and could communicate in four languages.
“I can only dream of doing that!”
During a busy professional trip, these moments of warmth and familiarity made him feel at home.
Huyen was equally impressed by the commitment of European supporters who dedicate their time to organising events, introducing friends to Mekong Plus, selling solidarity products and maintaining partnerships over many years.
Their involvement goes far beyond financial contributions.
“What impressed me was the time and personal commitment that people put into supporting communities they may never have met.”
These encounters reinforced an important lesson: international solidarity is built not only through donations, but also through trust, relationships and long-term commitment.
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New Opportunities for Thien Chi and Mekong Plus
The mission also brought encouraging results for both organisations.
The Pari’s Bamboo and Mekong Plus event in Paris attracted a full audience, with some participants making additional donations to support the projects.
Meetings with Femmes d’Europe opened discussions about future visits to communities in Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as potential additional purchases of Mekong Quilts products.
Huyen also introduced Mekong Plus cycling tours to new audiences, presenting them as an opportunity to discover rural Vietnam and Cambodia while meeting local communities and learning about development projects.
While some of these opportunities still require follow-up, the journey helped strengthen existing partnerships and establish valuable new connections.
“Some results can be counted immediately; others will depend on the follow-up.”
For Mekong Plus, maintaining these relationships is particularly important. Regular communication helps supporters understand how their contributions are used, what progress has been achieved and which challenges remain.
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A Journey of Personal Growth
Beyond its professional objectives, the trip was also an important personal experience for Huyen.
Travelling through five countries, speaking to different audiences and communicating in another language pushed him beyond his usual routine.
He admits that finding the right words was not always easy.
Yet the experience taught him that sincerity and firsthand knowledge can be just as powerful as a perfectly prepared presentation.
“I learned that speaking honestly about something you know and care about can still create a connection.”
Huyen returned to Vietnam with greater confidence, new friendships and a renewed sense of responsibility towards the communities he works with.
He also brought back ideas for improving how Thien Chi and Mekong Plus communicate their impact.
Reports and statistics remain essential, but they should be accompanied by clear explanations, photographs and carefully documented stories that show what those figures mean in everyday life.
Just as importantly, these stories must always be shared with respect for the dignity of the people involved.
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Connecting Two Sides of the Same Mission
Looking back, Huyen believes the most meaningful part of his journey was finally meeting the people whose generosity helps sustain the work of Mekong Plus.
In Vietnam and Cambodia, he regularly meets children, parents and grandparents who receive support.
In Europe, he met the people helping make that support possible.
His mission brought those two worlds closer together.
“In the villages, we see the children, parents and grandparents who receive support. In Europe, I had the opportunity to meet more of the people who help make that support possible.”
Huyen returned home with renewed motivation and a simple message for everyone who welcomed and supported him:
“Thank you for trusting us, welcoming me, and continuing to care about our communities.”
His journey is a reminder that solidarity knows no borders. Whether through a school scholarship, a microcredit, an eyesight programme or a fundraising event, every contribution can help create opportunities for families facing poverty.
And behind every project are people, in Europe and in Asia, working together towards the same goal.
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More Ways to Help
Here’s how you can get involved:
- Sponsor a child with a scholarship: https://mekongplus.org/en/sponsor-a-child/
- Buy the wonderful craft made by our women artisans: https://mekongquilts.com/
- Finance a microcredit: https://mekongplus.org/en/finance-a-microcredit/
- Join our eco-tours: https://mekongplus.org/en/mekong-bikes/
- Make a donation to our programmes: https://mekongplus.org/en/donate/
- Follow us on Facebook: Mekong Plus & Mekong Quilts
